what exactly is a "high handicap"?

[square]

My rough definitions are as follows:

 

Scratch handicap: plus (scoring average of 72 or lower)

Low handicap: 0 to 3 (this group has a scoring average of 76 or lower)

Mid handicap: 4 to 9 (this group average score is 77 to 84)

High handicap: 10 to 18 (this group average score is 85 or above).

 

Above an 18, I do not believe there is any sensible reason to record scores and, or, maintain a handicap.

 

How do you categorize handicaps?

[mikedejong]

I consider anyone with a single digit handicap a low handicap. I have read the average player shoots 100, so to have a single digit cap is pretty good in the grand scheme of things.

[BrianL99]

My rough definitions are as follows:

 

Scratch handicap: plus (scoring average of 72 or lower)

Low handicap: 0 to 3 (this group has a scoring average of 76 or lower)

Mid handicap: 4 to 9 (this group average score is 77 to 84)

High handicap: 10 to 18 (this group average score is 85 or above).

 

 

That's kind of fuzzy math.

[Golfbeat]

My rough definitions are as follows:

 

Scratch handicap: plus (scoring average of 72 or lower)

Low handicap: 0 to 3 (this group has a scoring average of 76 or lower)

Mid handicap: 4 to 9 (this group average score is 77 to 84)

High handicap: 10 to 18 (this group average score is 85 or above).

 

Above an 18, I do not believe there is any sensible reason to record scores and, or, maintain a handicap.

 

How do you categorize handicaps?

 

Hahaha. 80% of our members would not play any competitions or tournaments!

[thekru]

My rough definitions are as follows:

 

Scratch handicap: plus (scoring average of 72 or lower)

Low handicap: 0 to 3 (this group has a scoring average of 76 or lower)

Mid handicap: 4 to 9 (this group average score is 77 to 84)

High handicap: 10 to 18 (this group average score is 85 or above).

 

Above an 18, I do not believe there is any sensible reason to record scores and, or, maintain a handicap.

 

How do you categorize handicaps?

 

Hahaha. 80% of our members would not play any competitions or tournaments!

I thought everyone on GolfWRX was at least a single digit.

[PapaJohick]

My rough definitions are as follows:

 

Scratch handicap: plus (scoring average of 72 or lower)

Low handicap: 0 to 3 (this group has a scoring average of 76 or lower)

Mid handicap: 4 to 9 (this group average score is 77 to 84)

High handicap: 10 to 18 (this group average score is 85 or above).

 

Above an 18, I do not believe there is any sensible reason to record scores and, or, maintain a handicap.

 

How do you categorize handicaps?

 

you do realize scratch is actually termed as a person who plays to a 0-.4 HC right? Which means they only shoot par or better roughly 20-30% of the time on a course with certain rating/slope (rating I believe).......

 

also, scoring average has no bearing on your HC. It's based on your potential of scoring.

[pinhigh27]

My rough definitions are as follows:

 

Scratch handicap: plus (scoring average of 72 or lower)

Low handicap: 0 to 3 (this group has a scoring average of 76 or lower)

Mid handicap: 4 to 9 (this group average score is 77 to 84)

High handicap: 10 to 18 (this group average score is 85 or above).

 

 

That's kind of fuzzy math.

 

brian I think this is the first time we agree about anything

[Golfbeat]

My rough definitions are as follows:

 

Scratch handicap: plus (scoring average of 72 or lower)

Low handicap: 0 to 3 (this group has a scoring average of 76 or lower)

Mid handicap: 4 to 9 (this group average score is 77 to 84)

High handicap: 10 to 18 (this group average score is 85 or above).

 

Above an 18, I do not believe there is any sensible reason to record scores and, or, maintain a handicap.

 

How do you categorize handicaps?

 

Hahaha. 80% of our members would not play any competitions or tournaments!

I thought everyone on GolfWRX was at least a single digit.

 

Haha. I meant members at our club.

