We are excited to announce the new Average to Par calculation within Golfshot that is optimized to follow guidance and updates from the World Handicap System! We have streamlined our system operations to provide equitable scoring for all Golfshot Members worldwide. Currently, 108 countries are utilizing the World Handicap System to level the playing field of golf and drive consistency within the game.
What is the Average to Par?
Average to Par is a statistic generated by Golfshot which represents a non-official handicap. This value, in a general sense, calculates your typical golf score on any given course in relation to par. A scratch golfer may have an Average to Par near 0, while a bogey golfer has an Average to Par somewhere around 18. A player better than scratch can have a Plus Average to Par, like +3 for example. This value can essentially be applied to the Gross Score for your round in order to generate a Net Score value. This Net Score is considered an equitable score that can fairly be compared to any other Net Score.
The Average to Par is most useful when you are playing against golfers of a different skill level using Net Scoring. The purpose of Net Scoring is to consider the Average to Par for each player and curve the disparity between the player’s ability to provide an equitable scoring system between any playing group.
You can even use the Average to Par to play against yourself! Anytime you play a round of golf using your Average to Par, your goal should be for your Net Score to be below Par; this means you are beating your own average! In time, you can work on lowering your Average to Par which gives an indication that you are shooting lower scores.
Golfshot also takes into consideration the difficulty of a given course when calculating a Net Score. Before a round, we use the Average to Par to generate a playing handicap for the round and this value is used to generate the Net Score.
What is changing?
In order to participate in the new scoring methods outlined by the World Handicapping System, we are standardizing the Average to Par feature in Golfshot so all Golfshot Members can use the same system. The new Average to Par will generate your average to par score using a single set of criteria, regardless of where you reside.
This will result in Golfshot Members having the ability to play more equitably among family and friends, and simplifies the overall process for everyone.
Why the change?
Golf has been unique, in the sense that players from all around the world have been playing with their own Scoring Systems, without regard to what others are doing. In the simplest terms, we have all been playing a slightly different game!
This sets a standard for equitable scoring that applies to all golfers everywhere!
For additional questions, you can visit our Average to Par FAQs here or contact support at support@golfshot.com.
Is this already on my current version of GolfShot??
Yes! If you do not see it, please log out and back in, it should be there automatically!
I have a average to par por 54… Is this correct?
I usually hit 54 in 9 holes. There is a course where I play and it has 18 holes but only 9 are playable… Maybe that’s the reason
So with our ATP, it’s usually the best 5 of the last 20 rounds that it is calculated from. However, if there are less than 20 rounds, the calculation could be taken from about 2-3. Really any of the better rounds should eliminate bringing in the less desirable rounds.
Sounds great!
Sounds great. I would like to try it.
I love this feature! However, I have a regular foursome, for which I keep the scores. We have dozens, if not more scorecards. We would like to use this to handicap our games. But I’m the only one whose average to par updates. Wish you could designate a foursome for this feature.
Thank you for that feedback! I will pass this on to our team of developers!
I play most of my rounds with one player and keep scores for both. It would be nice to have his avg. to par for the rounds I score with him. It would make our matches easier to calculate handicap purposes. Thanks
My Average to Par is 3.1.
Is that score based on 9 or18 holes?
It is based on what scores you have saved, both 9 and 18 holes if you have them. For more info please refer to this article: https://golfshot.com/blog/2020-world-handicap-changes-handicap-index-calculation
How often will average to par update in the app?
It will update as you save new scores!
I have 9, 9 hole rounds played but my average to par still says 54. At what point should it calculate or do I need to have paid version to get it?
Hi there, with any issues please always email support@golfshot.com so they can assist in accessing your account and help in fixing any bugs or issues!
Is Average to Par automatically generated after each round? Do I have to do anything or is it automatic?
You do not have to do anything other than track your rounds and keep score! We do the rest!
Great idea
This is why I’m changing apps. 😡 not happy that is not calculating proper index. Plus course graphics always need to be reloaded. It’s frustrating. I have already made the change to the Grint!
