I don't play golf either but this link explains the scoring system quite well.

An Adult Beginner

In his book "Good Golf Made Easy," Tony Dear makes the bold statement that an individual in good physical condition, with at least some natural golf ability and a willingness to apply himself, should be able to shoot a score below 100 within a few weeks. But according to NGF surveys, 45 percent of all golfers average more than 100 strokes per round. So shooting a score of 108, or 2 over par per hole, could still be considered a good score for a beginner, given that he would be scoring better than 21 percent of all golfers, according to the NGF.

Steady Progress

The true measure of what a good score is for a beginning player should be whether his average score per round is steadily going down. Comparing his score to the par for the course, usually 72 strokes, can discourage him. For many beginners, a more reasonable goal is to try to shoot "even 5s" on the course -- in other words, shoot around 90 for the round, or 1 over par on each hole. If he currently is shooting 108 or so, 6 strokes per hole on average, reaching his goal would require lowering his score just one stroke per hole.

Factors that Affect a Golfer's Potential

The path to becoming a proficient golfer can be shortened for a beginner if he devotes enough time to taking lessons and plays frequently enough to gain confidence in his swing. A beginner whose busy schedule only allows for a trip to the links once a month must set modest goals. If his average score is 120 at the beginning of the golf season, averaging 5 strokes lower by the end of the season could be considered achieving a good score. A beginning golfer must also be realistic about his physical capabilities. Playing good golf requires a certain amount of muscle tone, strength and stamina. A beginner in overall excellent physical shape could set a goal of scoring below 90 strokes within his first year of play. Someone out of shape would need to do fitness training along with golf training. When he first takes up golf, his theoretical good score would be higher than that of his more athletic counterpart.

http://golftips.golfsmith.com/good-golf-score-beginner-20087...