A beginner has a course handicap of 41 or more; an intermediate has a course handicap of 25 to 40; and an advanced junior golfer has a course handicap of less than 25. (Junior course handicaps are often determined from the front tees and are based on course ratings and slope ratings.) The choice of handicap depends on your age, experience, and goal in golf. A young person who is just starting out should be given a higher handicap so that he or she will be able to have some fun while still being challenged by the game. As you get better at golf, you can lower your handicap by learning how to play better courses. The lower your handicap number, the easier it is to beat. This isn't necessarily a bad thing! As long as you aren't getting too used to losing games, then you're going in the right direction. In general, men's golfers tend to have lower handicaps than women's golfers because there are more men's amateur clubs around than there are women's clubs. The men's game is also much more popular than the women's game so there are more opportunities for men to learn the game and improve themselves. Amateurs with low handicaps have the advantage over professionals because they can choose the courses they want to play. Professional golfers usually have to play the same sets of courses over and over again.