Golf Handicaps

[Robbr25]

Do professional golfers have handicaps ?
Or
Because they are professional they have a 0 handicap ?

[thrash1294]

yes zero handicap.
also anyone who is a scratch goler has no handicap.

[Reel Deal]

Actually you can have a hdcp better than zero... Tiger's hdcp is probably around -3 or -4

[eejit101]

actually, its more like - 15.

The professional at my local course,w ith was a British Open championchip qualifying course, is -4, and tiger would cream him

[PShabi]

Your education system failed you miserably.

Eejit and Swa are cousins.

[Dodoubled]

Even if a professional golfer had a scratch handicap, a negative handicap or an 0.6 or a 1, none of it would matter. The handicap system is in place to allow average or novice golfers to compete on a balanced playing field with elite golfers. That's why at golf clubs, tournaments are generally broken down into a gross format (stroke-for-stroke) and a net format (stroke-plus-handicap), to make things fair.

You have to be a member of a golf club to establish a true handicap, which I think sucks. You also only need five rounds to establish an initial handicap, which I also think sucks. I think it used to be 10.

Here's some more information:

[jillaj]

I am a solid 34. I really am happy that I am a double bogey golfer.

[Robbr25]

Thanks that makes sense.

[Defendant]

Aight lets clear this up, because there is a LOT of wrong information in this thread

To answer the original question: a professional does not carry a handicap. A handicap is designed to even the playingfield among amateurs, something that is not needed among professionals.

Just because you carry a handicap of 0 doesnt mean you have the stuff to be a professional either.

Oh and one other thing: Your typical golf handicap actually carries a negative number. Example: Bob just started playing a year ago and now has a handicap of -36. The sign is generally omitted for negative, and carried for positive. Example: John is playing great golf this year, shooting under par consistently. His handicap reflects this, as he now carries a handicap of +1.2.

EDIT: Well, guess i should have taken the time to read Dodoubled's post :P nonetheless, info stands.

[Dodoubled]

Haha ... you added some pertinent info, though, defendant.

Oh, and I guess we should move the imminent discussion about "regular" pros vs. "touring" pros to another thread, too.

[Defendant]

I assume by "regular" pros you mean your average country club teaching pro? It actually depends if hes just hired by the club to teach or if hes a certified PGA pro. I believe that the certified PGA pro has to drop his handicap and amateur status (correct me if Im wrong), but I have a good friend whos in the apprentice program (the PGAs training program for teaching pros), carries a 0.4 handicap and annoys me every year at the club championship by pulling a 3 under out of his ass . So I guess you dont lose your amateur status until you finish the training program.