What is a Good Handicap in Golf?

A good handicap is anything below 12 handicap and an average handicap is between 12 and 18. A good handicap is any handicap lower than your current handicap.

[swiper]

"Your handicap is your potential" - the baus
*Me gazing at my 28 and remembering why my parents called me a failure*

[kofno]

I finally got my handicap to 9 this summer and broke 80 for the first time! What a ride! Thanks for all your great videos.

[suivzmoi]

this wasn't explained but reason why you rarely play to your Handicap Index is because that is calculated from the average of the best 8 of the last 20 rounds submitted. this essentially means that only 4 of your last 20 rounds will score better than your Handicap Index, i.e. 25%. you only a have a 25% chance to beat your own handicap index by definition. performing better than this likely means you are improving (your handicap index is actually decreasing while you play).

[atedejong]

After not playing for over 10 years, I picked up golf back in April again. Three weeks ago I shot for the first time 80 (+8), and today have managed to shoot a 78 (+6). But then again, I can also go back to +15 or close to 90 if my irons are terrible. Still a bit off and on. Also thanks to your course management videos have been able to lower my score. Great videos with explanation!

[SteveSmith-zzih]

Some course have no run in winter (drives = plugged balls) and you are hitting on avg 2 clubs stronger into the greens. Yet in Summer the same course has heaps of run. So that makes a huge difference and ones handicap doesn't reflect this.

[patts]

I’m at 12.7 and my usual score is 82-85 rounds but it’s pretty difficult to take the “next” step and break 80 more regularly for me it’s the concentration that’s the biggest problem.

[dreaminggolfers]

Wow👏 I finally understand a good handicap Thank you 😊

[ryanwalters]

I have never calculated my handicap. Early this year, I was shooting 93-95. My last two rounds have been 85 and 82. I have went to a smoother more tempoed swing and have been shocked by the results. May have lost a few yards but the dispersion I’m getting now has been well worth it

[lckimler]

I needed this reminder that handicap is not your average score. I've been on a decent streak the past month that brought mine down a stroke, but had a total blow-up round yesterday where I reached my course hcp in 9 holes and stopped keeping score altogether after 12.

But I do think that bell curve is skewed by reporting bias because so many weekend warriors out there who shoot 110+ but either 1) don't keep a handicap, or b) use mulligans and gimmes

[fretless]

Still working out some bugs, and am currently sitting at 13. I think I needed to hear this because shooting a higher score than I think I should can be frustrating! Much of golf, in my experience, is managing expectations, and clearly, I'm expecting too much for my handicap.

[Big_J]

In my country the average male handicap is 24.3 in WHS system. This includes practicly all golfers as official handicap is needed to play on almost all courses. Beginner golfers get starting handicap of 54 which bumps up the average also.

[rickmaag]

Good information. Not sure about things around the world but in the USA the USGA calculates a rating and slope for each set of tees on a course. When you play a set of tees the GHIN will tell you what your course handicap will be. Play a different set of tees next time and you will have a different course handicap. Handicap index is calculated by GHIN taking your 8 best scores out of your last 20 rounds. It all gets quite confusing which is why me and the guys play Stableford points and use that our handicap.

[daviddinsdale]

Howzit china! Judging by the accent, you're just as South African as me lol.
Dig your vids my bru. I've managed to lower my handicap from 28 to 16. Happy with that. Aiming for single digits this year. Been playing properly now that I'm in the UK as it's much more accessible than back home.
Your tips and tricks are much appreciated!

[amarug]

I wonder where that 13-15 "average" comes from. In 25 years of playing golf around the world, only in clubs that allow players with a hcp (I think these "casual player clubs" don't exist in many places) my impression was always that the average handicap is over 20. If I subbed for a tee time and I see someone with a 13, I think "oh a good player". Especially since it claims to be an "average", that would mean that like 30% of all players have a single-digit hcp for the math to add up. Well, anyone who plays golf at "normal" clubs knows that this is complete BS. Single-digit players are quite far and few between....

[creamabdul-jabbar]

It fluctuates so much too. Mine was a 17 a couple weeks ago then I got it all the way down to a 7.8 now back up to a 9.7 after todays round and it was only 1 over the score that got me to a 7.8

[kencsurilla]

I track my hcp on 18Birdies. I average between 73-78 and it has my hcp at +1.2 but I can NEVER go low low. My best games will be even. But my worst games will only be +5 or so. It had me confused

[fitnessrealty]

wow that makes a lot of sense! thanks so much.

[ollyw]

So I’m smack bang average at 15.5. I’m happy with that. My scores this year range from 84-100! At the end of the day everyone has their own level so having fun with mates is the main thing. Making pars and birdies are a bonus.

[james.a.h.]

The times I broke 80 is when I am not expecting a score for that round. Only on the final 4-5 holes when I realize I am only 2-3 over par.

[KnightsBBishops]

Handicap is also based on course rating and slope. Most people aren't playing from tee boxes with a course rating of 72 or higher. The average handicap is honestly probably more like 18 or 19, but people usually forget to count those extra 2 or 3 shots.