Indexes of High School Golfers

After completing the baseball season this spring, my son is considering trying his high school golf team next year. As I haven't played in high school nor know any high school players, we are wondering what the handicap index ranges are for those who make the team (6 regulars and 2 alternatives). His school is in the upper division and I heard they are doing good there. I know it can vary greatly from school/state/divison but I just wanted to get some overall idea/numbers to shoot for. Thanks.

It was bogey golf just to make the team of 12 at my high school 6-7 years ago, usually 4+ or better to play varsity...When I played we had 9 hole matches, now I beleive they are playing few matches but of 18 holes.

I just finished my season this year and my team, which was #3 in the state when we were finished, and if they consistantly broke 40, that was basically a starter. So single digit handicap, probably under 6 would garanette a starting posistion. We had 11 people and ~15 was probably the highest handicap, just above scratch being the lowest.

Hope that helps.

What I heard, at least in this area of CA, kids still play 9 holes most of the time, probably due to the insane green fees...

I know you are most likely getting a feeling for most people hear, I bet your son can easly find out at school just by asking the golf coach or athletic director.

I know you are most likely getting a feeling for most people hear, I bet your son can easly find out at school just by asking the golf coach or athletic director.

That's true and easy, for sure. For THIS YEAR, index 10 was #6 player out of 8 but I heard it's changing all the time, that's why. I also thought 10 sounded a little bit high...

It really depends on a lot of things. Size of the school, amount of golfers in the area, how many teams there are, etc. At my school it was roughly breaking 95 for frosh/soph and breaking 78 for varsity, but I am sure this fluctuates quite a bit.

an aveage in the 80's should be enough to play varsity or jv, and an average in the 70's should ensure varsity

an aveage in the 80's should be enough to play varsity or jv, and an average in the 70's should ensure varsity

Sounds very encouraging ;)

I would second the suggestion of asking the coach.

There are way too many variables to give a completely accurate answer on here, even if you are looking at the same school in different years. I graduated 10 years ago and to play at that time you probably needed to break 80 and to make the team you probably needed to be at 85 or better. However, this year to play it consistently took an average of 75 or better to qualify for the tournaments. The team had 7 guys average under 78 and 8 who shot par or better in at least 1 tournament round. We were a pretty good team and competed at state, but the team this year won state by 21 at -9 (36 holes).

I play off of a 7-8 and I am my teams 3rd player. If he can play bogey golf, then I like his chances of being able to make the team. If not, many schools offer a jv team.

wow nine hole tournaments

in oklahoma most of ours are thirty six in one day

As he hasn't really played golf for a while due to his extensive baseball, his index is around 15 for now but I believe he can still shoot between mid to high 80's these days. He has about 8 months before his tryout next year, on a positive note. Anyway, I'm really glad I started this thread and we're learning a lot on the goal to make the team. Please bring in more info!!! In the meantime, thanks for all the people who provide his experience/info!!!

We have the #2 2A team in Iowa. There are about 40 boys a class to give you an idea. If you shoot about 82 or lower for 18 holes you are varsity. Just to give you an idea I played off about a 6 last year and was the 4th man on varsity. This year its gone up to about 9.5 and I got bumped off varsity.

At my school we dont play regular matches, but we usually have team of 4, best 3 scores count. Our team was...

#1 = +2 Handicap, averages around 73/74 in school tournaments.

#2 = +1 Handicap, a bit erratic, but shoots some great numbers.

#3 = 1 Handicap (ME)

#4 = 4 Handicap, Fairly good player, sometimes contributes the last counting score

im a freshman and a 1.2 handicap... i play the one spot... i go to a school that doesnt have a golf team so i play for my district school and its a joke, one kid besides me can shoot in the 80's other than that theyre all in the 100s no joke... so it doesnt say much me being #1 asa freshman...

Our Varsity:

+2.1

+1.6

0.5

1.0

1.3

2.5

3.5

3.9

4.3

4.8

Our JV:

4.0

4.0

4.6

6.1

6.7

8.1

11.3

12.8

We're pretty stacked right now. Our school is an the Bay Aea, California. We're one of the top teams in the sate, we won state two years in a row a couple years back, and came in 3rs last year.

Hmmm, our school we only play one or two tournaments a year. Our team:

1 = 2

2 = 4

3 = 8

4 = 10

5 = 12

So our team's pretty much worst player was averaging 'round 83-84, if that helps ;)....remembering that our school is not really golf-based due to the lack of competitions. We won the State title 2 years ago, but our team's highest capper then was off 6

Our Varsity:

 

+2.1

+1.6

0.5

1.0

1.3

2.5

3.5

3.9

4.3

4.8

 

 

Our JV:

 

4.0

4.0

4.6

6.1

6.7

8.1

11.3

12.8

 

 

We're pretty stacked right now. Our school is an the Bay Aea, California. We're one of the top teams in the sate, we won state two years in a row a couple years back, and came in 3rs last year.

