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The Global Insight

What percentage of golfers play off single figures?

Author

James Olson

Updated on April 23, 2026

According to the USGA, the average handicap of a golfer of those who have established handicaps is 15, which equates to roughly a bogey golfer. Only one percent of golfers who have an official handicap index are single digit (below 10) or lower.

What percentage of golfers have a handicap below 10?

If we are talking about being a scratch golfer (0 handicap or below) then according to the USGA Men's Handicap statistics, only 1.6% of golfers are a 0 handicap or below.

How many golfers get single figures?

Only 1.6% of US men golfers play off scratch or better. By comparison, the USGA's statistics show only 4.28% of women golfers have reached a single-digit handicap. And only 0.37% of US women golfers have achieved a handicap of scratch.

Is a single digit handicap good?

Low Handicap

In most cases, a low golf handicap is one that is a single digit. In other words, it is a handicap of between 1 and 9. Different people may have different definitions of a low handicap. For example, a golfer with a handicap of 2 might not feel that 9 is considered low.

What is the average golfer handicap?

1. The average handicap index for men is 14.2. 2. The average handicap index for women is 27.5.

HOW TO GET TO SINGLE FIGURES ?️✂

What percentage of golfers can break 80?

Only about 2 percent of all golfers ever break 80, which generally is considered the Holy Grail of scoring. To legitimately break 80 — no improved lies; no 3-foot gimmes; no free drop from out of bounds — is to breathe the rarefied air of good, if not great golf.

What percentage of golfers can break 90?

According to data from the National Golf Foundation, only 26 percent of all golfers shoot below 90 consistently on regulation 18-hole courses; 45 percent of all golfers average more than 100 strokes per round.”

What is the average score of a single digit handicap?

According to the USGA, the average handicap of a golfer of those who have established handicaps is 15, which equates to roughly a bogey golfer. Only one percent of golfers who have an official handicap index are single digit (below 10) or lower.

How many people have a single digit handicap?

Approximately one percent of all golfers are single-digit handicappers. If you play golf at a club that has several great players, you may be surprised by this number, but it is true. It is very difficult to make it to the level of a single-digit handicap.

What does a single digit handicapper shoot?

Lower Single Digit Handicap

Lower single-digit golfers tend to play off a handicap of 1 to 3. Their scorecards generally show gross scores of between 73-75. If you fit into this category, your aim is to shoot under-par rounds to lower your handicap to scratch.

What is the average score of a 9 handicap golfer?

In reality, the scratch golfer should match 36 every time he plays. A 7 handicap player should shoot a score of no greater than 40, and the 9 handicap player should shoot 41 regularly. Achieving these scores means they have drawn their match against the golf course.

What percentage of golfers keep a handicap?

Compared to estimates of how many golfers there are in the United States which put the number of traditional golfers in the United States at approximately 24-25 million, that means right around 10 percent of golfers carry a USGA-recognized handicap index.

What percentage of golfers are scratch?

While the USGA hasn't released a formal study, popular opinion is that only 2% of golfers are considered scratch golfers. Several surveys have found that 16% of all golfers in the US are an 8 handicap or lower.

What is the average handicap for a 70 year old golfer?

If you shoot between 70 and 75, your handicap will be between 1 and 2. If you shoot between 76 and 80, your handicap will be between 3 and 5. If you shoot between 81 and 85, your handicap will be between 6 and 9.

What handicap is a scratch golfer?

What playing off scratch means is that player has a handicap of 0 (or better). If your handicap is 15, you expect to be about 15 over every time you play; a scratch player expects to play level par or better whenever they play.

How far should an average golfer hit a 7 iron?

Average 7 Iron Distances are following:

Beginning golfers- 100 yards (men) or 60 yards (women) Intermediate golfers- 135 yards (men) and 75 yards (women) Advanced golfers- 165 yards (men) or 140 yards (women)

What percentage of golfers break 100 regularly?

It turns out that a whopping 86% of golfers break 100! Aside from that: 14% of golfers do not break 100. 49% of golfers break 90 regularly.

How far does an average golfer hit a driver?

The average driving distance across all ages of golfers is 219 yards. Golfers under the age of 30 typically hit the ball the longest (238 yards) and distance declines by around 10 yards every ten years.

Is a 20 handicap good for a golfer?

If you goal is to break 100, then a good golf handicap could be a 20. But if you're trying to become a scratch golfer, a 20 handicap is quite a ways from zero. In general, if you can break 90, that is a good standard of golf.

How far does the average golfer hit a 9 iron?

Golfers of all ages typically hit their 9 iron 126 yards. Golfers in their 20s typically will hit their 9 iron 139 yards while golfers over the age of 60 will be much closer to 110 yards.

What percentage of golfers shoot less than 100?

According to their statistics, 55% of golfers break 100. Here is the breakdown according to their study: Average score: Under 80 – 5%

How good is a 15 handicap golfer?

The USPAG puts the “official” average at a 15 handicap. This would mean a player who typically scores around 90 on the average course. Another measurement for the average golfers is what is known as a bogey golfer. These players typically score a bogey on most holes.

How good is a 10 handicap golfer?

When a 10-handicapper describes a course as "a tough test," he generally is referring to a layout with a Course Rating of 72.0 or higher. On a course with a 72.0 rating, a 10-handicapper will score, on average, 82 to 88.