What hc do you consider to be a good player?

[davemc1]

Following on from a post in the why hasn't the average handicap fell thread.

It says something like, if you're not cat 1, 6 tops, then you're just a chomper getting in the way. The fella got some stick for his comments (rightly so) and even threatened with mod action (maybe a little ott in isolation?)

Before I go on, im 39. Been playing for 2.5 years and off 21. So no snobbery here.

However, it got me thinking as to what id consider a good players handicap is. Something in your head, that makes you think, yeah he/she can play a bit. So from the ages of 16-60 in good average health.

Also im not saying anything above this is rubbish, or shouldnt be anywhere near a course, far from it.

Im going 12. No science to it, just a good solid number.

What say you?

 

[guest100718]

sratch I guess.

 

[Slab]

First number that came to mind was a 3 Handicap

4 to 9 - clearly able to hit a variety of shots consistently but still too reliant on their strokes to be called good
double digit HC - much of a muchness between them and its probably a reduction in the number of errors (duff shots/poor decisions) that separates top from bottom as much as anything else

This just leaves the guys/gals at max handicap, prob new to the game, or struggle with the basics but still enjoy it

 

[chrisd]

I know quite a number of golfers over the age of 60 who play 12 and under, me included.

 

[ger147]

13.3

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

I would say a 'good' player is scratch or better.

 

[Del_Boy]

single figures - which sadly I am not!!

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Decent 8 or better
Good 2 or better

I think good would be County standard minimum.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Good player I'd say is in the mid teens. If you need to get down to scratch to be 'good' then that is saying that I imagine over 99% of people that play golf are not very good at it. Which is a silly thing to say IMHO. To me 'good' needs to be judged against the average standard of everyone that play the game. If you are better than average then you are good at it. Simples.

 

[freddielong]

For me it's not Handicap related I know a 1 handicap who I don't rate and a six handicapper who is a really good golfer.

 

[Birchy]

It depends if you are judging just amateur or the full scale of golfers including tour pros, local pros, county players etc.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Cat 1 for me is a proper golfer, Cat 2 is a decent golfer, Cat 3 is above average golfer, Cat 4 is average golfer, all my opinion, but in all Categories there are bad golfers from a personality point of view.

 

[chrisd]

I think that this ^^^^^ is the nearest for me. We can't surely judge against Jordan Speith!

 

[jamielaing]

I read somewhere that the UK average handicap is 14. I would say that the target for most golfers initially is to get to single figures. I would consider you a decent/good golfer once you reach that goal. From there it is context really. There are a lot of good golfers I know at around 5/6 handicap. I know a few that I would consider great at 1 or 2. If you compare these guys to the pros they then look distinctly average but that is comparing them to the absolute best players and no one is going to look good against them! How many times has Ian Poulter been declared cr*p? He could beat every single one of us on here every time.

For me, to be a good golfer, single figures or lower. You don't get there without either a natural talent or putting a bit of work in. Cat 1 guys are a cut above who know how to play the shot and execute it more times than not. Scratch guys/ Club pros are great who have committed a ridiculous amount of time, effort and skill to get there. Then you have the world beaters at the top!

 

[JohnnyDee]

Interesting views and those going low, although probably technically correct, at general playing level for me, are being too strict in the definition of 'good' in this context. The question asks specifically about handicap so that's all club players is it not?

Taking it to its Nth degree then, sure, plus and scratch are 'good'. Don't subscribe to the idea that virtually everyone else is 'bad'.

I would see it as 28-18 players either new to the game or in the twilight of their careers, 17-13 improving, 12-9 in danger of becoming reasonably good, 8-5 pretty good and 4-0 very good.

 

[One Planer]

Good club player? Single figures for me.

Excellent club player, Cat 1 below 5.

 

[Break90]

In my opinion, single figures makes you a 'good' golfer.

But when I was starting out, getting a 28 handicap was 'good', then 24, then 18.

In my opinion i'm nearly 'good'.

 

[patricks148]

someone not getting any shots so scratch is good and lower is very good etc.

 

[drewster]

Taking it from the layman's point of view i would say single figures equates to a good golfer. Amongst us regular weekly players i would say Cat 1 is a good golfer.

 

[ruff-driver]

Single figures - good
low teens - improving
anything else - happy to be out playing