pga tour golf handicap

What Is A Good Golf Handicap: Data Reveals Where You Stand

A good golf handicap for beginners starts at 28 for men and 36 for women. Most amateur golfers have a handicap between 14 and 20, so they shoot around 90 on most golf courses.

At the same time, the average pro golfer would have a handicap of +5 to +8.

But average golf handicaps vary, so to understand where you stack up, especially in tournaments, you’ll want to read the full post.

When I’m talking about handicaps with my new golfer buddies, most are clueless, so after reading, you might be the smartest guy in your group.

Read on to learn about how handicaps vary by skill level, see a handicap chart, check handicap ranges, and handicap differences by country.

I even share a beautiful putt from a famous scratch golfer you’ll want to check out.

What Is A Good Golf Handicap?

What are good golf handicap ranges, comparing handicaps in different countries, what is a scratch golfer, what is the official handicap for the pga tour, how much does it cost to have an official golf handicap, what is the maximum handicap, what’s my golf handicap if i shoot 100, other related articles.

According to the United States Golf Association (USGA ), the average handicap index in the USA is 14 for men and 28 for women. If you’re shooting better than average, that’s good!

But a good handicap for beginner golfers is higher. Here’s the average handicap for beginners:

• The average handicap index for new male golfers is 15.2.
• The average handicap index for new female golfers is 31.2.

But I don’t think the average golfer’s handicap is 14 to 15 for men or 28-31 for women. I think that’s way too low, and there’s a good reason why this data isn’t helpful for beginners. According to Golf Digest, the  true average  is probably a lot higher because of players without an official handicap.

Most new golfers don’t get an official handicap index, and the USGA isn’t counting them.

So, I surveyed my golf buddies and golf instructor friends, and we collectively decided 28 is a good handicap for new male golfers. Women should aim for 36. Most importantly, focus on continuing to lower your scores and handicaps. Progress above all!

Fun Fact: What’s the difference between handicap and handicap index ? Most golfers refer to their handicap as their average score regarding par. But your handicap index is an official rating made using the USGA Handicap System . You have to join a club and submit your scores, and it costs money.

Check out this  golf handicap beginners guide  if you still have questions.

The  USGA  also gives a wider range of good handicaps based on skill and archetype:

• Advanced golfers have a handicap of less than 10. They consistently score in the 70s or lower on a par-72 golf course.
• Intermediate golfers have a handicap between 10 and 29. They consistently score in the 80s or 90s.
• Beginner golfers have a handicap index of +29. They typically score more than 100.

I’ve found a handicap range more motivating than an average. I can aim for the lower end of the range yet still fall within my skill level range.

I also think this range is more accurate based on what I see at my local course.

Note:  What is my handicap if I shoot 90? For anyone who shoots a 90 for 18-hole scores, your handicap would hover at around 18 on 72-par golf courses.

Read more:  What Is a High Handicapper?

Today, the global average handicap sits at around 14.5.  Still, golfers in the United States show an average handicap of around 14.2, making them slightly better than the handicap in other countries.

Australia, another major golf-playing country, has an average golf handicap of around 16.9. In England, the golf handicap goes even higher, with the average at 17.2. We should keep in mind the differences in population.

Golf has grown in popularity since the 1990s and the handicap has consistently dropped as more people have gotten serious about the game. For example, men in the United States went from 16.5 in 1991 to 14.4 in the average by 2018.

Women have also gone from 29.9 to 26.4, which shows how, as the game grows in popularity, more have begun to take it more seriously.

Fun Fact:  The  World Handicap System (WHS ) doesn’t have a handicap calculation based on just the number of strokes. It also factors in the difficulty of the courses and slope rating. Each course will have a specific rating according to the difficulty.

Read more:  Ranking The Best Public Golf Courses In America

Once you achieve a zero handicap, you are considered a  scratch golfer . It means you can get around a rated course on handicap, on par, or under par.

It will generally take years of practice, dedication, and effort to achieve a scratch handicap. even a single-digit handicap is a noteworthy achievement.

For instance, you may have checked out Steph Curry’s amazing putt recently on social media. Well,  he’s just better than a scratch golfer at +1.6 .

Golf Speak:  You will sometimes hear an average golfer called a “bogey golfer.” Generally speaking, a bogey golfer will score a bogey on most holes, which means one stroke over par at a hole. Usually, they will score at just slightly over 90 and play at around the 20 handicap range.

Read more:  What Is A Mid-Handicap Golfer?

The PGA Tour players don’t have an official handicap as they compete at professional levels. However, it’s estimated that most would have a plus handicap, likely between +4 to +6, indicating they consistently shoot below par.

The cost of an official golf handicap varies based on the golf association and region. In the U.S., registering with the USGA through a local golf club or online service typically costs between $20 to $40 annually. This includes access to the GHIN (Golf Handicap and Information Network) system.

The maximum handicap allowed by the USGA for men is 36.4, and for women is 40.4. These are used for players competing in 18-hole events. For 9-hole events, the maximums are 18.2 for men and 20.2 for women. However, it’s important to note that while these are the official USGA limits, individual clubs or events may impose their own handicap restrictions for competitions.

If  you score around 100  on an 18-hole course, your golf handicap will hover at around 28. This also assumes that you play a par-72 course. You would calculate this by taking 100 subtracted by 72, which equals 28.

Final Thoughts

What is a good golf handicap? A good handicap for a new male golfer is around 28 or lower. For women, it’s around 36.

• The average golf handicap for men is 14.
• The average golf handicap for women is 20.

If you can log a handicap index under these numbers, then you can be very proud.

Want more? Check out  “What is an average golf score?”  to see how it relates to your golf handicap.

• How To Lower Your Handicap
• The Golf Handicap System – A Beginners Guide

Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.

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Scottie Scheffler reveals eye-popping handicap index he uses when not playing PGA Tour events

Scottie Scheffler

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ATLANTA — If you have an official USGA handicap , you can now match up your index against the best player in the world.

