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PCCraig

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Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« on: September 17, 2021, 11:51:44 AM »
Working on a scorecard project for my home course.


Was curious as to the group's thoughts on what are some of their favorite scorecards, and specifically what makes them great?


What layouts do you find helpful on a scorecard? Room for just 4 players or for matches as well?


How about size?


Horizontal or vertical scorekeeping?
H.P.S.

Brian Ross

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Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2021, 11:57:20 AM »
Pat,


I'm a big scorecard guy and I love your scorecard as is! Curious what you all don't like about it?
Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.

http://www.rossgolfarchitects.com

Gib_Papazian

Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2021, 12:15:29 PM »
Because I'm a hopeless product of too many years studying old golf courses - and their aged traditions - I like a scorecard where each hole is creatively named.


Having a reasonably clear diagram of each hole is always a plus . . . . along the same vein, I used to find the detailed GPS screen on CCFAD cartball tracks distracting, but I've got to admit it speeds up play quite a bit.


And there is no problem with naming a golf hole for some memorable event or incident either. One of the best things about being at Olympic (for 47 years) are the memories and folklore that accumulates over the years.


These are fabulous conversation starters in the Grillroom. A club does not have to boast a founders pedigree right off the Mayflower to have ghosts in the locker room.


The more bizarre or offbeat the story, the better. And this folklore is what cleaves to the history and texture of a club . . . . at Olympic, most of the real characters checked out many years go, but their memories live on as long as there are peeps to pass on the stories.


And the same goes for individual golf holes . . . . . we have stories about Hogan, Ty Cobb and Tommy Nakajima of course, but some of the best ones are attached to random members whose memories only exist in pictures from my childhood and before.


In other words, the more a personalized the scorecard celebrates the history of the joint, usually the better.


     

Jeff Schley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2021, 12:42:59 PM »
I like a scorecard that is unique, vertical ones are cool I think. Also when I keep it in my back pocket walking in the summer, I sweat through it if it doesn't have the outside with a clear coat on it. I don't have the yardage book with scorecard flip book, maybe I should get one.
I like having a diagram of the course layout, for sometimes a new course you don't know where to go next. Plus gives a nice visual of the entire property. Listing the designer of record (not everyone who has sneezed at the place), head pro, superintendent is a nice touch.
Really like a color logo on the front of the card somewhere as well. Don't like naming the holes as for almost all courses who is going to remember the name of the holes. Augusta, North Berwick, TOC sure; but are you doing to remember the name of the 11th hole at XYZ course?
"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice your gifts."
- Steve Prefontaine

Tim Gavrich

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2021, 01:13:18 PM »
I've noticed that certain card stocks end up being much easier to write on than others. I like scorecards that are easy to write on, rather than the ones where it seems like all the pencil graphite is good for is etching barely-legible lines in the boxes.


Something you don't have to fold up in order to place in your pocket is good, too.


I personally like when the architect, head pro and superintendent are listed on the back. Not opposed to a graphic of the course layout, either, but certainly not a big deal if there is none.


I like when the front is just the logo.


Because I'm left-handed, I like vertically-oriented scorecards because they don't force me to get graphite smudges on my left hand.
Senior Writer, GolfPass

Bernie Bell

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2021, 01:17:41 PM »
Less is more.  Clean.  No pictures or diagrams.  Enough blank space to track all wagers.  Not waxy . . . easy to write in pencil and erase if necessary.

Tom Bacsanyi

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2021, 01:39:48 PM »
Agree with simple and elegant. Our course has literally the worst scorecard of all time. It has more tee/combo tees yardage info than space for scores. I'm not kidding.


I also think glossy photos of the course have jumped the shark. Just the logo and name (or just the logo if elite) and white (or bone or cream) space around it. You don't need a picture of the course, you're looking at it!



Don't play too much golf. Two rounds a day are plenty.

--Harry Vardon

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +2/-1
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2021, 02:16:56 PM »
Because I'm a hopeless product of too many years studying old golf courses - and their aged traditions - I like a scorecard where each hole is creatively named.

Having a reasonably clear diagram of each hole is always a plus . . . . along the same vein, I used to find the detailed GPS screen on CCFAD cartball tracks distracting, but I've got to admit it speeds up play quite a bit.

