For many of us, it’s part of our identity as a golfer. It’s often the first thing we’re asked when we meet other golfers. ‘What’s your handicap?’
It’s used to separate us in competitions – sometimes it determines whether we can even enter an event at all.
It’s also a measure of progress. A number that tells us where we are and how far we might still have to go to realise our ambitions. Ultimately, when converted into a Course Handicap, it determines the number of strokes we receive in any round of golf.
Under the World Handicap System, handicaps have a huge range. Absolute beginners can start at 54.0, while there is seemingly only our own physical limits that hold us back at the very top end.
When Jon Rahm enjoyed an incredible run of form in 2022 and 2023 – a period that saw him win three times and boast 10 top 10 finishes in 15 starts – it was calculated he’d boast a handicap index of +13.
We’ve all got a rough idea of what our number means for our ability, but where does that figure put us in the golfing pantheon?
Padraig Harrington once said he thought he could get every golfer in the world down to a single-figure handicap.
So how many of us boast a single digit? What is the average handicap? And where do you stand on the ability scale?
We’ve got some detailed numbers to show you, so let’s look at what a good golf handicap really is…
What is a good golf handicap?