Ahead of this week’s Tour Championship , in which he will begin with a two-shot advantage, Scottie Scheffler revealed that he carries a plus-7 index, an eye-popping figure.

For those unaware of what that means, Scheffler has to give seven shots back to the course on the seven easiest holes. So, for instance, if he is playing the seventh-easiest handicapped hole on the scorecard—or number 12—and it is a par-4, Scheffler has to make a three to post a net-par. He essentially has to shoot 7-under to shoot even-par.

That isn’t easy.

But Scheffler uses his handicap when playing with his buddies, often during the offseason or when he is not in the thick of competing for major championships.

“I do love social golf. If I’m going to take a month off, if we’re not on vacation, I’m probably still going to play once or twice a week with my buddies because it’s just a heck of a lot of fun,” Scheffler said.

“I love being at home, and I love cutting up, and if I’m not really in peak shape, I am sure my buddies are going to be calling me more often to play than when it’s during the year, and I’m playing really good, because they would arguably have a better chance to beat me when I haven’t really been practicing.”

Very few people have beaten Scheffler all season on the PGA Tour , so his buddies have not choice but to try to do so through the handicap system.

“I think that’s one of the great parts about our game,” Scheffler said.

“I can go out there with whoever it is, and we can come up with some sort of fair match based on the handicap system.”

Scheffler then revealed that his handicap went down, thanks to his six PGA Tour victories and gold medal triumph at the Olympics this season.

“I used to be a plus-5. They moved me to a plus-7,” Scheffler said.

“So now we’ve got guys in the group getting like two strokes a hole. I typically still win more often than not, I feel like, but it’s just fun. It’s just entertaining. If you’re going out there with a 12 or 13 handicap, you don’t know what the heck is going to happen.”

That means Scheffler has to give that 12 or 13 handicapper 20 strokes, something no golfer ever wants to do.

But that only fuels Scheffler’s competitive fire on the course.

“I do not want to be giving him money at the end of the day, whether it’s $5 or $500,” Scheffler said.

“I do not want to take out my wallet and hand him money at the end of the day. That’s just not in my blood. I want to win, whether we’re playing ping-pong or whatever it is. Whatever the format, I’m going to show up and try and do my best. That’s really all it is.”

No wonder why he is the best player in the world.

And yet, in some sense, you can relate to Scheffler through the handicap system. No, chances are you will never reach a preposterous plus-7 handicap. But you can measure yourself up against him. It’s not like you can compare yourself to Michael Jordan or LeBron James on the basketball court. Yet, in golf, you can compare yourself to the best player in the world. Everyone can play everywhere, no matter the skill set, another reason why so many people love this beautiful game.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

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The Average Golf Handicap: Where do you Rank?

Golf is all about numbers and the handicap system is no different.

In this sport we are constantly thinking about our driving distance, approach shot distance, and around the green statistics. The more you fall in love with golf, the more obsessed you can become with the number to try and improve. 

Because let’s face it, every golfer wants to shoot lower scores and play more consistently. Keep reading to learn more about the average handicap index for golfers, and some strategies to lower your handicap. 

Average Golf Handicap

So, what is the average handicap for golfers? What is the world handicap system?

It differs for men and women but here are the statistics from the  USGA  for golfers in the United States:

• Average golf handicap for men: 14.2
• Average golf handicap for women: 27.5

Do those golf handicaps for men/women surprise you or does that sound about right? A few other things surprised me including:

• Only 1% of male golfers have +1 handicap or better
• Less than 30% of male golfers have a single digit handicap (less than 10) 
• The most common handicap range for male golfers is between 13.0 and 13.9 for men and between 27.0-27.9 for female golfer 

Let’s dive in a little deeper to learn more about average handicaps.

Handicap Doesn’t Mean Average Golf Score 

It’s important to distinguish between handicap and total score. For example, the average male golfer has a handicap of 14.2 – that doesn’t mean they average an 86 on a par 72 golf course. Handicaps aren’t directly correlated with total score.

Instead, handicaps only take your best scores into account, not your worst or even middle of the road scores. As the  USGA  (United States Golf Association) noted,  “Once you have 20 scores in your scoring record, your Handicap Index is calculated by first averaging the best 8 Score Differentials™ out of your most recent 20 scores. This value may be adjusted due to built-in safeguards that are applied when:

• You submit an exceptional score, which is 7.0 strokes or better than your Handicap Index at the time the round is played, or
• Your 8 of 20 calculation is 3.0 or more strokes above your Low Handicap Index™ from the previous 365 days.”

It’s important to note these changes as far too many golfers think the handicap systems equate to total score. 

Slope and Course Rating

Another important thing to consider is the slope and course rating of a golf course. As you know, not all golf courses are created equal thanks to length, uphill/downhill, blind tee shots, penalty areas, and more.

The slope refers to the difficulty for a bogey golfer on a particular course. While the course rating refers to the number a scratch golfer should shoot from a specific tee box. The longer the golf course, the higher the course rating.

Course ratings can vary from under par, level par, and difficult golf courses over par. Click here to learn more about slope and course rating now. 

Other Factors That Impact Scoring

Aside from handicap plus the course rating/slope rating, there are even more things to think about. The first is if you actually follow the rules; so many golfers loosely abide by the rules but don’t drop a ball in the right spot if hit out of bounds or take gimmes from three feet. If you abide by the rules 100% of the time, chances are your scores will be higher.

Another factor for score is if the round is casual with friends or a formal competition . Players tend to score worse than average in competition thanks to nerves and challenging course conditions. 

Plus, weather conditions such as wind or cold temperatures can play a role as well.

What’s a “Good Golf Handicap?”

One thing I’ve learned about golfers is that they always want to improve. So a good handicap changes as you evolve in your golf journey.

For example, when I was in high school I was shooting in the 120s so breaking 100 was my goal. Once I started shooting in the 90s, then the goal moved to the 80s. Once that happened, it moved in the 70s.

Needless to say, the field goal post is always moving – you need to constantly reset your goals and upgrade your expectations. This is how you keep improving and reach your own potential – don’t worry about anyone else’s goals.

