A Model for Visualizing Difficulty in Golf and Subsequent Performance Rankings on the PGA Tour

Conventional performance indicators used in golf tend to rely on classifications of shots based on the distance to the hole. Consequently, these indicators ignore the unique factors which make up the difficulty of each shot. The aim of the project was to develop new performance indicators which are independent from the other shots played on a hole as well as a visualization of unique areas on a hole. Using the ISOPAR method a representative performance of the field is calculated at each hole. This allows visualizing difficult areas with respect to the field’s performance and new performance indicators which are independent of preceding shots. We looked at the ShotLink database for all tournaments measured in 2011 and compared the rankings of the PGA Tour to rankings generated using the ISOPAR method. We argue that the players who do well in the ISOPAR based rankings tend to be players who are subjectively and popularly known to be good performers for the respective shot types. The theoretical background a...