This past weekend, our golf course had it's Medal Play Championship. It was a two round event (Saturday and Sunday June 2nd and 3rd, 2018). The inclusion of our application gives the event a real high level experience not only for those that are playing, but for course members that are at home. This is a first rate experience for everyone.
Markers
Markers are an important part of golf. "A 'marker' is one who is appointed by the Committee to record a competitor’s score in stroke play. He may be a fellow-competitor. He is not a referee."
a. Recording Scores
After each hole the marker should check the score with the competitor and record it. On completion of the round the marker must sign the score card and hand it to the competitor. If more than one marker records the scores, each must sign for the part for which he is responsible.
b. Signing and Returning Score Card
After completion of the round, the competitor should check his score for each hole and settle any doubtful points with the Committee. He must ensure that the marker or markers have signed the score card, sign the score card himself and return it to the Committee as soon as possible.
But what happens where there is a conflict between what the player thinks that they scored and what the marker thinks that they scored? You shouldn't have to wait until the end of the round. These should be checked at the moment that they occur.
When a player and their marker disagree on the score a player enters, our application
- Lets the player and his marker know that there is a disagreement in scores.
- Detects the difference via a report in our system. The golf pro staff does not want to disqualify a course member unless it is absolutely required. Instead, the pro staff would prefer to let the players know that there is an issue and let them resolve the issue before a dq becomes necessary.
- Displays the difference when a user attempts to sign our electronic signature application.
The last thing anyone wants is to be disqualified because of a simple misunderstanding between the player and their marker.
Media
The following is our basic summary screen. It shows the players, ordered by their current score relative to par for the event. Their name is shown, their place in the event, their score for today, how many holes that they have played today, their current total score, and finally what hole that they are on. Please note that the hole that they are on and how many holes that they have played can be different.
So, this is all well and good, but what about commentary? I dog food everything in our service. That means I am out there. I spent two years at our golf course every weekend in 2015 & 2016. I know how nearly all golf events are run. I did this to make sure that our customers are successful. There's no throwing the software into the app store and saying "Good Luck" from me. The commentary, photos, and video are me testing everything out. I have a TD Media app that I have created. This app allows for a club member or golf staff to enter comments, pictures, or videos into our service. These are shown right below the score of an event. The comments, pictures, and videos are available to every event. Comments & pictures are available on every scoreboard (yes, we do have words that are not allowed).
Video
Video is available for those that are not at the golf course watching, or can be for watching these events afterwards. Here are all of the videos in the event. In this top level video, it is Ryan Greer making the final birdie on 18 to finish at -4 for the event, and win. The videos are available from a PC as well as a mobile device.
From a PC standpoint, you can get some better detail. For example, I've captured Ryan's shot from the bunker on 11 to 4-5 feet. On a PC in full screen mode, you can watch the ball and see it stop right up at the hole.
Reception
I love our golf pro and I love my fellow players, but sometimes, the reception is funny to see. On the first tee, I'm talking with our pro. I mentioned several of these new features (they aren't really new, just not sure he had heard about them). He says he's not sure about the comments or the video and didn't want people using their phones like this on the course. After the two of us were watching the last group for about 5 holes, he says something about "It would be great if people could make comments and stop people from making overly rude comments. And what about a staff member adding in some video while on the course? What about some pictures?" We had a good laugh. I showed him the video, comments, and pictures I had already put on the scoreboard. Once I had more of a chance to explain what I had done, he was really positive on this. As we got to the back nine and people started seeing the scoreboard, the response was even more positive. Everybody really loved the feature set.
Your Course
What about your course? Just contact me, and let's talk about we can add this to your course, raise the value to your club members. Our office phone number is 865.693.3004. Lets take care of your course and improve the quality of golf at your course.
