Handicap levels
What's your handicap level?
Golf has five milestones worth chasing: playing, breaking 20, single digits, under 5 and scratch. Enter your Handicap Index to see where you stand and what's next.
Your level appears here.
The five levels
OPEN
All players
SUB 20
HI < 20.0
SUB 10
HI < 10.0
SUB 5
HI < 5.0
SCRATCH
HI ≤ 0.0 / +
Guides to the next level
How to break 20: getting your handicap under 20.0
A practical plan to get your golf Handicap Index below 20: fewer penalty shots, smarter course management and a reliable short game. Then wear the SUB 20 level.
How to break 10: becoming a single-digit handicap
What separates a 12 from a 9: approach play, up-and-downs and a pre-shot routine. A guide to reaching a single-digit Handicap Index and the SUB 10 level.
How to break 5: reaching a low single-digit handicap
Low single figures demand consistency: wedge control, putting inside 2 metres and a stats-led practice plan. A guide to a Handicap Index under 5 and SUB 5.
How to become a scratch golfer (0.0 or plus)
What a scratch golfer is, what it takes to reach a 0.0 Handicap Index or better, and how SCRATCH players earn the top EARNED level.
What is a good golf handicap?
It depends on how long you've played, but breaking 20 is the first big step for most club golfers, a single-digit handicap (under 10) marks a genuinely strong player, under 5 is rare at most clubs, and scratch (0.0) or plus is elite amateur level. A Handicap Index under the World Handicap System shows your potential ability — lower is better.