I’m a self-deprecating 4.6 handicap. The overall status of my golf game doesn’t fluctuate round by round—it fluctuates with every chunked chip, sliced drive, and missed three-footer. I admit I’m a headcase…but isn’t every golfer?
That brings me to the question that has quite literally hijacked Golf Twitter for the last month or so: at what point do you consider someone good at golf?
After doing some research, I found that the USGA said just over 8% of male golfers own a handicap from 0.0-4.9, and 2% are skratch—I’m legally obligated to spell it like that—or better.
In my humble opinion, if you’re in the top 10% of a given field, you’re good—and that includes golf (I’m not just saying this because I fit the bill).
As a sub-5 handicap, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Two Saturdays ago, I shot a cool 86 at my home club. But a few days ago, I posted a 71 that included a bogey-free 33 on the back. Golf, man. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
But while considering possible requirements for a “good golfer”, I had a more abstract thought, as well: good golfers don’t make a lot of 6s—stay with me now *in my best Chad Ochocinco voice*.
To get this out of the way, good golfers don’t make triples on par 3s. Unless you’re playing in Florida where water is 50% of courses, 6s shouldn’t happen on the shorties. That brings me to the dreaded doubles on par 4s.
Now, doubles are going to happen—they just are. But to shoot good scores consistently, they can’t come in bunches.
Finally, good players don’t waste shots on par 5s. Those are rare scoring opportunities and chances to get back lost strokes. Even writing down a five hurts the soul a little bit.
A good goal the next time you tee it up: go as long as possible without making a six. You’ll be surprised how well that mindset can help you avoid big numbers that’ll put a hurting on your scorecard.
While this entire debate is 100% subjective, if Scottie Scheffler says a good golfer is one who breaks 80 on a regular basis, that feels like something we can all take to heart.