And there is no problem with naming a golf hole for some memorable event or incident either. One of the best things about being at Olympic (for 47 years) are the memories and folklore that accumulates over the years.


The more bizarre or offbeat the story, the better. And this folklore is what cleaves to the history and texture of a club . . . . at Olympic, most of the real characters checked out many years go, but their memories live on as long as there are peeps to pass on the stories.

And the same goes for individual golf holes . . . . . we have stories about Hogan, Ty Cobb and Tommy Nakajima of course, but some of the best ones are attached to random members whose memories only exist in pictures from my childhood and before.

In other words, the more a personalized the scorecard celebrates the history of the joint, usually the better.



That would be great, if the course is 50+ years old, and if they actually made such names official.


But any modern course that has named all the holes is generally a template fest or marketing babble.


I can come up with good names for a few holes on a new course, but not for all eighteen.  They just haven't lived long enough yet.

Bill Seitz

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2021, 02:22:02 PM »
No gloss.  Just a club logo on a blank background on the front.  If using mixed tees, just list the slope/rating for the mixed set on the back and some circles on the right tees to use for that set on the inside.  And one of those little perforated slots for a pencil. 

JLahrman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2021, 02:35:28 PM »
Less is more.  Clean.  No pictures or diagrams.  Enough blank space to track all wagers.  Not waxy . . . easy to write in pencil and erase if necessary.



Agree. Things like vertical vs. horizontal orientation and how waxy the card is are more personal preference. But the best cards that I've seen are invariably small, with large font relative to the size of the card, and with as little detail as possible. Bonus points for max of three sets of tees/yardages. No maps, no pictures. Just a club logo. All white.


Anybody want to post pictures of some?

Ben Hollerbach

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2021, 02:47:19 PM »
This is the card I created for the Old Dane 9-holer near Souix City, Iowa.

The same style will also be used for the upcoming Landmand score card as well.


Brad Tufts

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #11 on: September 17, 2021, 02:48:53 PM »
I like the ones that mimic old stymie-style cards like Essex CC in MA or Pine Needles.

When you open them up, the bottom width was 6" as a stymie gauge, so if two balls were closer than that on the green, you could have your obstructing opponent mark his/her ball.

Paper stock without gloss...Colin Sheehan has a vintage-style scorecard co. making some cards of this style with an old (or new to mimic the old) printing press.  It's called Stymic Scorecard Co....stymiescorecards on IG...pretty cool stuff!


Edit:  Ben's Old Dane card above is in this style...
So I jump ship in Hong Kong....

Ira Fishman

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Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #12 on: September 17, 2021, 02:58:33 PM »
Does it surprise anyone that CPC has a great scorecard? Very efficient with four columns to record individual scores and two more for friendly wagers. Even has a Dr. Mac quote on the back just as a reminder of where you are.


Our scorecard at Hope Valley also includes extra rows for wagers and is very clean. I particularly like that on the back that it states that "Golf at Hope Valley is governed by The Rules of Golf and Etiquette as written by the United States Golf Association." Etiquette is a nice touch.


For both CPC and Hope Valley, logo on front with date of opening. No pictures, diagrams, etc.


Winged Foot has a great cream color scorecard that is quite elegant and efficient but alas I have never played there--a friend gave it to me as a brag move. 


If you do want a picture for some reason, North Berwick would be the way to go.


Ira
« Last Edit: September 17, 2021, 03:05:29 PM by Ira Fishman »

MClutterbuck

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2021, 03:03:06 PM »
Less is more.  Clean.  No pictures or diagrams.  Enough blank space to track all wagers.  Not waxy . . . easy to write in pencil and erase if necessary.


+1.

ANGC is exhibit 1.

Steve Kline

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2021, 03:08:27 PM »
Less is more.  Clean.  No pictures or diagrams.  Enough blank space to track all wagers.  Not waxy . . . easy to write in pencil and erase if necessary.


I agree with this. I also prefer vertical so I can keep the card in my yardage book holder and write on it easier.

