Despite a recent increase in the amount of research investigating performance in golf, a comprehensive putting skills test has not been reported in the peer-reviewed literature. In this study the Golf Australia Putting Test (GAPT) was developed and a series of measurement properties were assessed. Elite (n = 18) and high-level amateur (n = 22) participants completed six single-putts from various areas on six concentric circles (circle radii = 0.9, 1.5, 3.0, 4.6, 6.1 and 7.6 m). Using a scoring system that rewarded participants for holing putts from longer distances, the maximum score from a single round of the test (i.e. 36 putts) was 27 points. After two rounds of the test were completed by all players, a subsample of participants (elite n = 15; high-level amateur, n = 7) had their putting performance recorded during tournament play for a period of 90 days to assess criterion (predictive) validity of the test. The reliability, sensitivity and discriminative validity of the GAPT were also assessed. Better agreement between rounds 1 and 2 scores was noted in the elite group, whilst reliability values were similar for both groups. Further, GAPT scores were shown to predict players from the elite and high-ability groups with low classification error. An equation for predicting on-course performance from GAPT scores was also developed. Findings from this study indicate that the GAPT is a valid and reliable tool for high level players and the GAPT may be used for player evaluation in the field.
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