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Golf Maths

Maths in golf: personal bests

Compare old and new results.

Quick answer

Maths in golf: personal bests helps you compare your old scores with new ones to see how much you've improved. You can use subtraction to find the difference between your scores and see if you're getting better at golf.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to compare your old golf scores with new ones using subtraction and understand how much you've improved. Success signs:
  • You can find the difference between two numbers
  • You can tell if your score got better or worse
  • You can explain how many shots you saved or lost
  • You can use subtraction to compare your personal bests

Why this matters

Maths helps you understand how good you are at golf and how much you've improved. When you play golf, you keep track of how many shots it takes you to get the ball in the hole. If you used to take 6 shots but now take 4 shots, you've improved by 2 shots. This shows you're getting better at golf. Understanding your personal bests helps you set goals and celebrate your progress.

How it works

To compare your golf scores, you need to:
  1. Write down your old score
  2. Write down your new score
  3. Subtract the new score from the old score
  4. See if the answer is positive or negative
If the answer is positive, you did better (you saved shots). If the answer is negative, you did worse (you used more shots). The number tells you how much you improved or got worse.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're playing golf and you want to see how you've improved. Example 1: You used to take 8 shots, now you take 5 shots
  • Old score: 8 shots
  • New score: 5 shots
  • Subtract: 8 - 5 = 3
  • You improved by 3 shots!
Example 2: You used to take 6 shots, now you take 7 shots
  • Old score: 6 shots
  • New score: 7 shots
  • Subtract: 6 - 7 = -1
  • You got worse by 1 shot
Example 3: You used to take 10 shots, now you take 6 shots
  • Old score: 10 shots
  • New score: 6 shots
  • Subtract: 10 - 6 = 4
  • You improved by 4 shots!

Try it as a mini adventure

Golf Score Adventure You're on a mission to become the best golfer in your family! Here's your challenge: 1st time: You took 9 shots to get the ball in the hole 2nd time: You took 7 shots to get the ball in the hole 3rd time: You took 5 shots to get the ball in the hole 4th time: You took 6 shots to get the ball in the hole 5th time: You took 4 shots to get the ball in the hole Your task is to find how much you improved each time. Let's see how you did: 1st time: 9 shots - 7 shots = ? shots 2nd time: 7 shots - 5 shots = ? shots 3rd time: 5 shots - 6 shots = ? shots 4th time: 6 shots - 4 shots = ? shots What did you learn? Did you get better or worse? What was your best score?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Subtracting in the wrong order
    • Why it happens: You might subtract new from old instead of old from new
    • Fix: Always subtract the new score from the old score to see how much you improved
  • Mistake: Forgetting that a negative number means you got worse
    • Why it happens: Children might think negative numbers are wrong
    • Fix: Explain that negative numbers show how many more shots you used
  • Mistake: Not writing down the scores
    • Why it happens: It's easy to forget numbers when playing
    • Fix: Use a scorecard or write down your scores as you play

Parent and carer guide

To help your child with this maths, you can:
  • Play golf together and keep track of scores
  • Use a simple scorecard to write down scores
  • Ask your child to explain how much they improved each time
  • Make it fun by setting small goals and celebrating progress
  • Use everyday situations to practice subtraction
Remember, the goal is not to be perfect, but to enjoy learning and improving. If your child makes a mistake, encourage them to try again and celebrate their efforts.

Practice questions

  1. You used to take 10 shots, now you take 7 shots. How much did you improve?
  2. You used to take 5 shots, now you take 8 shots. How much did you get worse?
  3. You used to take 12 shots, now you take 9 shots. How much did you improve?
  4. You used to take 6 shots, now you take 4 shots. How much did you improve?
  5. You used to take 8 shots, now you take 10 shots. How much did you get worse?
Answers:
  1. 10 - 7 = 3 shots improved
  2. 5 - 8 = -3 shots (got worse by 3 shots)
  3. 12 - 9 = 3 shots improved
  4. 6 - 4 = 2 shots improved
  5. 8 - 10 = -2 shots (got worse by 2 shots)

FAQ

What is a personal best in golf?

A personal best in golf is your lowest score for a round or hole. It shows how well you did compared to your previous attempts.

How do you know if you're getting better at golf?

You're getting better if your scores are lower than before. The fewer shots you take to get the ball in the hole, the better you're doing.

Can you use maths to improve your golf skills?

Yes! By comparing your scores, you can see where you're improving and where you need more practice.

What does a negative number mean in golf scores?

A negative number means you used more shots than before. It shows you got worse, not better.

Why is it important to track your golf scores?

Tracking your scores helps you see your progress, set goals, and know what to practice to get better at golf.