[kwcsports]

High cap is 18 and above

[Chomper]

My rough definitions are as follows:

 

Scratch handicap: plus (scoring average of 72 or lower)

Low handicap: 0 to 3 (this group has a scoring average of 76 or lower)

Mid handicap: 4 to 9 (this group average score is 77 to 84)

High handicap: 10 to 18 (this group average score is 85 or above).

 

Above an 18, I do not believe there is any sensible reason to record scores and, or, maintain a handicap.

 

How do you categorize handicaps?

 

Don't ever get older.

 

Scratch - 0 or better

Low - 1-5.

Mid - 6-18.

High - 18+

[David C]

High handicap is someone who slices the ball a lot and swears a lot and wishes they could hook it.

 

Mid handicap is someone who hits hooks a lot and swears a lot and wishes they could give up.

 

Low handicap is someone who occasionally hits a hook and swears occasionally and wishes they could slice it.

[Splitter]

A high handicap is anyone I can beat.

 

A low handicap is anyone that beats me.

[schmeste]

i've always thought a 20+ was a high handicapper. If you're under a 20 you can say your number, otherwise "i suck" will do.

[AlecEmersonGolf]

low: 2 or better

average: 2-8

high: 8-all

[RRFireblade]

High +2

 

 

 

LOL. :-)

[Kuuuch]

High +2

 

 

 

LOL. :-)

 

+6.2 is a good reference point for a high hdcp!

[Matt J]

Scratch is a plus to a 2 to me. Low would be 2 to 6 or 7. Mid would be 7 to 14 and above 14 or 15 is high. A 15 index is more or less playing to break 90 which is to say striving to play bogey golf no worse.

[PapaJohick]

low: 2 or better

average: 2-8

high: 8-all

 

high handicapper starts at 8? even as a low index like you you cannot truly think that? or even that the average player is a 2-8 haha. 80% (maybe even more) of golfers out there can't break 100

[Hawkeye77]

USGA stats put the average handicap just a little over 13, and those stats understate the percentages, so the real average handicap is a bit higher than 13, so someone carrying a 16 for example isn't necessarily a "high handicap".

[Hawkeye77]

low: 2 or better

average: 2-8

high: 8-all

 

high handicapper starts at 8? even as a low index like you you cannot truly think that? or even that the average player is a 2-8 haha. 80% (maybe even more) of golfers out there can't break 100

 

You are correct, he is not even close.

[PapaJohick]

Hi handicapper is above 20 in my eyes.

 

Mid handicap is 10-19

 

Low is 1-9

 

scratch is 0

 

+ obvious haha

 

 

and freaking gifted are the guys we watch on tv :)

[Gautama]

I also think the "average golfer" hasn't established a handicap, so using average handicap figures overstates the reality of the level of average play.

[Hawkeye77]

I also think the "average golfer" hasn't established a handicap, so using average handicap figures overstates the reality of the level of average play.

 

That's why I indicated the USGA understates the average, which it will acknowledge as well.

 

It's not that the average golfer doesn't keep one, it's that tons of golfers across the spectrum don't, but especially as you go higher.

 

Edit: then again, on average it probably is true a golfer picked at random doesn't maintain one, so I finally get that.

[mike_dmt]

All of this is based on the fact that "most" golfers, take mulligans, free drops, gimme putts, and so on.

 

Here's a scenario we see every time we play: A recreational golfer hits a drive off the tee. It is a slice into the trees, flirting with OB. Do they hit a provisional? Usually a normal rec player, goes out, hopes to find it. When it is in fact OB, does he go back and re-tee? Nope. The next group is waiting, so he drops, and plays on.

 

Point being, that can be a 3, or more, stroke swing in one hole. The provisional could have just as easily found OB, Or, he could have re-teed, and carved another one out. But instead, he takes 1 stroke, and finishes the hole.

 

This is, of course, just an example. But if it happens, say, twice in a round, that 90 could really be a 96 or worse. And the putts!?!?!?! So many rec players take a gimme from 3-4 feet in, that it's silly.. So conservatively add 3 putts per side, and that 96 is a 100.

