What handicap do you consider to be a "good" golfer

[00bolt]

Buddy and I were discussing this the other day. I know the typical golfer barely breaks 100. I know some people just want to break 90, 80... some just want to be a single digit. Some want to shoot scratch, etc.

 

But in general, in a golfer's eye.... what would be considered a "good golfer". Not a pro, but just a good golfer.

[TheFatTick]

If you're maintaining a true 5, you're an excellent golfer in my book.

[00bolt]

that is the exact number i had in my mind as well. I am currently about an 8 and my goal is to get down to a 5.

[eagles1]

"In a golfer's eye" - 10 or below.

[NJpatbee]

I would say a single digit handicap golfer is a good golfer.

[m5power]

In WRX, scratch or below. In the real world, anything under 12 is a good golfer IMO

[Bushwood Country Club]

I'd say if your index is 10-12 you can feel comfortable playing with about anyone, and I'd consider that a "good" golfer. That may sound generous given this amazing level of talent on GWRX, but that's what I think things are like in the real world.

 

Now - to say you are "very good" or "excellent", I would a agree - mid single digit (6 or lower) is how I would define that.

[SixtySomePing]

Non WRX'ers at 5 or less, and then most WRX'ers in general who don't post their handicap ;)

[PutterFingers]

I'm a 18 handicapper, and I'm better than a lot of people I get paired up with.

 

The 10-12 handicappers I play with are really good golfers, in my eyes. Anyone better than that is fun to watch, I love seeing great golf shots!

[jmck]

If you're maintaining a true 5, you're an excellent golfer in my book.

 

5 was the number that popped into my mind as well. By the time you get down to 5 or better you've almost certainly got a swing that looks decent and is fairly repeatable, and you're not going to be hitting the ball all over creation.

[Z1ggy16]

I think anybody who can constantly shoot mid 80s on courses rated at par is a pretty good golfer. All aspects of their game have to be pretty good to get scores in the 80s consistently, whereas somebody in the 90s might still be a horrible putter, etc.

 

Somebody in the 70s I'd consider to be an excellent golfer, probably better than about 95% of the norm (not pro's).

[wcbjr]

Under 10 handicap.

[HatsForBats]

Depends on the age of the 'good' golfer and probably on which golfer you are asking. In general I would say a 12 or less for someone in their prime years.

[BLLDWG23]

I'd say any true single digit handicap is a good golfer. Chances are you can compete with most you will play against and you make up about 25% of the golf population. A 5 or less makes up the 90th percentile. Anything less than a 14 and you are above the average.

[Mcgeeno]

Single digits in my opinion.

[The Beav]

Anyone who plays and competes in gross tournaments is a good player IMO. I know that sets the bar pretty high but that's always how I've approached it.

[Boricua Golf]

By GolfWRX standards a good golfer is at least at Tour Level at least Web.com status...lol, real world (like already mentioned), I think if you are in the single digits, I would consider that person a good golfer...

[One_Putt_Blunder]

In my skewed view of golf and good players I would consider a 5 or below to be a good player, in my circle of golf buddies that number changes to a 2 or below. I shot 37 on the front a couple weeks ago and was 7 shots down :russian_roulette: :russian_roulette: :russian_roulette: I play regularly with 2 former gateway tour players a competitive scratch AM from Iowa, a plus and a couple long hitting scratch players. At a 4 i am the hack in the group lol.

[raynorfan1]

I'd say any true single digit handicap is a good golfer. Chances are you can compete with most you will play against and you make up about 25% of the golf population. A 5 or less makes up the 90th percentile. Anything less than a 14 and you are above the average.

 

25% of the handicapped golf population - which is a "better than average" subset of the overall golf population.

[Jackal]

15 and under is good.

8 and under is great.

Watching a 12 cap play with confidence is something.

