Golf apps. Worse than cameras.

[John Kavanaugh]

Where can I get this app for the Renaissance Cup?  How could I have been so oblivious to such an important development?


Oh, yeah, the Renaissance Cup is all match play, like all the rest of my golf.


Maybe these apps will drive more golfers to the better form of the game.

Oh contraire charismo. In our recent Ryder Cup match play event the pro specifically declared that anyone in singles that played more than 13 holes had to post a score. I closed out my match 8/7 out of spite.

[jeffwarne]

Stop punishing honest players in an honorable game.


There are better ways to deal with cheaters.

This.
During Covid they started this nonsense. Didn't even use paper scorecards.
Favorite thing to do is to turn off my phone as I walk to the first tee.
Pain in the arse for those of us who need readers to type/read on a phone and can't play while focusing and refocusing on readers.
Even worse, the unofficial electronic scorer nearly always makes an error scoring for all three players.
No big deal as not official but can lead to confusion for galleries and officials.
In another qualifier I shot and signed for a 74 and I was posted for a 72 by using the app rather than the official scorecard we had kept, turned in, signed by both and verified with the official in the tent.(fortunately both scores got in  )
OT-in the Senior Open this summer the walking scorer had my score wrong by 4 shots after 15 holes.
Garbage in-garbage out.


I played in an event a year ago where I was asked if I wanted to know where I stood, I said yes and was then given wrong information which lead to a strategic choice which was the exact opposite of what I needed(laid up with a 5 iron into a par 5 with OB 5 yards right of the green), The player I was supposedly leading by one was actually one ahead of me, but simply hadn't posted his score for 6 holes.
So if we ARE scoring electronically, we ALL need to be.
Even though I believe we shouldn't be  

[MCirba]

As a lifelong scorecard collector who also collects record albums and books I fear the day in the not too distant future when clubs and courses realize there is no longer a need for printed scorecards.  Look how quickly scoresheets in bowling disappeared and now everyone can view my 398 series at a glance.

Mike,


I mourn the days you got a physical ticket to a sporting event or concert.

Cal,


I used to collect those as well when I was dating my wife.  Fond memories!


Yes, the word "hoarder" has been used in our house

[Erik J. Barzeski]

Can I turn my phone to do not disturb and still have my scores accepted and transmitted?

Yes.

Also, in a two man best ball how would you suggest proceeding when you are out of the hole?  Should I grind for bogies at the expense of everyone else on the course? Isn’t guessing what you might have made either cheating yourself or your future competitors?

No. It's in the handicap guidelines what you do for holes not played out or not played under the Rules.

[Daryl David]

As a lifelong scorecard collector who also collects record albums and books I fear the day in the not too distant future when clubs and courses realize there is no longer a need for printed scorecards.  Look how quickly scoresheets in bowling disappeared and now everyone can view my 398 series at a glance.

This is close to realty in New Zealand. Cards are a luxury. You get a code you use in an app to keep a score you want to post. You have to ask to have a physical card printed. Obviously this won’t last long. My first clue was that there were no pencils available for marking your card. Why do you need a pencil?  Are you some kind of Luddite?

[John Kavanaugh]

Can I turn my phone to do not disturb and still have my scores accepted and transmitted?

Yes.

Also, in a two man best ball how would you suggest proceeding when you are out of the hole?  Should I grind for bogies at the expense of everyone else on the course? Isn’t guessing what you might have made either cheating yourself or your future competitors?

No. It's in the handicap guidelines what you do for holes not played out or not played under the Rules.

These are the recommendations:


https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/world-handicap-system/world-handicap-system-usga-golf-faqs/faqs---what-score-do-i-post-when-hole-is-not-completed-.html


It's left up to the golfers discretion.

[Paul Jones]

I cannot stand that rule and use to leave my phone in my locker...  I do not play in many events, so it is not a problem, but have heard others complain of the requirement.

