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Analyze Your Game and Tell the Story Beyond the Scorecard

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

“What did you shoot?” One of the most common questions asked upon the completion of a round. In reality, the score on your card can only tell you so much. The story behind the score is what really matters.
The story of how a round of golf was played can be as unique as the person that played it. There are countless ways to skin a cat, and we see examples of this in both the amateur and professional ranks all the time. The “Bomb-and-Gauge” player has a strategy to hit the ball as far as possible in order to have the shortest approach they can into the green. They throw caution to the wind and live and die based solely on hitting bombs. On the flip side, the old, grizzled veteran only hitting it 175 yards off the tee, never missing a fairway, relies heavily on a world-class short game…and how many times have you played with this guy?
For the vast majority of golfers, tracking their rounds and being able to properly analyze the results can help them see where they can cut the most fat from the final number on the card.
How to Analyze your Round (
The Basics:
  • Fairways in Regulation
  • Greens in Regulation
  • Up and Downs
  • Putts
  • Penalties
Tier 2 Stats:
  • Driving Distance
  • Drive Direction in relation to Center Fairway (Left, Straight, Right)
  • Approach Direction in relation to Center of the Green
  • Distance Approach was off in relation to Center of Green
  • First Putt Distance
From here, you need to know what to do with this information based on your game and not based on any other person’s game. I would never suggest that a golfer compare their game to TOUR averages. That is especially the case in the Greens Hit in Regulation statistics. Those, along with many of the Putting stats, are the areas that really separate TOUR Professionals from the rest of us. 
However, with putting, an amateur can surely aim to achieve TOUR level putting averages. This is an area I believe most golfers are capable of practicing enough to see substantial improvement.  
Again, there are so, so many different types of players that enjoy the game in so many different ways. You can literally play a round and not hit a green in regulation but still shoot in the 70s for 18 holes if your short game is strong.
The secret to analyzing your unique stats is to be dedicated enough to keep them in the first place. Secondly, get a good sampling size, approximately 10 rounds, to initially work from. Next, comb through the statistics to find trends in the averages…in doing so, you should strive to find at least 2-3 areas that are likely causing the most harm to your final score. Lastly, work hard at improving those 2-3 areas. Since our games are always evolving and changing, this is a process you may go through frequently. I would suggest just getting into the habit of keeping track of your statistics every time you play.
In the end, doing this and making it the norm, will make you a golfer that is very in tune with their game, by knowing how you score and what your strengths and weaknesses are.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.

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