Definition of handicap: It is a number that reflects the ability and potential of each golf player. The lower the handicap, the better the player. It represents the number of strokes a player can take over par to compensate for their skill level.

Lately, we've noticed an increasing emphasis on decimal handicaps. This emphasis only makes sense when there's no other way to classify and evaluate players. But nothing could be further from the truth. Children, and especially parents, are prioritizing handicaps over many other aspects of the game. And handicaps are a consequence of the game, not the other way around.

This means that if technique improves, attitude on the course improves, physical and mental preparation improves, short game skills improve, knowledge of the rules improves, training planning improves… as a result, the score will improve and the handicap will decrease. Looking at it this way, we are building a foundation for creating a good player and, therefore, a low-handicap player.

We can go backwards and reproduce a phrase that those who work with preschools hear from parents quite often: "Son, you have to lower your handicap no matter what, because your friend has already surpassed you.".

In this way we have gone to the end of the sequence and the child does not know what he has to do to achieve it (training method) but only sees the result.

On the one hand, we are only creating added pressure on the player, in this case a child, which far from helping him, is penalizing him before he even takes his first shot on the first hole, and on the other hand (sometimes we have detected this) they want to lower their handicap by any means necessary and at any price, even with cheating, with all that this means for their development as a player.

Another way to improve the handicap, and not the player, is by playing tournaments in special formats or under special characteristics or modalities knowing that it is more feasible to lower it.

Golf is already challenging, and we're doing the player a disservice if all our efforts are focused on lowering their handicap. If they don't achieve this in the short term, it can create anxiety and even frustration, potentially leading them to quit the sport. If you're interested in your child improving (and therefore lowering their handicap), it's advisable to seek professional guidance in planning their training program according to their age, setting appropriate goals, and motivating them to be consistent.