Hmmm, our school we only play one or two tournaments a year. Our team:

 

1 = 2

2 = 4

3 = 8

4 = 10

5 = 12

 

So our team's pretty much worst player was averaging 'round 83-84, if that helps ;)....remembering that our school is not really golf-based due to the lack of competitions. We won the State title 2 years ago, but our team's highest capper then was off 6

WOW... We live in Bay area, CA, too. Somehow, my son(Frosh)'s school does not have JV team - they have rosta of 8 players...

As he hasn't really played golf for a while due to his extensive baseball, his index is around 15 for now but I believe he can still shoot between mid to high 80's these days. He has about 8 months before his tryout next year, on a positive note. Anyway, I'm really glad I started this thread and we're learning a lot on the goal to make the team. Please bring in more info!!! In the meantime, thanks for all the people who provide his experience/info!!!

Be sure to learn the rules of golf front to back, there are no mulligans in competition golf.

As he hasn't really played golf for a while due to his extensive baseball, his index is around 15 for now but I believe he can still shoot between mid to high 80's these days. He has about 8 months before his tryout next year, on a positive note. Anyway, I'm really glad I started this thread and we're learning a lot on the goal to make the team. Please bring in more info!!! In the meantime, thanks for all the people who provide his experience/info!!!

 

Be sure to learn the rules of golf front to back, there are no mulligans in competition golf.

Yes, he's practicing to play by the rule without muligans & gimmies. Thanks, again.

The majority of junior players only post their lowest scores, so handicap index is usually in no way representative of the junior player's actual scoring range.

Regarding high school golf scores, it's mostly 5 or 6 man teams. Typically 2 or 3 guys shoot 38 to 42 for 9 holes. 2 or 3 guys shoot 42-47, and the other guy shoots high 40's. At some schools the scores are higher, just not many regular players. At other schools , one with lots of golf courses and many junior players, a team may have all five guys capable of shooting 36-40 for nine.

After completing the baseball season this spring, my son is considering trying his high school golf team next year. As I haven't played in high school nor know any high school players, we are wondering what the handicap index ranges are for those who make the team (6 regulars and 2 alternatives). His school is in the upper division and I heard they are doing good there. I know it can vary greatly from school/state/divison but I just wanted to get some overall idea/numbers to shoot for. Thanks.

Our Varsity:

 

+2.1

+1.6

0.5

1.0

1.3

2.5

3.5

3.9

4.3

4.8

 

 

Our JV:

 

4.0

4.0

4.6

6.1

6.7

8.1

11.3

12.8

 

 

We're pretty stacked right now. Our school is an the Bay Aea, California. We're one of the top teams in the sate, we won state two years in a row a couple years back, and came in 3rs last year.

 

 

Hmmm, our school we only play one or two tournaments a year. Our team:

 

1 = 2

2 = 4

3 = 8

4 = 10

5 = 12

 

So our team's pretty much worst player was averaging 'round 83-84, if that helps :clapping:....remembering that our school is not really golf-based due to the lack of competitions. We won the State title 2 years ago, but our team's highest capper then was off 6

WOW... We live in Bay area, CA, too. Somehow, my son(Frosh)'s school does not have JV team - they have rosta of 8 players...

What school?

Size of school means a lot. I'd have him talk to the coach personally so he can gather information about the team and get to know him a little better. Making friends with the coach never hurts.

Our Varsity:

 

+2.1

+1.6

0.5

1.0

1.3

2.5

3.5

3.9

4.3

4.8

 

 

Our JV:

 

4.0

4.0

4.6

6.1

6.7

8.1

11.3

12.8

 

 

We're pretty stacked right now. Our school is an the Bay Aea, California. We're one of the top teams in the sate, we won state two years in a row a couple years back, and came in 3rs last year.

Thats a very solid team.

What school?

Saratoga High.

I'm from the Bay Area as well. If you can break 80 consistently, that's good enough to play varsity for pretty much any team. My team won the first round of CCS this year at 385 for our top 5 on a par 71 course (Rancho Canada west). On a sidenote, I have some friends that play for Saratoga. JB Lee and Stephen Hoffman.

Irish system is different with a league and then qualifing tournements but to make our seior golf team it is 2 and the junior 6

Im a 4.0 (8th grade) and I think I have pretty good chances of making varsity since i have another year to practice, but our bottom varsity player has to have about a 2 or 3 handi, we were 7th in state.