Golf beginner stuns playing partners by posting negative score (net -1) on hole

Golf fans have been reacting to a leaked text message on social media revealing a beginner made a negative score (net -1) on one hole during a tournament round. 

The beginner golfer in question was reportedly a new member of a club with a handicap index of 49, and he was getting 52 strokes. 

The highest handicap you can now have in golf is 54 under the World Handicap System (WHS), which applies to both men and women. 

It used to be 36 for men and 40 for women before a rule change in 2020. 

While 54 is now the maximum official handicap index, competition rules may set a lower maximum handicap for entry.

A player with a 54 handicap could theoretically receive 54 strokes off the net par score of an 18-hole course.

But in this particular incident, a beginner was receiving 52 strokes for his tournament round. 

As we join the text message, which you can read in full below, the golf beginner raised eyebrows amongst his playing partners when he scuffed a driver on a short par-3 to 10 feet.

He then buried the putt for birdie. In receipt of three shots on the hole, the player's gross 2 incredibly became a net -1. 

Yes, a negative number on the card...

The text message, which was shared by golf stat guru Lou Stagner on X read as follows: 

"We played with a new member who is a beginner. His index is 49. He was getting 52 strokes. 52! He scuffs a driver on a short par 3 to 10 feet and makes the [redacted] putt! He is getting 3 blows on that hole and that turns his 2 into a net -1. Have you ever seen a negative number on a hole? What the [redacted]? I think we broke space time continuum. Can this happen?"

Indeed it can, and there are multiple examples that have been posted on X / Twitter.

But negative net scores are most certainly a rarity that's for sure. 

Scroll down to to see the text in full and to see what golf fans are saying about it all... 

Golf fans debate high handicaps posting low scores

The story of a net -1 has most certainly ruffled a few feathers on golf social media.

Some golfers are totally fine with it happening as miracles are part of our game, but others think the time has come to revert back to a 36 maximum handicap system for men and 40 for women - just as it was before 2020 when the rules changed to permit 54 handicaps for all. 

Here's a pick of the comments: 

"I played with a 24 handicap, who got an ace on #6 stroke index hole in Toshiba ProAm on Tour Champions for2 pops and a net "-1". 17th hole at NBCC, 165 yd down hill, par 3. Scoreboard recorded a zero, and deducted one from 18th hole, a par 5, to square up with scorecard."

"I've seen this - a guy had 2 dots on every hole in an event. It was an awful experience. Not only was he in his pocket on some holes, but he was also going negative on some holes -- it was match play. If he made it to the green he could putt just fine."

"This is exactly how I play though. One shot I’m Tiger Woods. The next 99 I’m a 52 handicap."

"At what point do we say we have went too high and cap it at 36 again..."

"The game's gone, get back to 36." 

"Beginner golf. My son in law is a high index, but occasionally has a couple of good scores on par 3’s. The reality is though, these players find golf extremely challenging - we definitely shouldn’t be criticising them when they make a good score on a hole."

"I'm a 28 handicapper.... I got an albatross on a par 5.... it was par five on the card but there was a temporary green which I drove through and then holed it on the putt coming back. I still count it.... but always tell the story."

"I played against a guy in league one time who got 3 hits on a few holes and 2 every other. He was net -4 on our 3- par 3s that night. That’s tough to compete with." 

"Once made a hole in one and lost the hole to a player who made a two with 2 shots!!"

"My dad wouldn't even take me to a course until I could hit 10 balls across the yard in the air 70 ish yards in a row.. How can you even play with a 49 ?"

"I personally don’t think anybody should be more than 18 these days. If you can’t do better than that then play off forward tees or even the ladies’ tees. Seen to many sand-baggers out there."

What do you stand on maximum handicaps as we head into 2026? 

Ever seen a net -1 happen before? 

Do you think golf handicaps should be limited to 36 for men and 40 for women? 

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