A good golf handicap is always changing if you are working on your game and constantly setting golf goals. But a single figure handicap is never a bad goal to set as your average golf handicap score will be in the 70s more often!

Becoming a Scratch Golfer

One goal that so many people want in this game is to become a scratch golfer or even a plus handicap golfer . Knowing that you shoot right around par on any given course on any given day is a sought after title. But it’s easier said than done.

For some, it might take decades to reach this level of golf. For others, it might only take a few years if you have tons of time to practice, play in tournaments, and upgrade your skills.

When it comes to shooting around par here are five of my biggest tips:

• Play one shot shape off the tee.  This will help you eliminate both sides of the golf course by avoiding a two-way miss. Swing your swing – whether it’s a cut or a draw, play the same shot off the tee.
• Have a tee box strategy for each hole.  Elite golfers have a plan for every shot and it starts with the tee ball. If you don’t, you’re making each hole harder on yourself and likely bringing in more trouble.
• Work on your mental game as much as anything.  You can be the best ball striker in the world but if your mental game wreaks havoc on your score, it doesn’t matter. Jack Nicklaus once said that golf is 90% mental! So instead of hitting more range balls, make sure to work on your mental game too. 
• Practice short putts.  Short putts are the most important ones in golf as they keep momentum going and save easy shots. Statistically, you’re also much more likely to make ones inside 8-feet so practice them the most! 
• Play golf with better players.  To shoot lower scores at any level, you need to play golf with better players to see how they navigate each hole. This will give you amazing insight into their game and tons of ideas on what you need to improve in practice. 

Click here to read our full guide to become a scratch golfer now.

FAQs About Good Golf Handicaps

Do you have more questions about an official golf handicap? If so, keep reading to learn more now.

What is a respectable golf handicap?

It’s always best to compare yourself to only your former self. Too many golfers try to compare their game to other players and it rarely does any good. Instead of asking what is respectable, ask if you are improving? 

Is a 20 handicap good for a golfer?

A 20 handicap for a male amateur golfer is higher than the average of 14.2. But a 20 handicap isn’t a bad thing, especially if you’re a new golfer or someone who plays recreationally. If you’re a 20 average handicap you probably shoot in the high 90s on most rounds.

If you want to start shooting in the 90s, make sure to  read our guide on how to break 90 fast and make sure to check out our article on how to go from a 20 to a 10 handicap .

What’s my handicap if I shoot 100?

A score of 100 is usually about a 23-25 handicap. While a lot of places note it as 100-72 (par of the course) which would be 28. But many people forget to factor in that handicap is your best scores, not your average scores. 

If you’re a 28 handicap you’re more likely to shoot north of 100 during most rounds of golf. 

What is the official handicap for the PGA Tour?

The average golfer can hardly imagine but a PGA Tour golfer is near +5 to a +7! At most golf clubs that means shooting in the mid 60s every round.

What is the most common golf handicap?

According to the USGA, the most common range of handicaps is between 13-13.9 for men. This would equate a golf score in the high 80s during most rounds. 

What percentage of golfers can break 90?

It’s hard to say a specific percentage as not all golfers log their scores into the handicapping system (or record their scores at all). If you got off the USGA handicap guide mentioned above it’s about 25%. This again doesn’t factor in golfers who don’t enter their scores and also important to note that not every golfer abides strictly to the rules either. 

How much does it cost to have an official golf handicap?

A golf handicap is a great investment in your game and enable golfers to track progress over time.

They only cost about $30 per year and allow you to enter scores from rounds and tournament rounds to establish a handicap . You need to renew this each year but it’s well worth the money.

Without a golf handicap, it’s hard to bet with fellow golfers and not “sandbag” the competition. If you’re into gambling on the course, make sure to read our full guide on gambling games now. 

How do you break 80 in golf?

Breaking 80 and shooting in the 70s is a goal for so many golfers. To break 80 you need a consistent tee shot, decent irons/wedges, and a great short game. Not to mention, a good pre-shot routine to control your mental thoughts and not let your mind sabotage the round.

Make sure to read our guide to break 80 to start shooting in the 70s fast.

What is the maximum handicap?

According to the New World handicap system the max is 54 for both male and female golfers.

Final Thoughts on a Good Golf Handicap

The average golf handicap for men is 14.2 and the average for women is 27.5. But as we discussed above, there is a lot more to score other than just handicaps while playing golf. The course itself, weather, slope/rating, tee boxes, and a ton of other things play a role in the total score.

Also, don’t forget that handicap doesn’t mean score. The average score for men on 18 holes is not around 86, it’s much higher for most golfers. Handicaps only take the best scores into account so you shouldn’t expect to shoot your handicap each round. 

What range of scores do you normally shoot for 18 holes?

Let us know in the comments below. 

If you need help lowering your handicap, make sure to check out some of our most popular articles below:

• Draw vs. Fade
• Average Distance Per Golf Club
• How to Eliminate Swing Thoughts in Golf
• Golf Statistics by Handicap: What is reality?

Ultimate Guide to Golf Handicaps: Understand & Calculate Yours

• DESCRIPTION Three golfers filling out scorecard
• SOURCE Erik Isakson
• PERMISSION Getty Images License

When it comes to Handicaps in the game of golf, there’s always confusion. Not only the method and the formula for calculating a Handicap, but also the idea of even having one.

A common misconception is that Handicaps are only for better players, which is not true. Holding an honest Handicap can actually benefit players of all levels, especially “average” golfers. Here is the ultimate guide to understanding what a golf Handicap is along with other important details for obtaining your own.

What is a Golf Handicap?

In short, a golf Handicap is the true measure, undeniable by math, of how good at golf you are.

According to the United States Golf Association (USGA) a Handicap index is described as, “The measure of a player’s demonstrated ability calculated against the Slope Rating of a golf course of standard playing difficulty (that is, a course with a Slope Rating of 113).”

In other words, a golf Handicap is a formulated number given to you based on golf scores that you’ve shot. Those scores are compared against the course’s difficulty (rating/slope).

