Scratch v 10 v 20: how the stats compare

We analyse the data, provided by Arccos, to reveal the key differences between scratch players, 10-handicappers and 20-handicappers…

- Elliott Heath

Have you ever wondered how the stats compare between golfers who regularly shoot in the low 70s (scratch players), low 80s (10-indexes) and low 90s (20- handicappers)? If so, read on. The numbers are from Arccos Golf, with data gleaned from more than 540 million shots from 11.5 million rounds worldwide.

Obviously scratch players shoot lower scores, make more birdies and less bogeys, but just what do those numbers actually look like? Scratch golfers who use Arccos to track their stats make on average 2.2 birdies per round, which is a whopping 1.5 more than 10- handicappers and a huge 1.9 more than 20-handicappers. Zero-index golfers make an average of 4.6 bogeys per round, which is 3.1 fewer than 10- handicappers and almost half the number that 20-handicappers make, who bogey half the holes they play on average.

There are even bigger differences when it comes to doubles or worse, with scratch golfers making just 0.7 per round, compared with 2.9 for 10-handicappers and 6.6 for 20-handicaps. Want to shoot lower scores? Avoid doubles!