how do "you" define high, low, mid handicap golfers?

[clearwaterms]

How would you define a "good" golfer? What is your definition of an average golfer? What do you define as a high handicapper, mid handicapper, and low handicapper? How many people do you think just guess on their handicap?

In other words, in general terms, how do you rate the level of play of the golfers around you? How would you rate yourself against them? If Tiger woods is the top 1/10000 of the top 1%, where do the rest of us fall?

[PiKapp23]

As to how to define a 'good' golfer, I think that's relative to how good you are. I usually consider a 'good' golfer to be someone under a 9 handicap or so, or who shoots under 80 a good percentage of the time (on regulation courses).

As for high, low and mid handicappers, I would probably define them as below. Because most players do not really have an official handicap, I just more by the scores they are shooting:

Low: Handicaps 8 and under (typically shooting in 70's)
Mid: Handicaps 9-24 (low 80's to mid 90's)
High: Handicaps 25+ (high-90's and up)

If someone can consistently break 100 I will consider than to be a mid-handicapper or better. I would consider scores between about 90 and 105 to be an 'average' golfer. I think the USGA says the average score is something like 96 (what that's based on I have no idea).

[right handed phil mickelson]

high handicappers- 90's+
mid handicappers- 80-90
low handicappers- 75-

anyone in the 76-80 range I consider to be in transition.

[David in FL]

How would you define a "good" golfer? What is your definition of an average golfer? What do you define as a high handicapper, mid handicapper, and low handicapper? How many people do you think just guess on their handicap?

By comparison, the rest of us all suck! The people that beat me are better than I am. Those that I beat are worse. That's all I really care about. For those that haven't played with one, I will offer that someone that honestly plays off a "+" handicap is just stupid good.

[elsito99]

For me there are 5 groups rather than 3

Low: 60's to 76
Mid-low: 77-85
Mid-high: 86-95
High: 96-115

"Beginner": 116+

[misty_mountainhop]

For those that haven't played with one, I will offer that someone that honestly plays off a "+" handicap is just

I'll second that; scratch and better really is orders of magnitude better than ~5. I wonder what Mr. Woods handicap would be?

[tjy355]

I always considered a "good" golfer to be someone who can shoot par on a regular basis. The rest of us fall in to varying degrees of "not so good."

[GaijinGolfer]

High=20+
Mid=10-20
Low=under 10
IMO, someone is a "good" golfer if they can break 100 on a regular basis.

[Cody]

high: 25+
mid: 24-11
low: 10-scratch
crazy:anything +


It really depends for a "good" golfer. The other day i was considered "good" as everyone played poorly. I would say anyone who shoots in the 80's is a "good" golfer.

[jrm1493]

There are so many variables, and so many that do not play by the rules that it is hard to say. My 19 is an honest 19 I except for the occasional (maybe once every 5 rounds) where I drop at the boundary of OB for pace of play reasons and treat it as a lateral hazard (If I know it was OB I'll Rehit but sometimes you don't know).

So many people improve lies, don't count penalties correctly, don't putt out, etc...

I would do it like this: Low breaks 80 regularly, Mid breaks 90 regularly and high is everyone else, although those that can honestly break 100 are much much better than a lot of the hacks you see, so they get some credit, maybe as a mid/high. There is so much variation, for example in the last year I have shot between an 83 and a 111. Now I did have the flu for the 111, but still, that is quite a range. Broke 90 6/29 rounds and shot over 100 13/29 rounds.

[anthonykim3]

low 10 to scratch
mid 10 to 20
high 20+
crazy ass +0.1 and above

[sosinsurr]

Why are + handicaps considered "crazy ass"? Just curious

[Jay-Bird]

Very High - 35 and higher
High - 27 to 35
Mid-high - 19 to 27
Medium - 10 to 18
Mid-low - 5 to 9
Low - 2 to 5
Very Low - Scratch to 2
retardiculously low - +2 to scratch
Pro-low - better than +2

[Fourputt]

An average golfer and an average handicapper are two different things. The average golfer shoots around 100. The average handicapper is about a 15, or better than a bogey golfer.

High handicap: 19 and up
Mid handicap: 10-18
Low handicap: 9 and lower

[wannabe]

by height.

:P

[Clambake]

I'll try a slightly different take on the answers:

High Handicap - Missing most swing fundamentals, and doesn't understand much about the swing. Occasionally gets a par or a very rare birdie, but mostly just tries to get the ball around the course without too much trouble. Tough courses won't be much fun. Index is probably >25 or so

Mid Handicap - Has some decent fundamentals, but still has some fundamental flaws in swing that reach up and bite hard. Doesn't quite understand the swing enough, though, to diagnose those problems and fix on course. Gets a number of pars and knocks in the occasional birdie. Has a number of blow up holes each round, though. Can place their shots just enough that they're starting to see the course strategy, but not consistent enough to take advantage. Index range is pretty wide, probably about 5 or 6 up to 25.

Low Handicap - Pretty solid fundamentals, with only an occasional problem that causes a wild shot, but skilled enough to limit the damage and rarely more than one blow up hole if any. Understands a lot of the swing and can diagnose enough on course to keep things on track. Understands course management, and has just enough game to look strategically at shots and execute what is needed most of the time. Can play any course in the world and enjoy it for how the designer intended. Index is around a 0 to a 5 or 6.

Scary Good - Repeatable swing with predictable shot shape. Can shape shots as needed. So consistent that course strategy is the major factor between scoring well. Bad luck is probably the biggest contributor to having a bad hole due to a funny bounce. Score is probably influenced the most by the putter - some days they just don't go in and he shoots even par, while some days everything goes in and shoots a 66. Index is +.

[Three Putt]

by height.

Good One.

[Petden]

I like Clambake's answer.