1.When do you have a single-digit handicap?

“The term ‘single-digit handicap’ is not something you’ll find in a dictionary, and it’s not covered by the rules of golf. It’s more of a ‘saying’ in golf. I would use the term ‘single-digit handicap’ to describe a player who has an exact handicap of 9.9 or less.”

– Claes Grönberg, Swedish Golf Federation

2. How many players have a single-digit handicap?

“I only have reliable numbers and statistics for Sweden, where there are 525 789 active golfers of which 52 887 have a single-digit handicap or a plus handicap. So that’s pretty close to 10%.”

– Bo Bengtsson, Swedish Golf Federation

3. Do you need a single-digit handicap to wear white golf shoes?

“I can’t be an old fossil and say yes to that question. I think everyone should be allowed to wear white golf shoes. Especially if you choose a sneaker or something similar. However, if you have a slightly higher handicap and choose to put on a pair of classic white leather golf shoes, like FootJoy Premiere Series – yes, you do it at your own risk …”

– Dennis Jacobsson, Shoe expert, Dormy Golf

4. What is the easiest way to get single-digit handicap?

“The simple answer is to practice and play a lot. A lot of people probably think that you have to make lots of birdies, but as long as you manage to avoid double bogeys, you will eventually start shooting low scores. One way to take the first step can be to play more strategic golf and lay up in order to make a par or a bogey, instead of going for it and swinging as hard as you can every time.”

– Simon Garman, Customer Service, Dormy Golf, Handicap: +3.3

5. Are blade irons just for single-digit handicaps?

“No, definitely not. The classic look of blades reminds us of the long history and the roots of the game of golf. But you have to be prepared to be challenged much more than with other types of irons. The number of pros with blades in the bag is dwindling, which I think says a lot. And there is always an option to choose a combo set, with blades in the shorter irons and then a little more forgiving longer irons. This is actually a sensible choice even for skilled golfers. This will give you that glorious blade feel in your scoring irons and the forgiveness you might need in the rest of the set. The best of both worlds.”

– Daniel Hansson, Custom fitting expert, Dormy Golf

6. How old were you when you got your single-digit handicap?

“I don’t actually remember exactly when I got my single-digit handicap, but it was probably when I was around 11 or so. I became a scratch player when I was 14 years old.”

– Ludvig Åberg, PGA Tour

7. How old were you when you got your single-digit handicap?

”I was 14 when I first got my handicap down under 10, and then I didn’t reach scratch until I was 19. Today my official handicap is +8.1, so I’m a bit of a late bloomer.”

– Johanna Gustavsson, Ladies European Tour

8. How many golfers break 80?

“If you have a single-digit handicap, you have a reasonable chance of shooting a sub-80 score. Breaking 80 has become something of a benchmark for a successful round for ‘better golfers.’ This is no wonder, since only 4% of all golfers ever manage to break 80 in their career."

– Ludvig Iraeus, statistics guru, Dormy Golf

9. What is your best tip for getting your handicap down under 10?

“It’s learning how to hit the ball correctly – making contact with the ball first and then the turf. A good way to practice this is to draw a chalk line on the ground, perpendicular to the target, place your feet on either side of the line and make practice swings where you hit the ground 5-10 centimetres in front of the line. After two good practice swings in a row, you can use that feeling to hit the ball. You could also go to an indoor facility with a launch monitor and try to hit your iron nine with an attack angle of –4 degrees and a low point of minimum 8 centimetres. If you can master this skill, you will get a much more predictable stroke pattern and less mishits, which in turn will lead to lower scores!"

– Alex Wrigley, golf coach