Question For All The Other Single Digit Handicappers on Here

ShowMe · June 22

1 hour ago, fwilliam said:

Age 71, playing to a 4 Hdcp from 6700 tees on a RTJ course. I started at age 10, gave up hockey and baseball as my mom dropped me off at our local muni, where friends and I played/ practiced all day. Read Golf Digest and had a few early lessons but essentially self-taught. By HS, I was All-state, was a +2 on the college team (D-3) then med school, family etc and didn't touch a club for 25 years. Long story short, I had some bad instruction when returning thus went back to basics ie proper grip, rotation, footwork with mirror work and slow motion swings, gym work and stretching, which I have continued to this day. Hand-eye coordination is paramount for me , as well as moderate athleticism, plus learning the game early. Watching our local instructors with high handicappers makes me shudder as it is a band-aid approach with no chance of helping.

That’s very impressive on a RTJ course, especially since he likes to put bunkers right in the middle of fairways. 🙂

ShowMe · June 22

3 hours ago, TheDeanAbides said:

Should be a +4!

I know, right! That’s what I tell myself. I’m a +4 stuck in a 1.4 body. 🙂

DShepley · June 22

On 6/21/2025 at 2:38 PM, ShowMe said:

So they get 4 or 5 birdies per round? 9 greens missed. Up and down on 4 or 5 of them puts them at 4 or 5 over par, assuming no 3 putts. That’s a lot of birdies to be getting on a consistent basis. That would be about 28 putts consistently per round (4 one putt up and downs plus 4 one putt birdies, and no 3 putts). They must be world class putters. I envy them.

Statistically a scratch averages something like 2.5 birdies per round. On the days they make more birdies, or make bogey less often, they shoot their handicap or better. You only shoot your handicap or better about 20% of the time.

Their scoring average would be 2.5-3 strokes above their handicap.

With regards to putting, they would average somewhere just shy of 30 per round.

Edited June 22 by DShepley

DShepley · June 22

20 hours ago, iacas said:

Scratch golfers don't average even par. Closer to +2.5 over the course rating as an average, which of course includes the 12 scores of their last 20 that don't count toward their scratch handicap.

They would average about 2.5 strokes over their course handicap not the rating wouldn't they? I play a par 70 rated at 67.5. My index is 2.5 which makes my course handicap 0. My scoring average, through 22 rounds is 72.5. Do you mean all scores, or just the counters?

Jonnielopes19 · June 29

Lessons when I was 7 years old till about 13 years old, and got pretty good. Then golf wasn't the cool thing to do so I only played with father here and there until I was about 19 years old and took it really serious. Went for lessons, even got a job at a golf course. Continued lessons until l was getting married and put the lessons on hold for a few years. Started them back up around 2021 and have been playing to a +3. Would love to grind and get lower but family life, work and age is restricting that grind.

Always respected the guys who did it themselves. When I played pro golf for 6 years I found the guys who were self taught, always had a more creative better game.. they may not have been as consistent but they sure did have a ton of fun since they didnt have as many swing thoughts shoved down their throat!

betarhoalphadelta · June 29

On 6/22/2025 at 2:48 PM, DShepley said:

They would average about 2.5 strokes over their course handicap not the rating wouldn't they? I play a par 70 rated at 67.5. My index is 2.5 which makes my course handicap 0. My scoring average, through 22 rounds is 72.5. Do you mean all scores, or just the counters?

The scoring average of 2.5 strokes higher than your index is all 20 rounds.

Technically the scoring average of your counting rounds--the best 8 of 20--is mathematically nearly identical to your index (with a slight adjustment being due to slope).

Meaning if you're a 2.5, and you're playing on a 67.5 rated course, your scoring average of your last 20 rounds should be about 72.5, and your average core of your best 8 should be about 70.

iacas · June 29

8 hours ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

The scoring average of 2.5 strokes higher than your index is all 20 rounds.

Technically the scoring average of your counting rounds--the best 8 of 20--is mathematically nearly identical to your index (with a slight adjustment being due to slope).

Meaning if you're a 2.5, and you're playing on a 67.5 rated course, your scoring average of your last 20 rounds should be about 72.5, and your average core of your best 8 should be about 70.

That's only true if your course rating and par are nearly the same.

A scratch golfer will average for his 8 best differentials… the course rating. If that's 74.5 on a par-71, then he's going to average 74.5 for those 8 rounds and closer to 77 for his 20 rounds, regardless of the par.

As you go up in slope and handicap, the gap widens, as slope > 113 reduces differentials.