 

So, a real score of 100 is recorded as a 90. I think it's fairly common.

 

So, to call out low, mid and high handicaps is subjective, and somewhat pointless. Because, at the end of the round, the score you post comes down to being honest. Not for a handicap. But to be honest with yourself. Because that's who we play against every time we go out.

[Millbrook]

All of this is based on the fact that "most" golfers, take mulligans, free drops, gimme putts, and so on.

 

Here's a scenario we see every time we play: A recreational golfer hits a drive off the tee. It is a slice into the trees, flirting with OB. Do they hit a provisional? Usually a normal rec player, goes out, hopes to find it. When it is in fact OB, does he go back and re-tee? Nope. The next group is waiting, so he drops, and plays on.

 

Point being, that can be a 3, or more, stroke swing in one hole. The provisional could have just as easily found OB, Or, he could have re-teed, and carved another one out. But instead, he takes 1 stroke, and finishes the hole.

 

This is, of course, just an example. But if it happens, say, twice in a round, that 90 could really be a 96 or worse. And the putts!?!?!?! So many rec players take a gimme from 3-4 feet in, that it's silly.. So conservatively add 3 putts per side, and that 96 is a 100.

 

So, a real score of 100 is recorded as a 90. I think it's fairly common.

 

So, to call out low, mid and high handicaps is subjective, and somewhat pointless. Because, at the end of the round, the score you post comes down to being honest. Not for a handicap. But to be honest with yourself. Because that's who we play against every time we go out.

 

Not sure that is correct here in the UK. My handicap is based on results in club competitions - no mulligans and gimmies. Provisionals played off the tee or a long walk back if the ball is not found.

[RRFireblade]

USGA stats put the average handicap just a little over 13, and those stats understate the percentages, so the real average handicap is a bit higher than 13, so someone carrying a 16 for example isn't necessarily a "high handicap".

 

The "truly" average golfer would be quite happy to be playing bogey golf.

[Boricua Golf]

I thing anyone who is +18 (bogey golf) hcp hovers in the average/higher end of the index, anything over that should be considered high, to me low is 9 and below or anything in the 70s or better...

[Hot Rod 71]

Low handicap is single digits

 

Mid handicap is 10-19

 

High handicap is 20 and above

[JohnnyMIke]

With my index bouncing in the 18s at the moment, I can tell you that playing the ball "down and in", as Richard would write, i'm looking at 99-101 from the 74.3/141 tees on my home course: 98 and below is a decent round . Strict USGA rules, PB from those tees is 95. Bogey golf is hard. On the local muni, i'll be in the low 90s and just occasionally down to 88. I'd say I'm better than the average player at the muni and about average to a little worse at the home course.

[David C]

All of this is based on the fact that "most" golfers, take mulligans, free drops, gimme putts, and so on.

 

Here's a scenario we see every time we play: A recreational golfer hits a drive off the tee. It is a slice into the trees, flirting with OB. Do they hit a provisional? Usually a normal rec player, goes out, hopes to find it. When it is in fact OB, does he go back and re-tee? Nope. The next group is waiting, so he drops, and plays on.

 

Point being, that can be a 3, or more, stroke swing in one hole. The provisional could have just as easily found OB, Or, he could have re-teed, and carved another one out. But instead, he takes 1 stroke, and finishes the hole.

 

This is, of course, just an example. But if it happens, say, twice in a round, that 90 could really be a 96 or worse. And the putts!?!?!?! So many rec players take a gimme from 3-4 feet in, that it's silly.. So conservatively add 3 putts per side, and that 96 is a 100.

 

So, a real score of 100 is recorded as a 90. I think it's fairly common.

 

So, to call out low, mid and high handicaps is subjective, and somewhat pointless. Because, at the end of the round, the score you post comes down to being honest. Not for a handicap. But to be honest with yourself. Because that's who we play against every time we go out.

 

This is not a game with which I'm familiar! Didn't even know what a mulligan was until I got a play station in my youth.