PGA, LPGA Professionals Develop Adjustable Scorecard to Accommodate All Skill Levels

Adjusted pars for beginners boosts confidence and player enjoyment on the course

(SAN JOSE, Calif.) — Two California golf professionals have taken on the intimidation factor faced by new and inexperienced golfers with the creation of a unique, tiered scorecard at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in San Jose. The new scorecard includes three different pars based on skill level, allowing every golfer on the course to experience success.

The golf industry has been long-committed to bringing new players to the game, but PGA and LPGA professionals Scot Hathaway and Colleen Henry saw a need to keep beginning players engaged in the sport at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. The two developed the Tri-Level scorecard, which is currently in use at the par-3 facility, a City of San Jose course managed by CourseCo, Inc.

The scorecard is designed in such a way that golfers can play each hole as a traditional par 3 or, if desired, at a higher par depending on their playing ability.

“As golf instructors, we are constantly in search of ways to make the game of golf more enjoyable for those taking up the sport for the first time,” shared Colleen Henry, LPGA, who serves as golf operations manager and The First Tee Master Coach at Rancho del Pueblo. “The tiered levels of the scorecard represent the core value of having a ‘personal par’ and measuring yourself against your personal best, not other people’s standards.”

The three distinctive player-level scoring options on the card are Par: Advanced (par 3), Par: Intermediate (par 4), and Par: Beginner (par 5). The goal is for newcomers to start with the beginner par level and, as performance improves, shift up to the intermediate and advanced par levels.

The scorecard has been implemented for the course’s First Tee program for juniors with positive results. The Rancho del Pueblo player development staff has noticed it is also a helpful tool for golfers returning to the sport after an extended absence.    

“The Tri-Level program makes the game more inviting,” explains Scot Hathaway, PGA, general manager at Rancho del Pueblo. “Initially, golf is hard enough on its own, and it can quickly lose its fun factor when a newcomer can’t attain standard par. Fortunately, we’ve been able to provide a solution with our Tri-Level program which allows beginners to experience success early on in the sport.”

To book a tee time or to learn more about Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course & Driving Range and its player development offerings including The First Tee of Silicon Valley, visit www.ranchodelpueblo.com.

To learn more about the PGA of America, visit www.pgamediacenter.com.