If you happen to be racking up club championships and your Handicap Index is in the low single digits, there is no doubt that you are an uber talented golfer. But what about the rest of the golf community? When are you considered a “good” golfer? The Handicap Index adds some context, although the answer remains subjective.
With a game that is ridiculously difficult to master, what must a novice golfer shoot to be considered “good” at golf?
That was the question CBS Golf’s Colt Knost — who’s also one half of the subpar GOLF podcast duo — asked some of the sport’s best players at this week’s PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. And if you needed any kind of proof of how compelling (or controversial) this article is, the video has been viewed more than 4 million times in less than 24 hours on CBS Golf’s Instagram page.
As you can imagine, the answers to the burning question were not universal.
“I think if you can shoot in the 80s I feel like you’re a serviceable golfer,” said the World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
“If you shoot 85 or less, I think you’re a great golfer,” Xander Schauffele said.
World No. 3 Cameron Young had a bit of a bar to clear.
“I feel like everybody who shoots 80 is a really good golfer,” he said.
Meanwhile, the two players on the European Ryder Cup team have the highest rankings. Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy both say you have to break 80 to be considered a good player. Their Ryder Cup captain, however, allowed more grace.
“I would say 90’s break,” said Luke Donald.
Collin Morikawa wouldn’t give a number, but he has more context to add than anyone else.
“I don’t think there’s a number, but I think you should be able to finish every hole without taking a 2-footer,” he said. “But to be good at golf, don’t make a double bogey.”
Pressed for a number, Morikawa did not move.
“No points, just a double bogey,” he said. “You can shoot 90, it’s 18 over, but it’s all bogeys.”
And we can turn to our friends at the USGA for help answering this question. Last year, 3.68 million golfers in the United States alone maintained a handicap and recorded a home record of 82 million rounds. Only 2 percent of male golfers scratched, and less than 1 percent of women scratched.
But we already know that beginner golfers are considered good.
The average handicap, however, was 14.0 for male golfers and 28.8 for female golfers. The USGA also breaks down the percentage of golfers in each handicap range, with the largest among men (26.48 percent) being in the 10-14.9 handicap range. According to their data, 29.81 percent of men who ended up with a disability last year were single-digit players.
So, what do you think is “good” in golf? That answer remains as logical as ever. But if you happen to ask this author – agrees with the European Ryder Cup captain.