[Sean_A]

First I heard about mandatory electronic hole by hole scoring. I thought guys kept a card and transcribed a score on the app after the game. I guess you can tell I never submit scores unless in a proper comp. I don't tend to carry a phone on the course.

Ciao

[Ally Mcintosh]

First I heard about mandatory electronic hole by hole scoring. I thought guys kept a card and transcribed a score on the app after the game. I guess you can tell I never submit scores unless in a proper comp. I don't tend to carry a phone on the course.

Ciao

This is what I do.


Or actually I don’t even take out a card because I trust my memory to just put it straight in to the App after the round.

[Tony_Muldoon]

First I heard about mandatory electronic hole by hole scoring. I thought guys kept a card and transcribed a score on the app after the game. I guess you can tell I never submit scores unless in a proper comp. I don't tend to carry a phone on the course.

Ciao

This is what I do.


Or actually I don’t even take out a card because I trust my memory to just put it straight in to the App after the round.

Hope your memory is better than mine. 


Playing the Buda at the then Notts, 16th hole I split the fairway with my 5 wood, wedged to 12' and sank a lovely putt moving 3' R_L.  "Birdie" I exclaimed.
Conrad my Partner added "3 superb shots Tony, and if I'd hit them I'd have happily forgotten the three off the tee too!"




But mandatory Apps!!!!

[Ally Mcintosh]

First I heard about mandatory electronic hole by hole scoring. I thought guys kept a card and transcribed a score on the app after the game. I guess you can tell I never submit scores unless in a proper comp. I don't tend to carry a phone on the course.

Ciao

This is what I do.


Or actually I don’t even take out a card because I trust my memory to just put it straight in to the App after the round.

Hope your memory is better than mine. 


Playing the Buda at the then Notts, 16th hole I split the fairway with my 5 wood, wedged to 12' and sank a lovely putt moving 3' R_L.  "Birdie" I exclaimed.
Conrad my Partner added "3 superb shots Tony, and if I'd hit them I'd have happily forgotten the three off the tee too!"




But mandatory Apps!!!!

Tony,


I know my memory is better than yours! Given the state of your memory, I suspect I might have to remind you why.

[Tony_Muldoon]

First I heard about mandatory electronic hole by hole scoring. I thought guys kept a card and transcribed a score on the app after the game. I guess you can tell I never submit scores unless in a proper comp. I don't tend to carry a phone on the course.

Ciao

This is what I do.


Or actually I don’t even take out a card because I trust my memory to just put it straight in to the App after the round.

Hope your memory is better than mine. 


Playing the Buda at the then Notts, 16th hole I split the fairway with my 5 wood, wedged to 12' and sank a lovely putt moving 3' R_L.  "Birdie" I exclaimed.
Conrad my Partner added "3 superb shots Tony, and if I'd hit them I'd have happily forgotten the three off the tee too!"




But mandatory Apps!!!!

Tony,


I know my memory is better than yours! Given the state of your memory, I suspect I might have to remind you why.

 

[Erik J. Barzeski]

FWIW mobile scoring is great for kids, because parents and other family/friends can follow along, and the same is true at every level. Whether people care what a 40-year-old is doing such that they'd follow is a different matter, of course, but… live scoring is beneficial. It's also as noted by others a way of providing a live leaderboard to everyone without having actual live physical leaderboards.

[John Kavanaugh]

Yea. Kids need to look at their phone more.

[John Kavanaugh]

If I’m having a great round and the cheat police are dispatched to see if it’s legit I’m walking in.


I’m a 63 yr old 300 lb bag of mush who hasn’t made a putt since Pfizer invented Viagra. This tournament I was given a 3 handicap. To fight cheating culture it was decided that the lowest handicap of the last six months was applied. Basically a two stroke penalty for taking time away to help my daughter. 

