Playing Golf Needs 7.2% Accuracy

First, I have the following useful numbers for playing golf.

Average golf course size: 75 acres
Average golf course length: 7200 feet
Number of holes in a golf course: 18
Golf cup size: 4.25 inches

Golf ball size: 1.68 inches
Golf ball weight: 46 grams

Par 3: 100 – 250 yards
Par 4: 250 – 475 yards
Par 5: 475 – 690 yards

I have studied the numbers for playing golf and have the following visualization: golf is a 7.2% accuracy game. If one can achieve this accuracy, the player is not very far from the professional level.

For an average Par 4 hole, the average length is about 380 yards. Let’s assume the player can put the golf ball into the cup with four strokes.

For the first stroke, the amateur player can drive at average 220yards in his first drive. With 7.2% accuracy, the ball will land within 16 yards from the center of the fairway. Usually the fairway is wider than 32 yards.

For the second stroke, the player can use a 7-Iron to drive the ball 160 yards. With 7.2% accuracy, the ball can land within 12 yards from the center of the green. The green is usually bigger than 24 yards in diameter.

Suppose the second shot put the golf ball at 20 feet from the cup, with 7.2% accuracy, the play can putt the golf ball within 2 feet from the cup.

The fourth putt will be easy if the golf ball is just 2 feet from the cup. The 7.2% accuracy player can putt the ball into the cup without much effort.

The problem is that the player has to finish four independent events in a continuous sequence. The total accuracy has to be 7.2% to the 4th power, or one in 37,211. That is one person in 37,211 people. That is why the professional players are so rare.