What is a good golf handicap?
The averages, what each handicap means in scores, and a realistic goal if you’re starting out.
What your index means
Slide to your handicap index to see the scores that usually go with it.
So, what's a good golf handicap?
Among golfers who keep an official handicap in the U.S., the average index is about 14 for men and about 28 for women. Golfers who keep a handicap tend to play more than most, so the average for everyone who plays is higher.
A rough guide:
- Under 10 (single digit) is very good. You'll often break 80.
- 10 to 18 is solid. You break 90 more often than not.
- 18 to 28 is where most golfers are. Breaking 90 is a good day.
- Over 28 is fine too. You have the most room to drop, and it can come off fast.
Handicap and typical scores
| Index | Called | Typical score | How common |
|---|---|---|---|
| + (plus) | Better than scratch | Under par on a normal course | Top amateurs and pros |
| 0–4 | Scratch to low single digit | Mid 70s | A small slice of golfers |
| 5–9 | Single digit | Upper 70s to low 80s | Very good club golfer |
| 10–14 | Low teens | Mid 80s | Around or better than the men’s average |
| 15–19 | High teens | Around 90 | Typical |
| 20–28 | Twenties | Mid to high 90s | Typical for newer golfers and many women |
| 29+ | High handicap | 100+ | Just getting started, or the occasional round |
Typical scores are for a par-72 course of average difficulty. Most golfers shoot about 3 strokes over their course handicap on an average day, because a handicap is built from your best rounds.
A good handicap for a beginner
Most new golfers start with an index in the 30s or 40s. Getting into the 20s in your first couple of seasons is a good goal. The biggest early gains come from fewer penalty strokes and fewer three-putts, not longer drives. Our practice programs are built around exactly that.
What's the maximum handicap?
54.0. The World Handicap System made it that high so more beginners could get an index and play in events.
More handicap tools
Common questions
What is the average golf handicap?
About 14 for men and about 28 for women among golfers who keep an official handicap in the U.S.
Is a 20 handicap good?
It’s about average for golfers who play regularly. A 20 usually shoots in the low to mid 90s.
Is a 10 handicap good?
Yes. A 10 is better than most golfers who keep a handicap and usually shoots in the low to mid 80s.
What handicap breaks 90?
A golfer with an index around 15 or lower breaks 90 on most average-difficulty courses on a normal day.
What handicap breaks 80?
Usually an index around 5 or lower. Single-digit players break 80 on their good days.
What is a scratch golfer?
A golfer with a handicap index of 0.0, who is expected to shoot the course rating.
Updated November 2026