You don't need a complex stats app to improve. You need to track 5 things per hole and review them honestly after each round.
What to Track Per Hole
On your scorecard, add these marks after each hole:
1. **Score** — obvious, but track it honestly. No mulligans, no gimmes. 2. **FIR** — Fairway hit? Yes/No (par 4s and 5s only) 3. **GIR** — Green in regulation? Yes/No (reached green in par minus 2 shots) 4. **Putts** — number of putts on the green 5. **Penalties** — penalty strokes (OB, water, lost ball, unplayable)
That's it. Five data points per hole takes about 10 seconds to mark.
After the Round: Quick Math
**Score vs. Par:** Simple. How many over (or under)?
**FIR %:** Fairways hit ÷ fairway holes (usually 14). Tour avg: 60%. Good amateur: 50%.
**GIR %:** Greens hit ÷ 18. Tour avg: 65%. Good amateur: 40%. This is the best predictor of scoring.
**Putts per GIR:** Total putts on greens you hit in regulation. Tour avg: 1.75. If yours is above 2.0, you're leaving strokes on the green.
**Penalty count:** Total penalty strokes. Each one is a direct stroke added to your score.
The Review
Look at your numbers and ask: **Where did I lose the most strokes?**
- High penalty count → Course management problem - Low FIR → Driver/tee shot problem - Low GIR → Iron play problem - High putts per GIR → Putting problem - Low GIR but decent score → Great scrambling (but not sustainable)
Building a Trend
One round tells you very little. Five rounds tell you a story. Track your stats over a month and patterns emerge clearly. Is your GIR trending up? Are penalties going down?
Let Coach Harvey Do It
Enter your scorecard into Coach Harvey's post-round debrief tool. The AI analyzes all 18 holes, identifies patterns, calculates your stats, and tells you exactly what to practice. It's the same analysis a touring pro's caddie would provide — for free.