What Is a 20 Handicap in Golf?

Hearing someone is a 20 handicap in golf tells you a lot about their game, but what does that number actually mean for how they play? More importantly, what does it say about their path to getting better? This article will break down what a 20 handicap represents on the course, what that golfer's game typically looks like, and provide a clear, actionable plan to start lowering that number and breaking 90 with confidence.

First, What Exactly Is a Golf Handicap?

Before we can understand a 20 handicap, we need to quickly touch on the handicap system itself. At its core, a golf handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's potential playing ability. Its primary purpose is to level the playing field, allowing golfers of different skill levels to compete fairly against one another.

Think of it like this: if a professional golfer (-5 handicap) and an average golfer (20 handicap) play a match, the professional has to give the average golfer 25 strokes to make the game even. One for each point of difference in their handicaps.

The system calculates your Handicap Index® using the average of your 8 best scores from your last 20 rounds. But it’s not just your score relative to par, it also factors in the difficulty of the courses you played using their Course Rating™ and Slope Rating®. A score of 92 on a very difficult course is more impressive - and will count more toward your handicap - than a 92 on an easy course.

A "20 handicap," then, simply means that a golfer's demonstrated potential is to shoot about 20 strokes over par on a course of average difficulty. So, on a standard par-72 course, they are capable of shooting around a 92.

The Anatomy of a 20-Handicap Golfer's Game

Okay, let's move beyond the numbers. What does a 20-handicap golfer *actually* look like on the course? If this is you, some of this will probably sound very familiar. The defining word for this level of golf is inconsistency.

A 20-handicapper is more than capable of stringing together some great shots. They'll hit a pure iron shot to the middle of the green and make a solid par. They might even make a birdie or two in a round. But these moments of brilliance are often followed by moments that sabotage the scorecard.

On the Tee Box

The 20-handicap golfer likely has a decent-looking swing, but one or two big misses with the driver per round are common. These aren't just slightly in the rough, they are the big slices that go out of bounds or deep into the trees. These penalty strokes are major roadblocks to lower scores. While they might hit 5-6 fairways in a round, the penalty for the bad ones is severe.

Approach Shots (Irons & Hybrids)

This is a big area where strokes pile up. Consistency in striking the ball is the main challenge. A typical 20-handicapper might hit 3 to 5 greens in regulation (GIR) in a round. The other 13-15 approach shots suffer from common misses:

• The "Chunk" or "Fat" Shot: Hitting the ground before the ball, causing the ball to come up well short of the target.
• The "Thin" or "Blade" Shot: Striking the ball on its equator, sending a low screamer over the back of the green.
• Poor Directional Control: Simply missing the green left or right, often ending up in bunkers or thick rough.

These misses leave them with difficult up-and-down situations, which leads us to the next point.

Around the Greens (Chipping & Pitching)

This is arguably the area that separates a 20-handicapper from a 15-handicapper. A lack of confidence around the greens breeds tentativeness. When faced with a 20-yard chip, they might use three different techniques in a single round. The result is total unpredictability. One chip might be nicely executed, but the next could be chunked two feet or bladed across the green, turning a simple chance for par into a double-bogey.

Putting

The putting of a 20-handicapper is often characterized by one main flaw: poor distance control. This leads to frequent three-putts. Their line might be okay on shorter putts, but when faced with a 40-footer, they often leave themselves a tricky 6- or 8-foot putt for their second. Consistently having two-putts instead of three is a huge step forward.

The Right Perspective: Is a 20 Handicap Good?

This is a question I hear all the time. The answer depends entirely on your frame of reference. If you compare a 20 handicap to a tour professional, then no, it's not "good." But that's a ridiculous comparison.

The reality is this: a golfer with a 20 handicap is often called a "bogey golfer." You predominantly make bogeys, a handful of pars, and a few double bogeys or worse. To be able to go out and shoot in the low-to-mid 90s consistently is a significant achievement that millions of casual golfers will never reach.

