Which Type of Golfer Best Describes You
By: Derek Clements | Edited: Fri 01 Aug 2025
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Golf is a game played by men and women of all ages, shapes and sizes. For me, part of the attraction is the fact that as long as you are able to walk then you can continue to play this fabulous sport. In truth, there are several seniors at our golf club who struggle with their mobility but are still able to play nine or 18 holes by using a buggy. It is wonderful to see.
As a long-time senior, I recognise the fact that my game has changed. I have to accept that I no longer hit the ball as far as I once did and that some par fours are now out of reach in two shots - although this incredible dry spell of weather we’ve enjoyed has changed that.
Because of the handicap system, I remain pretty competitive and still like to go out there and pit my wits against both course and opponent. Sometimes I even surprise myself with how well I can still play when there are no aches and pains.
But there are all sorts of different types of golfer.
The Scratch Man
I have played a lot of golf during my life and at one time I reached a pretty decent standard. To get there and stay there takes a great deal of hard work. Golf is one of the most unforgiving sports and demands your dedication. So can somebody please explain to me how so many amateurs are able to get down to around scratch (and better) while telling you they hold down a full-time job and yet always seem to be at the golf course. No matter what time you turn up, no matter what day of the week, they are always there, smashing 300-yard drives down the middle of the first fairway, rifling iron shots to the heart of the green and winning just about every club tournament of note.
The Competitor
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
This is the guy who will always play from the white tees, who will always keep a scorecard and will be able to talk you through just about every round of golf he has ever played. He will spend hours on the driving range and on the practice green. He doesn’t know what it means to play for fun. When you play with him the first question he will always ask is: "What are we playing for?"
The Senior
You will be able to identify him with ease. He will probably walk with a slight limp. He will definitely have a moan about his aches and pains. He will probably also complain about the cost of his annual subscription - while playing AT LEAST five times a week and spending little or nothing in the clubhouse. He will know everybody at the club and he will have an amazing tan.
The Working Golfer
This is the one who has a full-time job but loves the game and has a difficult balancing act to perform. How do you keep your handicap down, play enough golf to be competitive yet somehow spend enough time with your family? I have been there and I know how hard it is. Try convincing your non-playing wife (or husband) that a round of golf really can take five hours and that it would be rude not to spend at least an hour with your playing partners after you finish? Oh, and then try to justify spending £3,000 on a new set of golf clubs when your partner has just told you that you need to replace the fridge-freezer.
The Enthusiast
I love these. Almost without exception, the enthusiast will be a high handicapper. But he (it is always a he) soaks up everything there is to know about the game. He knows what clubs Rory McIlroy uses because he has just gone out and bought the full set. He has probably forked out around £3-4,000 without a second thought. He has almost certainly not been custom-fitted for them and has never had a lesson in his life. He has a huge tournament golf bag and the latest state-of-the-art trolley (remote-controlled, of course). He wears bright colours and possesses every golf gadget known to man.
The Beginner
Many club golfers hate playing with beginners. I cannot understand why. I have introduced several people to this sport and have marvelled at their improvement, their eagerness to learn and their pure joy when they hit the ball properly. They soak up information, they listen when you give them a tip. They are also the club pro’s dream because if they are starting out then they need equipment - clubs, bag, golf balls, shoes, gloves, umbrellas, tees.
The Juniors
When I was a junior golfer we were treated like second-class citizens (that is being polite)! We had huge restrictions on when we could play the course, we had to play from the women's tees no matter what standard we reached and the bar staff would ignore us when we went into the clubhouse to buy a soft drink. But I couldn’t get enough of it. During the summer holidays I would be at the course from first light until dusk. But I also felt unwelcome. Thankfully, things have changed. I love turning up and seeing our pro giving group lessons to large numbers of noisy children. I love haring the chatter and the laughter. And I wince when I see how hard they hit the ball and how far it travels.
Golden Girls
Sadly, there are still some golf clubs that do not treat women especially well. Thankfully, my club is not one of them. We have an active and extremely successful ladies section. They are at the heart and soul of the club. I launched a mixed pairs competition earlier this year and one of the stipulations was that husbands could not partner their wives. It was a blind draw and it has brought together people who had not previously mixed with one another. It has been a huge success and an absolute joy. I was knocked out in the first round. In truth, my partner did not have her A-game and we were trounced but it didn’t matter. We had fun - and I would happily partner her again next year.
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