Guarantee yourself a data mulligan

PRODUCT FOCUS

New GolfSoftware.com knowledge base

Do you ever have technical questions about using our golf software products? Now we have a new resource to help with your questions. The new knowledge base consists of information our technical support crew uses to answer questions by email and telephone. The knowledge base often supplements what is available in the online user guides. Explore all of our support options.

PRODUCT FOCUS

Online handicap viewing and posting

Did you know that when you use GolfSoftware.com's Handicap System software, you have the option to let members view their scores and handicap online (including USGA Index, if you use USGA mode)? Players can even enter their scores online when you allow this function. It is called the Web Entry feature of our Handicap System software.

view 3-minute Website Entry video

PRODUCT FOCUS

Multi-User software update

Last spring we gathered a number of beta testers for an Internet-based multi-user experiment using our current software versions. Our ultimate decision was that it was too complex and not quite ready for prime time. We aim in the next several years to make it easier for multiple users - simultaneous or not - to administer golf groups using our software products.

LEAGUE MANAGER

Shifting league responsibilities between seasons

Unless you are in a warmer climate, your group is between seasons at this time of year. Many leagues pass on the responsibility of using League Manager to a new person next spring. What all do you need to do?

1. Make a backup of the season-end data.
2. Install League Manager on the new person's computer. Either install it from your CD or contact tech support [tech@golfsoftware.com] for download link.
3. Restore backup file to new person's computer.
4. New person learns League Manager.
5. New person starts new season's league using last season's League Manager settings and scores.

LEAGUE MANAGER

Your league has odd number of teams

It is not unusual for league recruiting to result in an odd number of teams. What should your league do? If you wind up with an odd number of teams, you will want to create a league with one extra team. For example, if you have 21 teams, create a league with 22 teams. The 22nd team will be the "blank" team. Once this is done, there are a number of ways to handle the schedule. Here are three:

• Team 22 will be populated with ghost players. Put a ghost sub in for each vacant player position on team 22. (Highlight the vacant position, click the Substitute button and select the ghost.)  When a team plays team 22 they will play a set of ghost players...ghost can shoot a set score, league average, etc...
• When a team plays team 22 they will play a random "blind" draw.  Ghost subs can be set to randomly draw scores from another team\player.
• When a team plays team 22 they will have a bye.  The team playing team 22 will be idle that week.

LEAGUE MANAGER

Why most leagues don't use USGA Handicapping

Most leagues do not use USGA handicapping because it takes too long to develop a handicap, plus handicaps change very slowly. Twenty scores are required to produce a full USGA handicap, and at least 5 scores are required before an initial handicap is calculated. Many leagues only have somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 total events. Naturally they want handicaps calculated at the start of the season and ones that are responsive to player scores posted. Another reason leagues tend to shy away from USGA Handicapping is that it would require all scores, not just league event scores, to be used to calculate the USGA Index and course handicaps. The leagues that do this typically turn the handicapping off in League Manager and use Handicap System for tracking handicaps and importing current handicaps into League Manager for events. That being said, League Manager can be set up to use the USGA formula for calculating handicaps.

WEB DESIGN TIPS

Web design tip #1 - My navigation menu runneth over...

Whether you use Website Designer or Website Builder, a problem you may encounter is the finite space available for links on your navigation menu along the left hand side of your website. The solution is to divide your web pages/links into categories and only list the category link on the navigation menu. For instance, rather than have links for each individual result on your menu, you may want to have one link for all your results. When a visitor clicks on the results link, s/he is taken to a page with links to each individual event. In essence by clicking on the results link, s/he is taken to a page that serves as a sub-menu listing for all events. The links on this sub-menu page may take your visitor directly to a results report or to another sub-menu page listing several reports for a specific event. See how to do this in Website Designer or Website Builder.

Web design tip #2 - Add an online registration form to your website

Website Builder has a built-in signup/registration form creator. Registration data is saved to a database with options to email the tournament administrator as well as the person who registered when an online registration is completed. You can even have registrations with credit card processing. Please see Creating a New Web Page and select the Signup Page from the Program Tools folder. Now follow the directions at Add A New Signup Page. For the notification email for the administrator, please see Define Notification Email. In addition to sending a notification email to the administrator, the whole tournament registration database can be downloaded in text format. Please see Administer Signup Page Tab.

You can be creative with this feature. Design a survey, a league registration, banquet registration, etc.

Web design tip #3 - Using ALL CAPS or mixed case?

Did you know that using the correct "case" - capital or small case letters - makes a big difference in the ease with which your members read your website content? Prove it to yourself. Learn about "downstyle typing" for legibility.

GOLFBYTE'S CUSTOMER WEBSITE RECOGNITION

Red Mountain Ranch Ladies Golf Association

Nice color theme and organization making information easy to find. In addition to their group logo, the ladies have taken advantage of the integrated event signup and survey (with results!) features of Website Builder in their "Upcoming Events" and "This month's survey" links. Check them out.

gOLFBYTE'S BEST CUSTOMER WEBSITE PICTURE

Sizing up the putt

Go to St. Bernard Church Men's Club Golf League website and click on the "Pictures" link. Funny! If you have a photo to share in this slot, please email your photo's website link.

GOLF QUOTATIONS

If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf.

- BOB HOPE

If there is any larceny in a man, golf will bring it out.

- PAUL GALLICO

Golf is an open exhibition of overweening ambition, courage deflated by stupidity, skill soured by a whiff of arrogance.

- ALISTAIR COOKE