What Is a Scratch Golfer?

Golf. It is a game that continues to get more popular across the globe every year. 

Right now, there are over 25 million Americans alone that play golf. 

So, what is the goal when playing golf? Well, one thing you want to do is have fun. 

However, people that are more serious about the sport want to continue to get better at it. Eventually, they could become good enough to be a scratch golfer. 

What does it take to reach scratch golfer status? Well, one thing that you will need is golf lessons in the Villages, FL. On top of this, you would need to put in the time for practice and hard work. 

This guide will show you what a scratch golfer is, how good you have to be to get there, and what work you have to do to achieve that status. 

What Is a Scratch Golfer? 

Before we can talk about getting to scratch golfer status and how special that achievement is, you must first understand what a scratch golfer is. A scratch golfer is someone good enough not to need a handicap. 

They are elite because when you play scratch golf, you are scoring par or below. People that are not scratch golfers tend to play with a golf handicap. 

If you are shooting par or below, you do not need this handicap. Scratch status essentially recognizes that you do not need any extra help to get a low score. 

How do you know if you are a scratch golfer? Well, the first thing that you need to know is what the par score is for the golf course you are playing on. 

In this case, let's say that it is 73. So, if you are consistently shooting a 73 on an 18-hole golf course, this could mean that you are a scratch golfer. 

Now, when playing golf, you have to remember that doing this once or twice is not good enough. To understand this, you should know how people determine their golf handicaps. 

Basically, they take about 8-10 of their best scores out of their last 20 rounds and come up with a median score from there. The same concept is used to determine if you are a scratch golfer. 

You should take the eight best rounds that you have played out of your last 20. After you figure out what those eight rounds are, add them up and divide them to see if your score matches the course's par score or not. 

If it does, then you know you are a scratch golfer. If it is lower, then you could even play with a plus handicap. 

Are Scratch Golfers Professionals? 

While it is a very difficult achievement to become a scratch golfer, getting there does not make you a professional golfer. You will be surprised at just how great professional golfers are. 

On average, professionals shoot about five strokes under par. The best professional golfers could even shoot 8-10 strokes under par. 

This may not sound like a big difference on paper. However, for a professional, it could be the difference between making a cut and having a payday in a tournament. 

What this means for you is that while you are on the right track if you are a scratch golfer, you still have a long way to go if you want to become a professional. 

Do not be too rough on yourself because very few professionals are out there playing golf. In the United States, there are just over 7,400 professional golfers. 

How to Improve

Now that you have learned what a scratch golfer is, you may be a golfer that is anxious to get there. If you are, just know that you have to work hard to get what you want. Here are a few things that you can do to get closer to your goals. 

Strong Mental Discipline

Golf is a rare sport in that you are really playing against yourself. You do not have a direct opponent trying to stop you. Instead, you control every aspect of your game. 

What this means is that in golf, you have to make sure that you do not loser to yourself. Do not get angry if you hit a bad shot into the water or miss an easy putt. At the same time, do not get too excited if you get a birdie or have a great tee shot. 

Control your emotions and have strong mental discipline when golfing. 

Balance Your Technique

The next thing that you need to keep in mind is that you need to practice all aspects of golf. Some people could spend the majority of their time on the driving range just to make sure that they can hit a tee shot accurately. 

This is an important part of your game, but it is not the only part. Your putting needs to be solid as well. The reason is that if you are not a good putter, you could cost yourself a few strokes on every hole. 

That can add up to double digit strokes. So, make sure you are focusing on all aspects of your golf game. 

Take Golf Lessons in the Villages, FL

Finally, if you are serious about golf, you may want to sign up for golf lessons in the Villages, FL. It can be great for you to learn from an experienced coach that can point out flaws in your game and give you crucial golf tips. 

Once you do this, you could get a lot closer to reaching scratch golfer status. 

Are you ready to get started? Message us here to begin your lessons today.