In 2020, several various handicap systems used around the world were merged into one system, the World Handicap System. If you carry an official handicap through the USGA or another one of golf’s governing bodies, your handicap index is automatically calculated when you post your scores, and your index updates the next day.

What is a Good or Average Handicap?

The average Handicap index of male golfers is 14.2, while the average for women is 27.5.

Men with a Handicap index under 5.0 fall into the 90th percentile, while those with a handicap under 14.0 are in the 50th percentile. Less than two percent of male golfers who keep a handicap have an index 0.0 or better. Meanwhile, nearly 80 percent of male golfers have a handicap under 20.

Women who play to a Handicap index of 14.0 or better are in the 90th percentile, and half of all women who keep an official Handicap have an index of 28.0 or less.

(CC BY-ND 4.0)

• DESCRIPTION Golf Handicap average histogram
• SOURCE LoveToKnow Media

Scratch Golfer

Scratch is a common term used in golf Handicapping. A scratch golfer is a player who holds a handicap of approximately 0 and (with some variation) will often shoot around even par for a round of 18 holes.

Given that the formula for calculating a Handicap index only considers the best eight of a player's most recent 20 scores, a player can post scores in the mid-to-high 70s, or higher, and still maintain their status as a scratch golfer if those other scores are around even par.

Plus Handicaps

Players that typically score below par will have a “plus” Handicap. For example, John is a +2, he typically scores around 70, a couple under par, depending on the course. When implementing handicap strokes, John has to give strokes to the course to play to his handicap, whereas most players receive strokes.

Professional golfers on the PGA and LPGA tours do not keep a Handicap index, although if they did, their indexes would range from the +4 to +8 neighborhood .

How and When Do You Use a Handicap?

Your Handicap is only as useful as what you put into it. To keep an accurate Handicap, you must input all of your scores, no matter how good or bad they are.

You can enter scores using the USGA's GHIN site . Other options include using your local golf association website or app (if you’ve signed up through them) or by using the computer or device devoted to Handicap entry at the course you’re playing.

How are Handicap Strokes Applied

When you use your Handicap will depend on what kind of golf you’re playing. If you’re playing a more casual competitive round with friends , using your Handicap is a great way to make sure teams or strokes are structured accordingly.

Use the scorecard's hole rankings to apply Handicap strokes. Each hole is ranked by difficulty -- with a couple other minor factors -- from 1-18, with 1 being the most difficult hole and 18 being the easiest. If your course handicap is 6, you get a handicap stroke on the six most difficult holes, ranked 1-6 on the scorecard.

When competing against other players, subtract the lower handicap from the higher handicap, and award the higher handicap that number of strokes, corresponding to the hole rankings. For example, if John's course handicap is 6 and Nancy's is 8, Nancy gets two strokes from John, one each on the holes ranked 1 and 2 on the scorecard.

If you intend on entering a competitive golf tournament such as a club championship, golf outing , or qualifying event, the tournament organizers will most likely require you to have a valid Handicap to be sure you are placed in the correct flight.

How To Get a Handicap?

You can get your Handicap at your local golf course. Most courses have a tablet or computer devoted to Handicap sign-up and score entry.

If you don’t have a home course or belong to a golf club, you can always utilize the Allied Golf Association to find your local golf association. You will have to create a profile, but this is a very popular way to obtain your Handicap.

The cost of keeping an official Handicap can vary but is generally around $30-50 per year.

Official vs. Unofficial Handicap

An official Handicap in golf is recognized by the World Handicap System. The USGA, R&A, and other governing bodies established the WHS to standardize the Handicap system around the world.

An unofficial Handicap would be anything not recognized by the WHS. There are plenty of apps and websites that allow you access to a free Handicap tracker. While they may use the same formula, it’s not associated with the WHS so it will be deemed unofficial.

How to Calculate Your Own Handicap

If you prefer to calculate your Handicap on your own, or just want to know how the great round you just shot will impact your index, here is how to use the World Handicap System formula.

Convert an 18-hole score into an adjusted score. Your adjusted score takes into account any maximum scores that prevent your handicap from bloating due to one or two bad holes. The maximum score a golfer can take on a hole is net double bogey . In other words, par for the hole, plus any handicap strokes the player received on that hole, plus two. After you have your adjusted score, calculate your differential using this formula: (adjusted gross score - course rating) x (113/slope rating).

Once you have at least three 18-hole score differentials (two nine-hole scores can also combine to create one 18-hole differential), you have enough to calculate your Handicap. Eventually, your Handicap index will take into account the lowest eight of your last 20 18-hole differentials, but until you have entered 20 rounds, use the following scale to determine how many to use:

For 3 rounds, use the lowest one differential and adjust by subtracting 2.0

For 4 rounds, use the one lowest differential and adjust by subtracting 1.0

For 5 rounds, use the one lowest differential

For 6 rounds, average the two lowest differentials and adjust by subtracting 1.0

For 7-8 rounds, use the average of the two lowest differentials

For 9-11 rounds, use the average of the three lowest differentials

For 12-14 rounds, use the average of the four lowest differentials

For 15-16 rounds, use the average of the five lowest differentials

For 17-18 rounds, use the average of the six lowest differentials

For 19 rounds, use the average of the seven lowest differentials

For 20 rounds, use the average of the eight lowest differentials

Find the average of the differentials used to get the Handicap Index. For example, if you use the five lowest, add those together and divide by five then make any adjustment necessary as noted above.

Use the Handicap Index to find the Course Handicap. You do this because course difficulty varies, and your handicap on one course may not be the same as your handicap on another.

To find the Course Handicap, use your Handicap Index and the Slope Rating of the tees played divided by the average slope rating of 113.

The Course Handicap formula: Handicap Index x (Slope Rating of Tees Played/113) + (Course Rating - par).

