Scratch

Scoring

A golfer with a handicap of zero, who is expected to play to the course rating. A golfer better than scratch has a plus handicap.

This definition is part of the Golfonaut golf glossary, where related terms are grouped by topic.

Related terms

Handicap

A number that measures a golfer's demonstrated ability so that golfers of different abilities can compete fairly. Under the World Handicap System it is a Handicap Index: the average of the best 8 of your 20 most recent score differentials. The higher the handicap, the more strokes the golfer receives.

Ready to Transform Your Golf Game?

Download Golfonaut and use your Apple Watch for distances to the green, one-tap shot tracking and scorecards on the course.

Golfonaut App Interface
Download Now

Free on the App Store · iPhone + Apple Watch