Average to par is Golfshot’s calculation, taking into account the WHS, and it is not a proper Handicap. We are only approved by USGA to give a proper handicap index at the moment.
how does one start gathering or reporting scores.
Can it be done for playing only 9 holes?
Yes! While playing your round please select 18, or 9 holes. Keep score as you go and when you have finished, hit save round. Our new ATP will take into account your saved scores for calculation. For more info please refer to this article: https://golfshot.com/blog/2020-world-handicap-changes-handicap-index-calculation
Can you just modify it so the number of shots you want on a course can be put in rather than calculations based on course difficulty.
Unfortunately no, you cannot modify the course difficulty ratings.
This feature does not work.
I haven’t played a round under 90 and my average to par after 30 rounds is 12.
How is this possible. I am not playing PGA courses…
Our Average to Par is based on the new WHS. You have to have saved at least 3 rounds in the app to be able to calculate it correctly. If you are seeing discrepancies, please email support@golfshot.com so they can troubleshoot and see if there is an app issue or an account issue.
Hi Does the average to par factor in the slope rating, eg I’m an 11 on the app but play from the whites. If I play off the blues I am guessing I’m not an 11 as the slope rating is higher.
We do average in the slope rating of the course, if you’re seeing issues please reach out to support@golfshot.com and they can explain further!
Like this idea
I don’t really understand all this , my average to par tells me ATM 23 what does this mean
Your ATP is based off your scores posted and the World Handicap calculations. For more on how this is calculated please visit: https://golfshot.com/blog/2020-world-handicap-changes-handicap-index-calculation
Great feature, glad you guys are continuing to improve this app. It is my favorite to use.
Is this simply the number displayed in front of the red ribbon at the top-right?
Should be a blue ribbon on the left-hand side- the red banner should state whether you have Pro, Free or Plus!
I have deleted lots of my old scores – just want avg based on scores since 2020 – does it still use deleted scores to calculate avg? My avg is shown as 54 yet I gave only had one score above that- most are 《53
It should not use deleted rounds or scores. If you think it may be, please reach out to support@golfshot.com so they can access your rounds and ensure what is being calculated!
How many rounds does the app use to calculate the average to par.
I have rounds from two years ago when I just started playing. I dont feel those scores represent my current playing level.
It is calculated after 3 saved 18-hole rounds!
My average to par is 39.5 but I’ve been told it only starts at 28 but it’s never been like that so I feel like it’s not updating properly
If you feel that is the case, please email support@golfshot.com so they can check into your account and assist!
I have used the app in the UK since 2010. It has worked brilliantly with my official handicap on each course showing which holes I do and don’t have a shot on. However this has now stopped working with the update. On my home course with a handicap of 14.0 it is giving me a shot on 17 of the 18 holes. This is incredibly frustrating.
Please email support@golfshot.com so they can check into your account and see what the issue could be!
Is there a resolution to this yet, please?
I have exactly the same problem as Charlie Eve, which is exacerbated when I’m playing with friends who I’ve saved in the App, because it’s calculating everybody’s stableford score, in the UK, incorrectly.
I am already looking for an alternative, because it seems to me that all your focus is on your US customers.
For the correct course handicap calculation we recommend going to settings > account > Average to Par > make sure to enter your exact handicap index here and change the handicap style to “Other” > press save.
Please only enter your exact handicap index into settings as Golfshot automatically calculates a course handicap for you for each round using the slope of the tee chosen.
The dots shown on the scorecard represent the strokes received on each hole and also add up to your course handicap.
The course handicap is also shown for each round when you sign in to play.golfshot.com. Stableford scores figure in your course handicap, so if you notice your Stableford scores are incorrect- the issue is with the course handicap. In order to ensure your course handicap is accurate, we need to make sure your course’s tee slope and ratings are accurate.
Hope this helps explains the many nuances to the changes to handicapping around the world and how our system works!
Just a quick update to say thanks very much to Margherita (Support) for a very prompt resolution to this.
I did what you said here re entering exact Handicap Index etc., but it still didn’t work. It was then that I discovered you had incorrect slope ratings recorded some of the tees on my home course, which was the cause of the problem.