For example, your Handicap Index is 16.7 and the tee box slope is 127, the course rating is 70.5 and par is 72. When applied to the net double bogey or net par adjustments, this number is then rounded to the nearest whole number. Otherwise, use the unrounded result to calculate Playing Handicap. To calculate a Course Handicap using this example, the formula is: 16.7 x (127/113) = 18.769 + (-1.5) = 17.269. In this scenario, your course handicap is 17.

Tips & Warnings

When you finally have your Handicap Index, it's important to remember it doesn't reflect your average score, but your best potential for a round.

The World Handicap System eliminates "disaster holes" on the scorecard by capping a player’s score at net double bogey. This is also in place to eliminate sandbaggers who intentionally play a hole poorly to raise their handicap and does so by putting a limit on the number of strokes per hole, which is based on the course handicap. Taking a high score on a hole would mean the Handicap Index would not reflect accurately.

Tour Championship

East Lake Golf Club

HOW SCOTTIE GOT SO GOOD

What is a tour pro's handicap index?

Most PGA Tour players hold club memberships and many even post scores to establish a handicap index. A cursory check of handicaps of tour pros living in Southern California, via the Southern California Golf Association's website , showed this:

Fred Couples, a member at the Palms Golf Club in La Quinta, is a +5.6, though he has not posted a score since January of 2008.

Paul Goydos, who has three club affiliations listed (Dove Canyon Country Club inDove Canyon and El Dorado Park Golf Club and Virginia Country Club in Long Beach), is a +4.8 and has been as low as a +5.8. Goydos, who enjoys playing with friends and fellow club members, has posted 32 scores this year.

Tom Pernice, a member at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta, is a +5.3 and routinely posts scores.

Retired PGA Tour and Champions Tour players Gene Littler and Billy Casper also have handicap indexes -- Littler a 1.1 at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Casper a 5.6 at San Diego Country Club.

Other notables with handicaps:

Former baseball star Mark McGwire is a +2.8 at the Madison Club in La Quinta (and Shady Canyon Golf Club in Irvine).

Tim Mickelson, Phil's brother, is a +2.7 at the Farms in Rancho Santa Fe (he's been as low as a +4.4).

Scotty Cameron, the putter maven, is a +0.2 at the Bridges in Rancho Santa Fe.

-- John Strege

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What is a Golf Handicap? | Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated on July 15, 2021

Golf's handicap system leads to a lot of confusion for new golfers and golfers starting to take the game more seriously. In this guide, we'll explain the system and how to get an official handicap.

Bear with us if things seem confusing at first. By the end of this guide, you should clearly understand how handicap works in golf.

Covered in this guide:

What is a Golf Handicap?

• Handicap Index®
• Average Golf Handicap
• Using Handicaps to Compete Fairly

Calculate Golf Course Handicap

The USGA's Handicap System™ allows golfers of different ages, genders, and skill levels to fairly compete against each other on nearly any golf course in the world.

A golfer can get an official Handicap Index® through a USGA compliant golf club or through approved golf scoring apps like The Grint . 

Handicap Index® , often referred to by golfers more simply as "handicap,"  is a numeric rating representing a golfer's ability based on their achieved scores relative to the difficulty of the course played. 

A lower Handicap Index® indicates a more skilled golfer, while a higher handicap represents a less skilled golfer.

Your handicap symbolizes how many additional strokes you generally need relative to par. For example, on a neutral par-72 golf course, a 5-handicap golfer's course handicap would be 77.

Course Handicap  represents the of the number of strokes a golfer needs to play to par from a specific set of course tees. The calculation factors in a player's Handicap Index® and a course's Course Rating™ and Slope Rating® to adjust the number of strokes that the player needs.

The higher the Course Rating™ and Slope Rating®, the harder the golf course plays.

A 12 handicap golfer at a reasonably easy local course of mine playing from the furthest tees would have a course handicap of 16. This same golfer playing from the championship tees of the much more difficult Kiawah Island Golf Resort's Ocean Course, host of the 2021 PGA Championship, would have a course handicap of 24.

Handicap Index ®

Handicap Index ® is not just an average of scores. It's an indication of how well you CAN play after taking into account the difficulty of the courses where you made your scores.

After changes made in 2020, the maximum handicap for all players is 54.0.

If you've submitted 20 rounds, your Handicap Index ® will be calculated using an average of the Score Differentials of the eight best rounds out of all 20 rounds.

Score Differential is your score after factoring in course difficulty (Course Rating™ and Slope Rating®) and weather conditions (Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)). In other words, it creates a standardized score so scores can be compared across different courses.

The USGA's Score Differential formula is:

(113 / Slope Rating®) * (Adjusted Gross Score - Course Rating™ - PCC Adjustment)

Fortunately for you as the player, you won't have to worry about these calculations. Once you submit your score, the club or app that manages your handicap will handle these calculations.

As mentioned above, only your eight best Score Differentials of the last 20 will be used to find your Handicap Index ® . This is why we say Handicap Index® is more about how well you can play in your rounds rather than just a simple average.

However, there are safeguards the USGA considers to deal with extremely inconsistent golfers and exceptional rounds.

In regards to Score Differential and Handicap Index®, the USGA says :

This value may be adjusted due to built-in safeguards that are applied when: You submit an exceptional score, which is 7.0 strokes or better than your Handicap Index at the time the round is played, or Your 8 of 20 calculation is 3.0 or more strokes above your Low Handicap Index from the previous 365 days.

When these safeguards are applied, they will be indicated in your scoring record.

Again, while this may all be overwhelming, all you have to do as the golfer is submit your scores (including the course and tee boxes you played from). Your handicap index ® will be updated the following day at midnight.

Average Handicap Index

According to the USGA, the average Handicap Index® for men is 14.2 and 27.5 for women. 

The chart from the USGA below shows the Handicap Index® distribution for men:

The chart below shows the Handicap Index ® distribution for women:

Keep in mind that these charts and averages only include golfers with an official handicap. We'd assume better golfers are more inclined to get an official handicap, while more casual golfers would be less likely to do so. If your handicap is on the worse (higher) end of the distribution, keep in mind that it probably would not be as bad if all golfers kept an official handicap.

