What are Good Golf Handicaps?The Golf Handicap ExplainedGood Golf Handicaps Hang around a golf course long enough, and you’ll hear players bragging or moaning about their handicap. One might say “I’ve gotten mine down to a seven,” while another might be moaning about being stuck in the 20s. But that doesn’t answer the question of what are good golf handicaps, and which ones are the signs of games that need work? The first thing to remember is that to have an official handicap at all is a sign that the golfer takes the game seriously. There are several hoops to jump through in order to get one, and you have to play and record at least five rounds worth of scores. So while it does not require a Herculean effort it does indicate a certain dedication to the game. Scratch GolfersApart from the PGA Tour players and other pros for whom the handicap is meaningless (it’s not like Phil Mickelson could lose a major because his one-shot win was less than the two-shot handicap differential between himself and the runner-up), the scratch golfers rule the roost. They have a handicap of zero, meaning they are expected to shoot par or better every time out. Those are the best you are likely to find, and they are far from common. (It is possible to have a plus handicap and have to concede strokes to par in a round, but if you wind up in a foursome with anyone like that you should probably avoid playing for money).Bogey GolfA handicap of 18 is considered to be bogey golf, since that assumes a golfer shoots one stroke over par on every hole. That is generally thought to be average, so if your handicap is around 18 you’re in good company.Beyond Bogey GolfIf a handicap is higher than double bogey golf, it indicates one of two things. The first is the profile of a beginner, or a golfer who plays so rarely that it is difficult to improve enough to score low. The second indicates a game that needs a lot of work. If you’ve been playing for years and still have a 36 handicap you probably have some holes in your game that need addressing. The good news is that it’s possible to decrease a high handicap in a short period of time via incremental improvements – start getting those drives onto the fairway instead of out of bounds, and turn those four-putts into two-putts, and your handicap will drop before you know it. Understanding and Tracking your Handicap
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