Lesson 3: Comparing Numbers, More, Less, and Equal
Comparing numbers is something golfers do constantly. Is my score better or worse than yesterday’s? Is this hole longer or shorter than the last one? Did I hit this shot farther or shorter than I usually do?
More than, less than, and equal to are three of the most important relationships in maths — and in golf. In golf, less is usually more — a lower score is better than a higher one. This can feel backwards when you first learn it!
When we compare two numbers, we can use symbols: > means ‘greater than’, < means ‘less than’, and = means ‘equal to’. If your score was 5 and the par was 4, you could write: your score (5) > par (4). If your score was 3, you could write: your score (3) < par (4). Under par is the goal!
Comparison is also how we track improvement. If you scored 55 last week and 52 this week, you improved by 3 shots. 52 < 55, so this week was better.
In golf, lower scores are better. We use > (greater than), < (less than), and = (equal to) to compare numbers.
Comparing scores over time shows improvement. If today’s score < yesterday’s score, you improved!
In most sports, you want the HIGHEST score to win. In golf, the LOWEST score wins. Can you think of why golf works this way? What would golf be like if the highest score won?
Play 9 holes (or as many as you can) on two different days this week. Record your total score each day. Write a comparison sentence using > or < or =. Which day was better? By how many shots? Then write: ‘I want to improve by ___ shots next time I play.’ Make that your goal.