Scratch and Better Golfers

You've likely heard the term " Scratch Golfer " thrown around if you've been playing the sport long enough.

A Scratch Golfer is a golfer with a Handicap Index ® of 0. 

It's also possible to have a handicap better than zero. The best golfers will have handicaps that begin with a "+" symbol, for example +2.

This means they'd actually be giving away strokes in relation to par rather than receiving them. For instance, a +2 golfer should score 70 on a neutral par-72 golf course.

PGA Tour Professionals can have handicaps as good as +6 or better.

Using Handicaps To Compete Fairly

If a 5-handicap and a 20-handicap golfer were competing straight up against each other, the 5-handicap golfer should almost always win.

That wouldn't be any fun for the worse golfer (20-handicap), and the 5-handicap would be unlikely to get the 20-handicap to play for anything too serious.

The handicap system allows better golfers to give an appropriate number of strokes to worse players.

Using Handicaps in Stroke Play

In stroke-play , our 5-handicap golfer could give the 20-handicap golfer 15 strokes (the difference between their two handicaps). 

If the 5-handicap golfer shot a 78, the 20-handicap golfer would need to shoot a 93 to tie or a 92 to win.

• 5-Handicap Golfer -  78 - 5 strokes for Handicap Index ® = 73 Net score
• 20-Handicap Golfer  - 93 - 20 strokes for Handicap Index ® = 73 Net score

Using Handicaps in Match Play

To use handicaps to compete in match play , you'd first find the difference between the two golfers' handicaps.

If we're using the same golfers from the previous example, the 5-handicap golfer would give 15 strokes to the 20-handicap golfer.

The 20-handicap golfer would get one stroke on the 15 most difficult holes (holes labeled 1-15 on the scorecard).

If the 20-handicap golfer got a five on a par-5 hole that they were given a stroke and the 5-handicap golfer got a four, the hole would be tied. Instead, if they both got a five on the hole, the 20-handicap golfer would win.

In cases where a golfer receives more than 18 strokes in match play, they first get one stroke on every hole, then an additional stroke on the most challenging holes. For example, a golfer given 21 strokes would get two strokes on the three most difficult holes and one stroke on every other hole.

You can calculate your course handicap using the following formula:

Course Handicap ™ = Handicap Index® X (Slope Rating® / 113) + (Course Rating ™ - Par)

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TRADEMARKS:  The terms Handicap System ™ , Handicap Index®, Course Rating ™ , Slope Rating®, and USGA® are trademarks of the United States Golf Association (USGA).

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How To Get A Golf Handicap

How to get a golf handicap is one of the first questions many new golfers ask. Here's how

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How to get a golf handicap is often among of the first questions new golfers would ask. (Just as, when you tell someone you golf, a typical stock response is ‘what is your handicap?’)

Getting a handicap has become easier of late. This is a consequence of the golfing world moving to one system of awarding handicaps, whereas before different territories had their own ways of calculating and allotting handicaps. This new system is called the World Handicapping System , (WHS) and applies across 80 countries.

One of the joys of golf is that players of differing abilities can compete against each other as equals. This is entirely down to the handicap system. In theory, in a handicap competition, every competitor should have an equal chance of winning. (Hey, we did say ‘in theory!)

A handicap gives a player a number of shots to adjust their score by. One of the simplest forms of competition is the medal, or strokeplay competition, whereby the lowest nett score wins. To get the nett score you take a player’s actual (gross) score and adjust it for handicap. So if Alex shoots 93 and has a handicap of 18, Alex’s nett score is 93-18 = 75. Handicaps are used in other forms of competition such as the ever-popular Stableford .

The WHS System rather than allocate a handicap, in the strictest sense of the word, allocates instead a handicap index, which is “a measurement of a player's potential ability on a course of standard playing difficulty.” This Handicap Index (based upon the average of the best eight scores from your last 20 rounds) is then used to calculate the number of shots that a golfer gets around a particular course according to that course’s playing difficulty.

This number of shots is the Course Handicap that a golfer gets for that round. A Handicap Index can go up to a maximum of 54, but the maximum golf handicap a player can get can be higher than this on difficult course. (For example, if a player with a 54 Handicap Index took on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island from the Championship tees, they will, be a. mad to do so; and b. get a huge number of shots as their Course Handicap.)

So how do you acquire a Handicap Index under WHS? Well the good news is that you do not have to wait until you have played 20 rounds. You can get one as soon as you have played 54 holes – either as 9-hole rounds, or 18-hole ones, or a mix of both – and submit your scores. If it is a social game, you have to register in advance that the round will be for handicap purposes – so no waiting until you see what you have scored before you decide whether you want that score included or not.

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Do this and you can obtain an initial Handicap Index. This will then get adjusted as you play more and start to fill out your 20 rounds.

It used to be that to get a handicap you had to be a member of a club. But no longer in some countries. Now nomadic golfers can a get official handicaps, too, under various schemes. For example, England Golf, the governing body of the amateur game in England, have the iGolf scheme , whereby for an annual subscription, golfers can obtain and maintain an up-to-date official handicap index; Scottish Golf have OpenPlay  and in the US you can join an online golf club.

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2024 Tour Championship format: Starting strokes, handicaps and cut rules

The 2024 Tour Championship format has been announced for the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup finale played at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, which is played Aug. 29 - Sept. 1.

The Tour Championship is the only PGA Tour stroke-play event that will use a handicap system. The Tour Championship field is comprised of 30 players, competing over 72 holes.

The top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings after the BMW Championship qualify for the event, and they're slotted with starting strokes based on their FedEx Cup ranking.

The top seed starts the tournament at 10 under par, with the No. 2 seed at 8 under par, and so on, all the way down to Nos. 26-30 starting at even par. This means the lowest-seeded players will have to overcome a 10-stroke disadvantage during four rounds of golf.

For the purposes of the Official World Golf Ranking, points are doled out based on how players score in the 72-hole tournament without starting strokes.