An email to Support resolved the problem within 24 hours, and today all scores were correctly apportioned. Many thanks – very impressed.
If you have your scorecard emailed to you after each round, as I do, make sure the slope rating is what you expect it to be.
I am also from the UK, and I have the same problems as Charlie Eve. I have also been using the app for many years
Since the update the app is no longer accurate. I have a handicap index of 19.2 but this is not reflected properly on shots given on any course I have played. It is extremely annoying and confusing.
For the correct course handicap calculation we recommend going to settings > account > Average to Par > make sure to enter your exact handicap index here and change the handicap style to “Other” > press save.
Please only enter your exact handicap index into settings as Golfshot automatically calculates a course handicap for you for each round using the slope of the tee chosen.
The dots shown on the scorecard represent the strokes received on each hole and also add up to your course handicap.
The course handicap is also shown for each round when you sign in to play.golfshot.com. Stableford scores figure in your course handicap, so if you notice your Stableford scores are incorrect- the issue is with the course handicap. In order to ensure your course handicap is accurate, we need to make sure your course’s tee slope and ratings are accurate.
Hope this helps explains the many nuances to the changes to handicapping around the world and how our system works!
Hi if i play the front or back 9 only on an 18 hole course do i have to tell the app or just enter scores for holes played and then click end round and save when finished and if i do this does it go into my average to par calculation?
Also how many rounds are used for av to par when i have more than 3. Thanks. Phil in UK
To save a 9 hole round on an 18 hole course, after playing the desired 9 holes press the menu button found on the GPS screen > Select End Round > Save Scorecard. This will save the 9 hole round to your account!
Golfshot necessitates saving three 18 hole rounds in order to calculate you an automatic handicap.
How many recent rounds does the average to par calculate against?
Saving 3 18-hole rounds will calculate this!
I have 118 rounds logged and I had two recent bad scores and my average to par score didn’t change. How many recent rounds does it calculate against? 10 rounds? 20 rounds? All logged rounds?
Per the workaround to get the scoring correct as mentioned above.
Why do we need to amend from ‘Average to Par’ to ‘Other’ in order for the app to calculate the stableford points correctly?
All members residing in GB and Ireland use a different method of calculating course handicap than the rest of the world. We use World Handicap System for our average to par calculations, this uses the standard equation that most of the world uses for course handicap and handicap index calculating. In order to accommodate the differing region in GB, we built this other distinct calculation into the “Other” selection in the average to par settings.
I still don’t understand, my last 5 rounds have been at an average of 9 over par but my ATP has gone up form 29 to 30.
How do I turn this off?
I play in Uk, have a handicap of 15.2. Yet, your app does not calculate the correct stableford score. For example, I par a stroke 15 hole and the app gives me 2 points, not 3 – because it’s decided to use its own course rating which only gives me 14 shots – not the official UK index which gives 15.
I have used ‘other / not known’ and it’s still doing it. Very frustrating. Just want the app to stop interfering.
Please email support@golfshot.com for any scoring issues, tech issues, bug issues, or course updates/additions.
Hi there,
My average to Par never changes, can you please helpw
If you are experiencing technical issues, please contact support@golfshot.com. They can check your account and see what the issue may be!
I have the same question that a number of people have asked in different ways but has apparently gone unanswered…
How many recent rounds are used to compute the average-to-par value?
I understand that average-to-par isn’t computed until at least 3 rounds have been recorded, but that’s not the question. I also understand that deleted rounds should not be included in the calculation.
For example, as Jason asked in February 2022, does it use the most recent 10 rounds to compute this value? Or the most recent 20 rounds? Or does it always use all of the saved rounds (90% of which no longer reflect my skill level) to compute this value?
If you’re able to answer that, I’d also be interested to know whether it uses all of these recent rounds to compute the average, or only the best X (e.g., best 8 or 10) of these rounds (as is done for computing handicap indexes)? Thanks!
Usually it calculates from the best 5 of the last 20 compatible rounds saved. However, if there are fewer than 20 rounds saved, the rounds used in the calculation could be approximately 2-3. Any bad rounds should be left out!