During the recent presidential debate, President Biden and former President Trump engaged in a heated discussion about their golf handicaps, raising questions about their physical fitness and ability to serve as head of state.
The recent presidential debate hosted by CNN took an unexpected turn when the candidates, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, began discussing their golf handicaps. The issue arose during a conversation about their physical fitness and, by extension, their ability to serve as the head of state at their respective ages, 81 and 78.
In the midst of the debate, President Biden asserted that he had lowered his golf handicap to six during his time as vice president, later amending that claim to eight. This revelation raised eyebrows among avid golfers, including Trump, who expressed disbelief.
Golf Handicaps Take Center Stage in Presidential Debate
To fully understand the significance of this exchange, it is essential to define what a golf handicap is. A golf handicap, or handicap index, is a numerical value that gauges a player's ability or potential. It indicates how many strokes a player is typically expected to shoot over par on a given course.
Professional golfers do not maintain handicaps. Generally speaking, handicaps below 10 are deemed low, those between 10 and 19 are considered mid-range, and those over 19 are considered high. A handicap of zero would indicate a scratch golfer.
Golf Handicaps Take Center Stage in Presidential Debate
Biden's estimated handicap of six or eight suggests that he shoots in the high 70s or low 80s on average. This is a respectable score for a recreational golfer, but it is considerably higher than the average for men, which was approximately 14 according to data collected by the United States Golf Association (USGA) in January 2024. Only 20% of male golfers had a handicap index range of 0.5 to 9.9.
Comparing Biden's handicap to professional golfers would be unfair. The PGA Tour pros play on much more challenging courses, making their handicaps incomparable to those of average golfers. However, golf statistical guru Lou Stagner calculated that Rickie Fowler had a best handicap index of +8.4 from 2016 to 2020, indicating a performance that was 8.4 strokes better than scratch.
Golf Handicaps Take Center Stage in Presidential Debate
The debate over golf handicaps between Biden and Trump may never be resolved, but Bryson DeChambeau, who had an average handicap index of +5.8, offered to host a golf match on his YouTube channel to settle the dispute once and for all.
In conclusion, the discussion of golf handicaps in the presidential debate highlighted the physical fitness and stamina required to serve as the head of state. While the exact validity of Biden's claimed handicap remains a subject of debate, it serves as a reminder that golf, like other activities, can provide valuable insights into an individual's overall health and well-being.