[hybrid25]

10 or below is great golf. I played this week with a 7,10,& 13,and I'm a 17. The 7 shot 87/80, the 10 shot 87/77, the 13 shot 105/92, and I shot 96/77. It was a difficult course, thick heather 10 yds off the fairway where you are just fortunate to find your ball, let alone advancing it. Lots of penalty strokes with distance. If a golfer can hold a legitimate 10 or below, that's good.

Also, I highly respect good etiquette into the equation.

[TheFatTick]

10 or below is great golf. I played this week with a 7,10,& 13,and I'm a 17. The 7 shot 87/80, the 10 shot 87/77, the 13 shot 105/92, and I shot 96/77. It was a difficult course, thick heather 10 yds off the fairway where you are just fortunate to find your ball, let alone advancing it. Lots of penalty strokes with distance. If a golfer can hold a legitimate 10 or below, that's good.

Also, I highly respect good etiquette into the equation.

 

You shot a 77 as a 17 handicap?

 

Great round!

[jmck]

In my skewed view of golf and good players I would consider a 5 or below to be a good player, in my circle of golf buddies that number changes to a 2 or below. I shot 37 on the front a couple weeks ago and was 7 shots down :russian_roulette: :russian_roulette: :russian_roulette: I play regularly with 2 former gateway tour players a competitive scratch AM from Iowa, a plus and a couple long hitting scratch players. At a 4 i am the hack in the group lol.

 

lol, yep, and you're not the only one. I wander from 1.5 to 2 and I'm the hack among the dudes I regularly play with. It's all relative of course, because I also play a lot by myself and I'll get paired up with plenty of random 20 handicappers and they all think I should be trying out for the tour, never mind that the difference between a 2 and a tour player is, give or take, the difference between a 2 and a 20.

 

Speaking of relativity, maybe the OP should clarify the type of home course he and his buddy have in mind for this theoretical "good golfer." I said 5 capper earlier, but I had in mind something like a 6700 from the blues, 145 slope, 72 rating joint. I know the whole point of an official USGA handicap is to equalize things, but I'd still take an honest 10 from Oakmont over a 5 from the local goat track.

[Cool Hand Luke]

in general i'd say single digit... but in all honesty it depends on your immediate circle/group of golf buddies. I play with guys ranging from a +3 to a 12 so consider myself (4) about an average golfer. 2 or better would be considered 'good' in my circle.

[00bolt]

you shot a 77 as a 17? or 77 was your handicapped adjusted score?

[hybrid25]

10 or below is great golf. I played this week with a 7,10,& 13,and I'm a 17. The 7 shot 87/80, the 10 shot 87/77, the 13 shot 105/92, and I shot 96/77. It was a difficult course, thick heather 10 yds off the fairway where you are just fortunate to find your ball, let alone advancing it. Lots of penalty strokes with distance. If a golfer can hold a legitimate 10 or below, that's good.

Also, I highly respect good etiquette into the equation.

 

You shot a 77 as a 17 handicap?

 

Great round!

Sorry I didn't make myself clear, I shot an actual 96 and with my handicap adjusted to this course difficulty I shot a 77 net.

[Rusty1885]

Below 80 would be the next tier for me. However I do admire a few 85-90 shooters with high golf IQ. They are usually older with distance limitations and/or one workable shot shape. I like how they plot their course management and stick with the plan.

 

I do play regularly with a low single group at one point all 4 of us were 2 handicap but play 4 different styles. I’m the shortest and straightest. Surely, in that group none of us call ourselves good players but our best ball would beat any tour pros.

[Qqq123xx]

10 or less.

[Loki]

A traveling scratch is a good golfer. Anyone that says a good or great golfer is a single digit needs to get their head examined.

[deadsolid...shank]

A traveling scratch is a good golfer. Anyone that says a good or great golfer is a single digit needs to get their head examined.

 

It's all a matter of opinion. There is no definitive number. The golf gods didn't decree from on high that "in order to be considered a good golfer, you must be a scratch!"

 

Chill a little dude. To a guy struggling to break 100, and nine handicapper looks like a world beater. It's all relative.