What hc do you consider to be a good player?

I'd say:

24+ rubbish (I'm going to be lower than this after the years out)
19-23: not very good (hopefully lower than this too)
13-18: decent average golfer
6-12: a good golfer
3-5: very good golfer
0-2: excellent
+1-+2 exceptional
+3 ability to be good pro
 
It would seem that 14/15 is about the average h/cap for club golfers.

Therefore anything less than 14 is "good" and anything more is "not so good". Then all a matter of degree.

Me? I'm strictly average:)
 
As its a handicap then logically we are only judging amateurs. Therefore the range is between 24 and 0. Have excluded + handicaps as they could be on the way to professional status.

exceptional 0-4
excellent 4-8
good 8-12
average 12-16
improver 16-20
beginner 20-24

That's what I reckon....
 
At club level it strikes me, that although the question is interesting, it's more one about bragging rights for many. Sure, most of us are striving to get as low as we can and that's our personal goal, but provided our handicap is properly maintained then it is what it is. It's a different thing if you're struggling to make a crust on one of the pro tours where good, better and best are the only yardsticks that matter.

A lot of us on here, although very competitive, play the game for enjoyment and banter too. If there was no handicapping system then the same two or three in any of our groups would always win - so what would the point in the others participating?

Unlike most games an 18 handicapper can take on a 6 handicapper on a level playing field, and if both play 'to handicap' on the day, then there should be a good tight game and the winner could be either.

If Andy Murray gave me a 2 sets to love, 5 games to love start he'd beat me because of his superior skill. But then of course we all know that.
 
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I regularly play with a 10 hcap and a 7hcap. I would say that between them there isnt much but they are decent golfers at our track. The difference between the 10 and another lad we play with occasionally who is 3 is massive. So I would say under 5 is a good club golf, 6-10 Decent and then 11-16 average.
 
I think it is relative to the individual.

Generally speaking, most players would consider anyone better than themself to be 'good'

I'm floating between 5 and 6hcp just now so to me a 'good' player is Cat1. That's not to say anyone higher isn't a good golfer, it's just relative to my standard.
 
Tough crowd it seems, but surely it's a matter of perspective - ie are the lower handicappers judging the standard differently? A 28 h/capper will surely view an 18 h/capper as better and therefore good? A 12 h/capper might not consider themselves 'good' so will view those lower than him/her as good, and those higher than him/her as poorer.

Realistically, golf is hard and most (all?) on here are not pros so the barometer has to be different. IMHO:

28+ : beginner, poor
24-27: improving but capable of a lot of poor shots. Occasional good shot.
19-23: still not great, but getting close to needing a couple of pars so maybe decent
12-18: I think this is good, pars are needed, you need shots to get out of trouble and some consistency
6-11: above average / very good - this is the category where getting to the next level is hard, and punishments more sever than before for poor scoring
1-5: brilliant (club golfer). if you can do this consistently, you're better than good for sure
0-+: excellent amateur golfer. What age are you? time to think of a career as a pro

Conversely, if you're a pro the barometer changes - Michael Hoey is decent, Ian Poulter is good, JS is excellent.... but it's a different scale.
 
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JohnnyDee said:
Out of interest, what about attaching a poll to this one?
Click to expand...

Is there any point? When a low guy (just say Cat 1) tells a high guy (say 12 +) that he's talking rubbish or starts having a laugh he gets accused of trolling and as I said earlier when a high guy comes on giving it "all that" nothing's said and probably no infraction!

So many experts ... It's a crazy place on a golf forum!
 
My take on this has changed as my handicap reduced. A few years ago I though anyone who played off single figures was very good but when I got there I knew I'd done it without being particularly good.

So I think anyone in single figures is decent, cat 1 is good but players get exponentially better every shot off their handicap at that stage. Not necessarily in ability to play good shots but to do so consistently.
 
drive4show said:
I think it is relative to the individual.

Generally speaking, most players would consider anyone better than themself to be 'good'

I'm floating between 5 and 6hcp just now so to me a 'good' player is Cat1. That's not to say anyone higher isn't a good golfer, it's just relative to my standard.
Click to expand...


do you not class yourself as a good golfer then?

I'm shocked people are saying 3 or below to be classed as a 'good' golfer.

I think good needs to be assessed against a beginner standard, how else can it be done?

Off 3, i would class myself (wouldn't ever say it to someone) as an excellent golfer. 90% of golfers would dream getting as low as me. so anyone below 12 or so would be a good golfer for me.

I'm not sure what the stats are nationally for handicap breakdowns, but assuming your in the top 50% nationally, surely thats good?
 
MendieGK said:
do you not class yourself as a good golfer then?

I'm shocked people are saying 3 or below to be classed as a 'good' golfer.

I think good needs to be assessed against a beginner standard, how else can it be done?

Off 3, i would class myself (wouldn't ever say it to someone) as an excellent golfer. 90% of golfers would dream getting as low as me. so anyone below 12 or so would be a good golfer for me.

I'm not sure what the stats are nationally for handicap breakdowns, but assuming your in the top 50% nationally, surely thats good?
Click to expand...

Isn't 12 and below often the handicap spread for division 1 in club competitions?
 
drive4show said:
I think it is relative to the individual.

Generally speaking, most players would consider anyone better than themself to be 'good'

I'm floating between 5 and 6hcp just now so to me a 'good' player is Cat1. That's not to say anyone higher isn't a good golfer, it's just relative to my standard.
Click to expand...

Pretty much how I see it as well.

Someone playing off 28 will perceive someone off 18 as a good player. That same 18 hcp player will perceive a 12 hcp as good etc.

Personally being off 12 I think Cat 1 is good.
 
davemc1 said:
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?
Click to expand...

My definition of a good golfer is someone I can enjoy the company of, and buys me a beer after the game. As far as golfing ability is concerned, I would say somebody who is better than me, but that is just about everyone
 
drive4show said:
Compared to you Sam no, I'd consider myself 'decent' but most of the people I play with are 'better' than me ie. lower handicap.
Click to expand...
I'm surprised, in my view anyone off 5-6 is at least a good golfer if not better! In your case, the fact you play in so many events gives you being a 'good' golfer even more credit.

Think you're doing yourself a disservice mate
 
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