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

[Thaddy]

I posted this same question a few months back. Here is the thread. There are some very interesting responses, and one in particular that explains why the number shouldn't nessariliy be used as the sole determining factor.

I agree with this, except for the range of the low handicap golfer. I fit into the description of the low handicap, but my actual handicap number would place me into the mid range. I'd say a low handicap golfer is single digit.

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[David in FL]

I certainly fall smack dab in the middle of the mid Handicapper discription. My only disagreement would be with the range. I'd say it's higher than a 5 or 6.

+1.

Sorry, but a 5 hcp plays a completely different game than a 25 hcp! A 5 is unhappy if he's not in the 70's. A 25 is likely pleased to break 100.

[Drifterland]

By comparison, the rest of us all suck!

Hey i'm not stupid! Haha.

[leo3]

High = Someone I can beat

Low = Someone who beats me

[pxc]

High, mid, and low doesn't seem to cover it all. Adding two categories, maybe "rank beginner" and "scratch+" on either end would cover the spectrum better IMO.

[kfowler]

+1.

Agree David. I didn't even look at the top end of it. 25 is way too high. You're right in that they're two totally different games.

[shades9323]

I posted this same question a few months back. Here is the thread. There are some very interesting responses, and one in particular that explains why the number shouldn't nessariliy be used as the sole determining factor.

This is your thread!

You just linked us to where we currently are.

[clearwaterms]

This is your thread!

haha - a moderator must have merged the thread. somebody else posted a thread entitled "The handicap Caste System" and I felt that while it wasn't exactly the same question that I had asked it was similar enough, and ClamBake's response (which was quoted) was one of the best responses in the post.

[anthony]

Great thread, especially clam bakes answer. I'm a high handicapper, but have improved my ball striking considerably. However, trouble off the tee on anything but an iron or hybrid has consistantly added 10 strokes a round (at least ) to my scores. So that reply spoke to me.

Another thing I'm glad to see addressed is false handicaps. I play with the same group most of the time and everyone is honest about their scores and plays by the rules. However, I recently played with someone who said they shoot a 96 or so on average. So, I figured we were about even in terms of skill. Well, I shot probably my best round ever (a 91) and he shot a 114! That's even with a few I know were left off the scorecard and could easily have been a 120. I know my game needs work and I'm constantly working on fundamentals, but I looked like I was on tour playing with this guy. I think that shows how many people completely lie about their score by teeing up another drive, play a chip over if they duffed it, etc. All you really do is make yourself look ridiculous by lying or cheating. It wasn't too long a go I averaged 108 or so. But, I never lied about it.

[wubskis]

Personally, I just rank people with what they can break on a regular basis, and wouldn't use the terms high/low/mid etc. The higher your handicap, the less likely you are to stick to a certain score or range of scores (hence Clambake's answer being dead on.)

I'd consider anyone consistently >100 as a beginner, someone 91-100 as just "learning", someone 81-90 as average, 76-80 as good, scratch-75 as great, and anything lower and beyond as outstanding.

Not exactly words of praise, but hey, it's how I view the world around me, heh. You don't exactly get that many amazing golfers in the clubs around me, at least not ones that you'll see out on the course at the same time as you.

Oh and for whoever asked about Woods' hcap, who's post I can't find again to quote, I was reading an old copy of "How I play Golf" penned by Woods and in it was a mock-up of a hcap card that was in the region of +8.x~ if I remember right!

[ET-Taylor]

at the course i play at to shoot CSS i need 92 - 93 so good golfer would need to break 85 at least so it varies from course to course but i would say

single figures are low handicappers
10 - 19 are mid handicappers
above that are high handicappers

[billysandy]

Low handicappers are single digits - up to 9 hcp
mid is 10-20
high is 21+

[cody west]

theres a thing that says like
50% break 100 consistantly
20% break 90 on a regular basis
10% break 80 on a regular basis
5% break 75 on a regular basis
1% break par ever

i dont know how accurate this is but i read it in some article
i consider anything + great, scratch-9.9 good but could be better, 10-18 average, 18+ higher, 36+ beginner

most of the golfers that shoot ilke 75-80 could be better so it really depends on the case like if there is a golfer that shoots like 80 but he is all over the course all day i consider him average but if there is a golfer who shoots 80 and has a few 3 putts but doesnt lose a ball i consider him good

[laconic517]

High 18-30
Mid 10-18
Low - 9 or less

Good golfer to me is someone who is capable of breaking 80 every now and then.

[RandomRaiderTTU]

Low handicap: + to 7
Low-mid handicap: 8-13
Mid-High Handicap: 14-19
High handicap: 20+

[DaSportsGuy]

In my book:

Low=Under 10
Mid=11-20
High=21-30
Above 30 is just bad

[hipcheck4u]

What is your definition of a low, middle, or high handicapper? Is it just based on your number? If so, what range of handicap qualifies for each label? Is it based more on a set of skills that one holds, like the ability to shape a shot (at will) or put spin on the ball going into the green? What do you think?

btw, I consider myself a high handicapper- not only because of my number, but because I don't practice enough to be anything else.

[deronsizemore]

What is your definition of a low, middle, or high handicapper? Is it just based on your number? If so, what range of handicap qualifies for each label? Is it based more on a set of skills that one holds, like the ability to shape a shot (at will) or put spin on the ball going into the green? What do you think?

The idea of a low, mid or high handicapper pertains to the use of a handicap. So, the lower the handicap, the better the player. Typically a lower handicap player will be able to shape shots, or spin the ball, but things like that individually don't make someone a low handicapper. You can spin the ball a ton and still shoot 90 if you have no short game. I just look at it from a handicap point of view but it could be any number of ranges as to what consitutes a low, mid or high handicap player.