This is what I was told (handicap question)

[nownot]

So I just started playing golf this summer, took a few lessons at Hank Haney and just went at it. Right now my handicap is at 14, I was told this is "pretty damn impressive for a 1st year player without a golf background". Is this true? I suck and I'm a 14 ........ So my question is was this person full of it, or is 14 really that good? What is considered average for a beginner / amateur? Don't worry about hurting my feelings if 14 is bad. Thanks for any inputs.

[alf174]

Yes, very good, congrats! How have you been tracking your handicap?

[nownot]

Yes, very good, congrats! How have you been tracking your handicap?

A iPhone app called GolfShots, and I also put my scores into an online calculator to double check.

The thing is I'm a member at this one course so I play it all the time. I need to get out and play other courses to make sure it's not me being accustomed to a particular course.

[CG031]

14 is incredible for just starting to play a few months ago...

It took me 3 years and A LOT of practice to get to the 9.7 I'm at right now.

[SpringBokVol]

If you are just starting to play and you can play bogey golf then I would say that is very good and that is an 18 handicap.

And it is all relative. Do you think its good?

[nownot]

If you are just starting to play and you can play bogey golf then I would say that is very good and that is an 18 handicap.

I hit some good shots, but I'm very inconsistent. I'm still tweaking my 3w and Driver so I get wild with those sometimes. But no, I think I still suck pretty bad, but practice and consistency is my summer plans.

[abris33]

14 for only playing a couple months is pretty incredible. I'm at an 8 after a year(which some people consider pretty good) but my first couple months I was nowhere near a 14. How much have you played to get there? I play every weekday it's not raining or snowing year round. That's what helped me so much.

[alf174]

14 for only playing a couple months is pretty incredible. I'm at an 8 after a year(which some people consider pretty good) but my first couple months I was nowhere near a 14. How much have you played to get there? I play every weekday it's not raining or snowing year round. That's what helped me so much.

Both you guys are super-human. A buddy of mine and I are on our third year and we still are in our low 20s high teens

[obiwan21]

Let me speak for those of us who've duffed around the course for a few years and still aren't tickling a 14 handicap when I say, first, congrats, that is very impressive. Second, damn you! Showoff

[Sandplay]

Congrats 14 is good for your time playing. I was kind of the same i dropped down to around 14 in my first 6 months but have been playing for a year now and have hardly dropped it any more. And i only really play my local course the same as you.

[kris]

wow very good. i've been playing off and on for 5 or 6 years and am teetering on 20. only gotten really serious a couple months ago though.

[Aetsh]

Keep playing and most importantly, have fun!

[Slim 11]

I'll start by saying that I think 14 is pretty good and especially good if you've just started. Congratulations.

Now I have to sound a little like an ass:
You must play fairly regular, you've taken lessons at Haney and you are on a golf forum. I find it hard to believe that you don't realize that 14 is a great handicap for a beginner. So...your comment seems a bit show offy.

It's also a little offensive. I don't get to play a ton, but regular. I don't really have time for practice but I've taken a few lessons. I work harder than the "average" golfer but not as hard as probably most the people on this forum at my game. Still, I think my game is decent. To go on about how your "a hack" and "you suck" is a bit condescending to the rest of us mid to high cappers.

Anyway...keep up the good work. Sounds like you have a natural game and you should be into the singles digits soon.

[inthecup]

How many scores make up that 14? Do you count every card. If you go get out of control do you count the score?

[billm408]

Statistically, only 1% of the US golfing population will ever break 100.
You're in the 99th percentile. Good on ya!

[iacas]

Statistically, only 1% of the US golfing population will ever break 100.

I don't think that's anywhere close to correct.

Let's take only a 25 handicapper, who will break 100 a chunk of the time. of those with handicaps, about 90% of them have a 25 handicap or better: http://www.usga.org/handicapping/art...dicap-Indexes/ I don't think the number of people without handicap indeces is so much greater that it can turn 90% into 1%, and that would assume nobody without a handicap breaks 100.