2024 Tour Championship starting strokes and handicaps

The player with the lowest total -- combining their starting strokes and on-course play -- after 72 holes wins both the tournament and the FedEx Cup. There is no cut in this tournament.

The format is designed to create an incentive for players to get into the season finale as highly ranked in the FedEx Cup as possible, while also making it straight-forward for fans to understand who is going to win the FedEx Cup without thinking about points and math.

In the event of a tie in points after 72 holes, the Tour Championship playoff format becomes a sudden-death stroke-play affair, with the player earning the fewest strokes on a playoff hole advancing or winning the tournament. The Tour Championship winner earns the FedEx Cup, the $25 million first-place prize , a five-year PGA Tour exemption and entry into all four major championships in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

About the author

Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is currently a +2.6 USGA handicap, and he has covered dozens of major championships and professional golf tournaments. He likes writing about golf and making it more accessible by answering the complex questions fans have about the pro game or who want to understand how to play golf better.

Ryan talks about golf on various social platforms:

X or Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryanballengee Facebook: https://facebook.com/ryanballengeegolf Instagram: https://instagram.com/ryanballengee YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ryanballengeegolf

Ballengee can be reached by email at ryan[at]thegolfnewsnet.com

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TOUR Championship leaderboard without FedExCup Starting Strokes

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The TOUR Championship utilizes the FedExCup Starting Strokes format to reward players who’ve had the best seasons thus far. They’ve earned an advantage over their competition for the final week that decides the FedExCup.

From a betting perspective, players’ scores this week (not including the Starting Strokes) are also important. There was an active betting market for the low 72-hole score this week.

Collin Morikawa finished second behind FedExCup champ Scottie Scheffler on the overall scoreboard, but he left East Lake with the lowest 72-hole score among the 30-man field. Morikawa had the fourth-lowest odds (+1600) entering the week at BetMGM Sportsbook to have the lowest 72-hole score.

Morikawa’s final-round 66 meant he played four rounds in 22-under, with a 26-under total including his Starting Strokes. Morikawa’s 22-under 262 finished the week one shot ahead of Sahith Theegala, who closed with a 64, and two shots clear of Scheffler for the 72-hole score.

Morikawa and Theegala (24-under) finished solo second and solo third, respectively, on the final leaderboard behind Scheffler (30-under) when Starting Strokes were included.

Putting Statistics by Handicap: Which Stats to Track?

In this guide I’ll share recent data on putting statistics by handicap so you can see how well golfers like you are putting in different categories. Tracking putting stats is important to improving your short game so you can see where your weaknesses and strengths are and adjust strategy on the golf course.

One of the fun aspects about tracking your putting stats is you can compare them with the putting statistics of professional golfers to see how you fare. Putting is one area where amateur golfers can actually become as good as professionals.

In order for the amateur golfer to better understand how well the best players in the world actually putt, let’s take a look at the putting statistics on the PGA Tour.

Putting Stats

The following key putting statistics will give the amateur golfer perspective about how good or bad the pro’s actually putt in reality. Track these putting stats in your own golf game to see how you compare.

• Putts per round
• Putts from 3 feet
• Putts from 6 feet
• Putting from 10 feet
• Putts made from over 20 feet per event

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Putts Per Round

The PGA Tour keeps record of basically every putting stat that can be tracked via their Shotlink system. You can find a full page of putting stats here.

One of the most common stats that most golfers, even high handicap amateur golfers, know about are putts per round.

This tracks how many total putts a golfer has during a round of golf. If you are giving yourself 2-putts per hole as a goal and you play 18 holes, then that would calculate out to 36 putts per round you’d expect to hit.

The leader on the PGA Tour each year has usually averaged around 28 putts per round, so 8 shots lower than the 36 putt goal.

Looking at this stat will make the average golfer realize that having 30 putts or less per round is a very solid goal to strive towards instead of setting the goal at 36.

Putts per round by handicap:

• Professional golfer = 28-32 putts
• Scratch golfer = 30-34 putts
• Average golfer = 36-40 putts
• High handicap = 45+ putts

Putts from 3 Feet – Make Percentage

Normally during a round with friends most amateurs are very quick to give each other 3 and 4 foot putts, calling them good and letting the putt be picked up, rather than putted out to finish the hole.

If your playing partner is Patrick Cantlay then yes you can go ahead and give those putts to him, but on average social golfers don’t make nearly as many short putts as they should.

Patrick Cantlay made every single 3 footer that he had on the PGA Tour season. That’s over 700 3-footers made in a row to be exact!

You don’t have to make every single 3 footer that you have, but it will definitely improve your golf score if you can at least make 80% of your 3 footers on average.

Before you give yourself that 3 footer, ask yourself, is this going to benefit me by skipping the putt or will it help me get extra practice under pressure by making myself putt out?

3 Foot Putts by Handicap:

• Professional golfer = 99% (10 out of 10)
• Scratch golfer = 95% (9 out of 10)
• Average golfer = 60% (6 out of 10)
• High handicap = 40% (4 out of 10)

Putts from 6 feet – Make Percentage

Patrick Cantlay making a 100% of his 3 footers during a golf season is very impressive, but the human aspect in putting begins to show from the 6 foot mark.

Brian Harman was the leader in this recent PGA season with a 6 foot make percentage rate of 91%, which is still an incredible feat to achieve.

6 foot putts are your money range. They’re going to help you save pars and set you apart from the average golfer. Spend a lot of your putting practice time on this distance.

If professionals are averaging 80-90% from 6 feet, then set a goal for your game to achieve a 75% or better make rate at 6 feet. This will take 1000’s of reps to build skill but it’s a great goal to aim for and impress your opponents on the golf course.

6 Foot Putts by Handicap:

• Professional golfer = 85% (8 out of 10)
• Scratch golfer = 75% (7 out of 10)
• Average golfer = 20% (2 out of 10)
• High handicap = 10% (1 out of 10)

Putts from 10 Feet – Make Percentage

At the 10 foot mark, the percentage of putts made decreases considerably.

