What Is A Plus Handicap Golfer?
Handicap is a score derived from a golf handicap that hits zero or higher (scratch); such a golfer has to carry his handicap onto his scorecard.
Example: By two strokes, Chris managed to win the club championship, despite needing an extra stroke due to being a 1, plus handicap.
Key Details About Plus Handicaps:
- Definition: A plus handicap means the player’s score is better than the course rating (par). For example, a +3 handicap player will, on average, score 3 strokes better than a scratch golfer on a course.
How it Works:
In a match or stroke play, if a golfer is +3, they must add 3 strokes to their final score (e.g., shooting a gross 68 results in a net 71)
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- Significance: These are rare, representing less than 2% of male players and 0.75% of female golfers, according to the USGA.
Example: A +1 handicap golfer is better than a 0 (scratch) golfer, and a +3 golfer is better than a +1 golfer.
While they are rare among amateurs, most PGA Tour professionals play with a plus handicap, often in the +4 to +6 range or better.