Golfers have a language all their own. If you’ve spent time around the game, you’ve probably heard someone mention a “scratch golfer.” What does that mean? Is it just a fancy way of saying someone’s good at golf or is there more to it? If you’ve ever wondered what a scratch golfer is, whether it’s something worth aiming for or how hard it is to get there, we’ll break it down. And if you need a refresher on other common golf terms, we’ve got that, too.
What is a scratch golfer?
A “scratch golfer” is commonly accepted as someone with a 0.0 handicap index. The handicap index reflects a golfer’s potential ability, adjusted for the difficulty of the courses they play.
Each golf course has a course rating that estimates what a scratch golfer is expected to shoot under normal conditions.
When scratch players shoot even par on a course rated 72.0, they play exactly to their handicap. On a tougher course rated 74.2, that same scratch golfer could shoot 74 and still play to their 0.0 index.
Understanding the handicap index fluctuations
Handicap indexes don’t stay the same. Under the World Handicap System, your index is calculated using the lowest eight differentials from your last 20 rounds, reflecting your potential, not just your average.
Like any golfer, a scratch player’s index can go up or down depending on their most recent rounds. Players who consistently shoot close to par tend to hover near 0.0.
Performance benchmarks for scratch golfers
Many golfers want to become scratch players. Certain statistics can help us determine what separates a scratch golfer from a 20- or 15-handicap player.
Fairways hit and greens in regulation
Scratch golfers hit around 50 percent of their fairways and about 52 to 59 percent of their greens in regulation (GIR). For comparison, the average 25-handicapper hits only about 15 percent of greens in regulation.
Recovery and greenside
When scratch golfers miss the green, they often get up and down. The up-and-down success rate for a scratch golfer is over 50 percent. They also take, on average, 1.85 putts per green in regulation and 29.9 putts in a round of golf.
Many higher handicappers are two- or three-putting most greens.
Scoring
About 64 percent of a scratch golfer’s scores are pars. They make an average of 13 percent birdies and 22 percent bogeys with just one percent of scores being double bogeys or worse. Eliminating those big numbers helps ensure the handicap index remains low.
Driving distance and approach shots
While driving distance depends on the quality and speed of the strike, scratch golfers tend to have longer driving distances with some as high as 280 yards or more.
For approach shots, scratch golfers not only hit a lot of greens but they get their approach shots closer to the hole. From inside 100 yards, most shots are 20-30 feet or closer.
Scratch golfer yardages
| Club | Average Distances |
|---|---|
| Driver | 285 yds |
| 3-Wood | 261 yds |
| Hybrid | 237 yds |
| 4-Iron | 223 yds |
| 5-Iron | 200 yds |
| 6-Iron | 185 yds |
| 7-Iron | 178 yds |
| 8-Iron | 166 yds |
| 9-Iron | 155 yds |
| PW | 141 yds |
| GW | 126 yds |
| SW | 105 yds |
| LW | 86 yds |
Final thoughts
Becoming a scratch golfer requires mental discipline, course management and consistent practice. You have to recover from poor shots and take advantage of opportunities to make a birdie or better. Most scratch golfers have been playing golf for years and they dedicate time to their game.
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