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It depends. This year the likely winners at my club have reduced theirs by 2(adult) and 6(Junior). This is because, for some reason, the 2005 crop of beginners have not put in enough rounds to qualify. The previous winner (one Cakemeister) reduced his handicap by (I seem to remember) 17, but he had set himself a reasonable handicap by putting in three good rounds in the September of the previous year, when he started. The trick is to be good, but only set yourself a high handicap at the end of your first year, and then flower in your second year. Or do what I do, shoot so badly every other year that your handicap goes up too high, then you can improve it the following year - though it does hurt when you don't!