Think of it as a fantastic launchpad. You understand the fundamentals of the swing, you can execute good shots, and you know how to manage yourself around the course to a degree. You are not a beginner anymore. You are a true golfer, and you are on the cusp of regularly breaking 90 - a major milestone in the game.

The Action Plan: How to Go from 20 to the Teens

Ready to shed some strokes? The good news is that dropping from a 20 handicap to a 15 isn't about finding some secret swing move and it doesn't require a total overhaul. It's about playingsmarter golf and eliminating the big mistakes.

Step 1: Declare War on the Double Bogey

Your new #1 rule on the golf course is to eliminate the double bogey. A scorecard full of bogeys and a few pars is a recipe for a score in the high 80s. A scorecard with bogeys, pars, and three triple bogeys is a recipe for a 98.

• S marter Tee Shots: That tight par 4 with water right and out-of-bounds left? Do NOT hit your driver! Take out a 5-wood or hybrid. Your goal is not to hit it 280 yards, it's to have your second shot be from the fairway. Play "boring" golf. A ball in play is always better than a penalty stroke.
• Become a Punch-Out Artist: When you hit a shot into the woods, your mentality must shift. Your go-to shot is no longer the "hero shot" through a 3-foot gap in the trees. It’s the simple, safe punch-out sideways back to the fairway. One wasted shot (the punch-out)is always better than the two or three extra strokes you take after hitting a tree and ending up in an even worse spot.

Step 2: Master Your 100-Yard "Money Zone"

Most of your shots happen within 100 yards of the green. Getting better here has an immediate impact on your score. Stop randomly practicing different clubs and focus.

• Pick ONE Wedge: Take your favorite wedge (a 54 or 56-degree works great) and learn three distinct shots with it on the range.
  1. A full swing
  2. A three-quarter swing (hands to shoulder height)
  3. A half swing (hands to hip height)

Use a rangefinder to know precisely how far each of those three swings carries the ball. Knowing your "stock" distances for one club gives you tremendous confidence and options when you're 90, 75, or 60 yards out.

Step 3: Develop One "Go-To" Chip Shot

For now, forget about hitting high, soft-landing flop shots. Your goal is to get the ball on the green and rolling like a putt. The easiest and most reliable shot to learn is the bump-and-run.

• The Technique: Use a less-lofted club like an 8 or 9-iron. Set up like you're putting: feet close together, ball in the middle, and weight favouring your front foot. Use your putting stroke! Don’t hinge your wrists, just rock your shoulders back and through. The ball will pop onto the green and roll out toward the hole. It's almost impossible to chunk or blade this shot, making it your new reliable weapon around the green.

Step 4: Your New Putting Goal: Zero Three-Putts

Great putting isn’t about making 40-footers, it’s about never turning one putt into three. Your entire focus on long putts should shift to distance control.

• The 3-Foot Circle Drill: On the practice green, stick a tee in the ground. Pace off 30 feet and hit five putts. Your only goal is to get every single putt to stop inside an imaginary 3-foot circle around the hole. You don’t care about the line, only the speed. Once you get proficient at leaving yourself tap-ins from 30 feet, three-putts will become a rarity in your game.

Final Thoughts

Being a 20-handicap golfer means you are a solid, capable player on the verge of consistently shooting better scores. The path forward is not about finding a magic bullet for your swing, but about eliminating unforced errors through smarter course management and strengthening your skills in the critical scoring zone inside 100 yards.

Playing smarter and avoiding those blow-up holes often comes down to having a clear, confident strategy for every shot. We developed Caddie AI to be your personal caddie and coach, helping you with exactly that. When you're unsure on the tee or facing a tough lie, it feels like having an expert's opinion right in your pocket, guiding you toward the smart play. You can even send a photo of your situation, and it will recommend the best way to handle it, helping turn those daunting scenarios that lead to a double bogey into calmly-played bogeys or better.