Zach Johnson held the top spot this recent season with a 70% make rate at 10 feet on the PGA Tour, and the last place player was at just 23%

Amateur golfers can learn a lot by looking at this statistic, having perspective about what realistic expectations are to have of yourself is a great start.

If a PGA Player only makes 3 out of 10 of his 10 foot putts for a 30% make rate then you definitely can’t get mad at yourself for missing them out on the course.

The average make percentage at 10 feet for the PGA Tour fell around 40%. Anyone above 50% was top 20 in the league.

10 Foot Putts by Handicap:

• Professional golfer = 40% (4 out of 10)
• Scratch golfer = 20% (2 out of 10)
• Average golfer = 0-5% (0 out of 10)
• High handicap = 0-1% (0 out of 10)

Green in Regulation Made Putts from 10-15 Feet

This putting stat tracks your birdie make percentage. When a professional golfer hits the green in regulation, what are the chances he makes the putt.

In this stat we chose to highlight the 10-15 foot birdie putt, and the leader on the PGA Tour was Adam Scott at 42% conversion.

Therefore, if he can hit his approach shots inside of 15 feet, Scott has a good chance of making 1 out of every 2 putts for birdie.

Putts made from over 20 feet per round

We all remember that long putt we made to save par or better yet that 30 foot birdie putt to win the money game against your friends.

No surprise that Jordan Spieth is right up there at the top of the leaderboard in this statistic.

Patrick Cantlay is technically the leader in this category with 2.3 putts made over 20 foot per round.

Spieth ranked 2nd in this category with 2.2 putts made over 20 foot per round.

Justin Rose is also high on the leaderboard for make percentage from 20 feet or beyond. He sank 10% of his 20 foot putts overall, and when he was on the green in regulation that stat jumps to 28%.

How to Track Your Putting Statistics

Start by giving yourself a couple blank lines on the scorecard for writing in putting stats. Then transfer these stats over to a spreadsheet or an app like 18Birdies so you can keep data digitally on your smart phone.

During practice I like to pull up notes on my phone and log putting stats for different drills I complete.

For example, if I do the make 100 putts from 3 feet drill, I’ll write down “99/100 – 3 feet” and then “70/100 – 6 feet” so I can compare my stats later on in future practices.

Golf Round Stats to Track on Scorecard

• Putts made at various distances
• Total putts per round
• Total 3 putts
• Birdie putt conversion rate

To some these putting stats might sound confusing, but if you take the time to read through it and process what they are portraying then they might actually give you perspective to use with your own putting skill level.

It is important to have realistic goals and expectations of your golf game, as having unrealistic expectations will only add pressure and anxiety to your mental game, causing worse performance.

These statistics can also add value to your practice regime. Knowing how many putts the best players in the world make from a certain distance can provide you with a good goal to work towards.

Golf Practice System for Lower Scores

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Follow these step by step practice plans and watch video lessons to learn how to improve your golf swing, chipping, and putting fundamentals.

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Topic - Handicap Index Calculation

Resources on this topic:.

• FAQ -  What is a Score Differential™ and how is it calculated?
• FAQ -  How is a Handicap Index® Calculated ?
• FAQ -  I always play the same tees. Is my Handicap Index "established" from that set?
• Infographic - Safeguards Included Within the Handicap Index Calculation

What you should know - In 150 words or less

Your Handicap Index is a portable number that represents your demonstrated golfing ability. It is based on your past scores relative to the difficulty of the course and tees played, as well as the playing conditions during each one of those rounds.

To calculate your Handicap Index, your 8 best Score Differentials from your most recent 20 scores are averaged, and additional safeguards are included that:

• Prevent excessive upward movement within one year (see caps ), and
• Further reduce a Handicap Index after an exceptional score is posted (see exceptional score reduction ).

The following table shows how a Handicap Index is calculated for players with fewer than 20 scores in their scoring record.

Additional Resources :

• Quick Read Flipbook - Player Reference Guide on the Rules of Handicapping

Read the Rules:

• See Rule 5 -  Rules of Handicapping

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Pga tour turns to fedex fall series with eight events starting in napa, share this article.

Scottie Scheffler won a fairly drama-less Tour Championship on Sunday, capping his seven-win 2024 season in which he banked giant gobs of money.

Now, everyone gets a week off as there is no PGA Tour event Sept. 5-8.

There will be eight FedEx Fall events over an 11-week period starting Sept. 12-15 in Napa, California, starting with the rebranded Procore Championship (formerly the Fortinet Championship).

After that, there is a three-week gap between Tour events but one of those weeks will be filled by the Presidents Cup, Sept. 26-29.

The fall swing takes the tour to Mississippi, Utah, Nevada, Japan, Mexico, Bermuda and finally Georgia.

Take a closer look at the eight fall events in 2024.

Procore Championship – Sept. 12-15

The 15th hole during the second round of the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa North course in Napa, California. (Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Defending champions: Sahith Theegala.

Sanderson Farms Championship (Oct. 3-6)

The 18th fairway at the 2024 Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi.

Defending champion: Luke List.

Black Desert Championship (Oct. 10-13)

No. 16 at Black Desert Resort in Utah (Black Desert Resort/Brian Oar)

Shriners Children’s Open (Oct. 17-20)

Tom Kim plays his shot from the 17th tee during the third round of the 2023 Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. (Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Defending champion: Tom Kim.

Zozo Championship (Oct. 24-27)

Ben Griffin, Justin Suh and Kensei Hirata of Japan walk to the 16th green during the second round of 2023 Zozo Championship at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. (Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Defending champion: Collin Morikawa.

World Wide Technology Championship (Nov. 7-10)

Fans on the 16th hole during the final round of the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Defending champion: Erik van Rooyen.

Butterfield Bermuda Championship (Nov. 14-17)

Satoshi Kodaira hits a tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the 2023 Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Defending champion: Camilo Villegas.

RSM Classic (Nov. 21-24)

A fan fishes near the 12th hole during the final round of the 2023 RSM Classic on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Resort in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Defending champion: Ludvig Aberg.

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