What term describes a golfer with a handicap of zero?

A golfer with a handicap of zero is called a scratch golfer.

In handicap golf, a player’s handicap estimates how many strokes they typically need above or below a course’s difficulty-adjusted standard. A zero handicap means the golfer is expected to play approximately to the course rating under normal conditions, without receiving handicap strokes.

“Scratch” does not mean the player is a beginner or has never scored. Scratch golfers are highly skilled amateurs, often capable of shooting near par, although course difficulty and daily form still affect their scores. The term is also distinct from “bogey golfer,” commonly used for a player with a handicap around 18.

Handicap systems are primarily designed to let golfers of different abilities compete fairly. Professional tours generally do not use handicaps in their competitions, while amateur clubs and national associations administer them using recent scoring data.