Pete_Pittock

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Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #15 on: September 17, 2021, 03:09:12 PM »
For visitors, where are the necessaries, and what is the combination. Trust me.


I'd go with two scorecards, a plain one for members and a trifold for non-member groups

Tim Martin

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Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #16 on: September 17, 2021, 03:21:42 PM »
I like the ones that mimic old stymie-style cards like Essex CC in MA or Pine Needles.

When you open them up, the bottom width was 6" as a stymie gauge, so if two balls were closer than that on the green, you could have your obstructing opponent mark his/her ball.

Paper stock without gloss...Colin Sheehan has a vintage-style scorecard co. making some cards of this style with an old (or new to mimic the old) printing press.  It's called Stymic Scorecard Co....stymiescorecards on IG...pretty cool stuff!


Edit:  Ben's Old Dane card above is in this style...


Yale has a new version with a stymie gauge on the front with yardages for Long, Regular and Short tees as well as corresponding course rating/slope on the bottom of the card. The hole names have been eliminated and the only writing is on the back giving a few simple directions related to etiquette, out of bounds and native areas. There is a silhouette type figure below the writing of a golfer wearing a tam and knickers in solid blue to match the color of the script. The Yale card has taken many forms over the years but this is the most uncluttered version I’ve seen. Although I have mixed feelings about losing the hole names some of those had changed also. The course name was changed back to Yale Golf Course from the Course at Yale. Finally and most mysteriously is the absence of the designer’s name(s).
« Last Edit: September 17, 2021, 03:45:53 PM by Tim Martin »

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #17 on: September 17, 2021, 03:40:50 PM »
As someone who started collecting scorecards as a kid of every course I've ever played (1,200 to date) and many more of courses I haven't played, I'm happily delighted they still even exist 50 years later.   I'm actually very surprised that someone hasn't figured out (especially during the pandemic) that there is really no need for a card and pencil any longer in this electronic age.    :o
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

Kurt Everett

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Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #18 on: September 17, 2021, 04:43:22 PM »
This is the card I created for the Old Dane 9-holer near Souix City, Iowa.

The same style will also be used for the upcoming Landmand score card as well.




Love this card.  Very clean

Dave Duevel

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Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #19 on: September 17, 2021, 05:30:51 PM »
Pat,


Colin Sheehan makes some incredible scorecards. I would definitely reach out to him for advice/input. Here's a link to his group's Instagram page. Really well done.


https://www.instagram.com/stymiescorecards/?hl=en




Brian Marion

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #20 on: September 17, 2021, 08:24:06 PM »
Simplicity on good paper for private.


OR!


A totally throw back card with ALL the stuff including the local real estate/insurance agents info. Hole by hole drawings and lots of color! That brings back memories! ;D

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #21 on: September 17, 2021, 08:38:28 PM »
For visitors, where are the necessaries, and what is the combination. Trust me.

I'd go with two scorecards, a plain one for members and a trifold for non-member groups

This is step one. A cheap, simple card for members and a bells and whistles card for guests/visitors.

Vertical, erasable, small,. Don't even need the name or logo of club on the front. In fact, if that crap is skipped, the card doesn't need to fold. Front scored on the front and back scores on the back. What's the point in wasting paper for a card that gets binned?

Ciao
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Greg Smith

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Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #22 on: September 17, 2021, 10:47:54 PM »
The best scorecard ever is Myopia Hunt Club, with that fox logo. 
O fools!  who drudge from morn til night
And dream your way of life is wise,
Come hither!  prove a happier plight,
The golfer lives in Paradise!                      

John Somerville, The Ballade of the Links at Rye (1898)

Craig Sweet

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Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #23 on: September 18, 2021, 08:33:26 PM »
Unfortunately, my course sells advertising space ALL over the scorecard!!!
No one is above the law. LOCK HIM UP!!!

Tim Leahy

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Re: Scorecards - What makes the best great?
« Reply #24 on: September 19, 2021, 03:52:46 AM »
Anyone remember the "True Distance" scorecards? I used to love those and would have them sent when I requested info on courses in the back of Golf Digest. A great picture on the front of the scorecard is a must for me.
I love golf, the fightin irish, and beautiful women depending on the season and availability.

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