VPAR's golf-scoring app in crowd-funding round

The days of wandering around the golf course while scribbling down scores could soon be a thing of the past.

Start-up VPAR has teed up a crowd-funding round on Seedrs worth at least £1 million to help grow its smartphone golf-scoring app, which aims to replace the traditional scorecards.

VPAR, which also has a GPS tracking system, already has more than 200,000 users, including top professionals. Celebrity fans include One Direction star Niall Horan.

The Richmond-based firm is selling 9.3% of the equity, valuing it at more than £10 million.

It started out as a live scoring system for golf tournaments including the PGA Tour. But it is now targeting amateurs with the app. “We have a B2B arm — that’s what pays the bills. But the investor story and the exit story is definitely the app,” said co-founder and chief executive Jason Stoop.

VPAR has so far received investment from Eden Rock, the Mayfair hedge fund run by Pippa Middleton’s fiancé James Matthews.

The app is free but will generate revenues from sponsorship, premium subscriptions, and advertising.