What Is a Scratch Golfer?

Golf. It is a game that is only getting more popular across the globe every year. 

In the United States alone, over 25 million people play golf. So, besides having fun, what is the goal when playing golf? 

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

What does it take to be a scratch golfer? Well, one thing that you can do is take golf lessons in Ocala. On top of this, you would need to put in a lot of 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 this status. 

What is a Scratch Golfer? 

Before we can talk about getting to scratch golfer status and how special that is, you must first understand what it means. A scratch golfer is an above-average golfer. 

They are elite because when you play scratch golf, you have a course score that matches or is below par. People that are not scratch golfers tend to play with a handicap. 

However, 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 put up a low score. 

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

In this case, let's say that it is 70. So, if you are consistently shooting a 70 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 have an idea of how people determine a golf handicap. 

Essentially, golfers 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 applies to determining if you are a scratch golfer. 

You can take the eight best rounds that you have played from your last 20. After you see what those eight rounds are, add them up and divide them to see if your score matches the general par score or not. 

If the score matches, then you know you are a scratch golfer. If it is lower, then you could even need a plus handicap. 

Are They Professionals? 

While it is very tough to reach scratch golfer status, this alone does not make you a professional golfer. You could be surprised at just how great professional golfers are. 

On average, they shoot about five strokes under par. Elite professional golfers may even shoot 8-10 strokes under par. 

This may not sound like a big difference on paper. But to a professional, it could be the difference between making a cut and getting paid in a tournament. 

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

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

How to Get Closer

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

Strong Mental Game

Golf is a unique sport in that you are really fighting against yourself. You do not have a direct opponent that can stop you and you control every part of your game. 

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

Control your emotions and have a strong mentality when golfing. 

Balance Your Practice

The next thing that you need to keep in mind is that you need to remember all of the aspects of your game. Some people will spend the majority of their time on the driving range just to make sure that they can hit a tee shot well. 

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

That can add up to double-digit strokes. So, make sure you are spending time on both the driving range and the putting range. 

Take Golf Lessons in Ocala

Finally, if you are serious about golf, you should seriously consider signing up for golf lessons in Ocala. It can be very beneficial for you to learn from a professional coach that can point out flaws in your game and give you some solid golf tips. 

Once you do this, you can get that much closer to reaching scratch golfer status. 

Do you want some golf training? Message us here to begin your lessons today.