2007-03-10 05:50:25 · 7 answers · asked by sailorbunny 4 in Sports ➔ Golf
A scratch golfer is one whose handicap is zero. A handicap is a comewhat complex equation based on what you normaly shoot adjuted for the course slope and rating. It can be estimated by averaging how many strokes above par you usually shoot. For instance, if you normally shoot 85 on a par 72 course, your handicap is around 13. A scratch golfer is someone who averages par or below.
The purpose of a handicap is to level the playing field in a tournament involving golfers of different skill levels. Each hole on a course has a handicap number 1-18. 1 is the most difficult hole, 18 being the least. If your handicap is greater than the handicap of a hole in a handicap tournament, you deduct a stroke from your score on that hole. This way, if a scratch golfer is competing against a 10 handicap on a 9 handicap hole and they both make par, the scratch golfer is given a par, but the 10 handicap is given a birdie.
For more details on the handicap formula, click on the link below.
2007-03-10 09:51:34 · answer #1 · answered by Spaghetti Cat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A scratch golfer is a golfer with a zero handicap. Anyone that has an under-par scoring average will have a negative handicap.
2007-03-10 18:27:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In common usage, a golfer who shoots par or better.
However, the term is an important one in the USGA's course rating and slope rating systems.
For the purposes of rating the difficulty of courses through course rating and slope rating, the USGA defines a scratch golfer thusly: "An amateur player who plays to the standard of the stroke play qualifiers competing in the United States Amateur Championship. The male scratch golfer hits his tee shots an average of 250 yards and can reach a 470-yard hole in two shots. The female scratch golfer can hit her tee shots an average of 210 yards and can reach a 400-yard hole in two shots."
2007-03-10 14:37:35 · answer #3 · answered by kosmoistheman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a golfer that is really good, and shoots par pretty much every timethey play
2007-03-10 13:53:08 · answer #4 · answered by t 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A very good golfer who generally can shoot par or better whenever he or she plays.
2007-03-10 13:55:03 · answer #5 · answered by crazydave 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is a golfer with a handicap of zero.
2007-03-10 14:03:37 · answer #6 · answered by g.reef 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A player that shoots par or better consistently.
2007-03-11 11:23:13 · answer #7 · answered by mark t 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