[M. Shea Sweeney]

FWIW mobile scoring is great for kids, because parents and other family/friends can follow along, and the same is true at every level. Whether people care what a 40-year-old is doing such that they'd follow is a different matter, of course, but… live scoring is beneficial. It's also as noted by others a way of providing a live leaderboard to everyone without having actual live physical leaderboards.

I'd argue mobile scoring is awful for children.
The last thing we need is more parental involvement at the golf course and for kids to sink their heads even more firmly into their phones.


There is incredible value in removing youth from their devices- and golf is one of the greatest gifts in this effort.
Being present in nature while interacting with your peers while performing to the best of your ability should be done without the interference of society.


I know its coming now- and I just take my card, and walk directly to my bag and begin my routine. It is an absolute hindrance to be forced to fumble back and forth with a device while trying to compete at a high level.


Moreover, the scores are NEVER correct- so I feel no obligation to the field.


On the first tee of the MET OPEN at the Black this year my group was perfectly silent when asked.


You want to execute mobile scoring? Take advantage of your on course personnel to log scores.


"stop and smell the roses, for you only play one round"


"things with their head down get eaten"

[Rob Marshall]

Like Jeff said. Garbage in garbage out.


It's a pain the ass if you wear reading glasses and there is nothing worse than squinting for a few minutes then going to hit a shot.

[Rob Marshall]

If I’m having a great round and the cheat police are dispatched to see if it’s legit I’m walking in.


I’m a 63 yr old 300 lb bag of mush who hasn’t made a putt since Pfizer invented Viagra. This tournament I was given a 3 handicap. To fight cheating culture it was decided that the lowest handicap of the last six months was applied. Basically a two stroke penalty for taking time away to help my daughter.

Our invitational used the lowest handicap for the last 12 months.  Handicap system is a joke. I can't post a score when I play alone because you don't trust me but I can post a score I play with 3 guys I've never seen before who have no idea what I posted?


We had a guy win our presidents cup this year that got caught posting higher scores than he shot 3 times during the tournament. The pro did nothing and the handicap committee did nothing.

[Mike_Trenham]

USGA needs to get rid of the rule that the golfer is only responsible for the individual hole by hole scores.  They need to also be responsible for signing for a total.  Both need to be correct. 


With this change the officials (golf pros) only will need to check if the totals are correct for the players in the money, qualifying etc. Otherwise the official (golf pro) just enters the total into the computer.  Once those that are in the mix are determined then and only then would one need to enter the individual scores.


We’ve turned our golf professionals and officials into data entry professionals at a time they are harder to recruit into the game at the low pay rates golfers are willing to support.


Also these scoring app vendors need the tech where you scan the card and the scores roll up into the scoring system like the expense report systems that have been out for 10+ years.  You would do this at the end of your round.


At the highest levels of the game there can be local rules that are different, like the 1 Ball Rule.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

I'd argue mobile scoring is awful for children. The last thing we need is more parental involvement at the golf course and for kids to sink their heads even more firmly into their phones.

If the parent is already there, they already know what's going on. It's great for a grandmother who can't get to a tournament, to still follow along, or a parent at work. My college kids all have live scoring, and many college parents can't take off work, drive six hours, etc. to watch their kids play golf.

HJGT does live scoring, and the phones are what they "sign" at the end of the day. It's great. No increased issues, and it lets me as their coach follow along, too, in addition to parents, friends, family.

Kids playing golf don't "sink more firmly into their phones." They enter the scores and then resume PLAYING GOLF. It doesn't sound like you've been to many tournaments with kids and live scoring and are just guessing at what happens and the effects.

Being present in nature while interacting with your peers while performing to the best of your ability should be done without the interference of society.

"Society" isn't interfering. They're entering an app on a phone and putting it back in their bag or push cart. In HJGT events, they're GIVEN a phone to use, for example. It's no different than taking a few seconds to write down scores on a scorecard, except it transmits them so others can see.

[John Kavanaugh]

Just another dude remotely getting in our golf pocket. Maybe wages in the industry wouldn't be so low if we kept the money local. I'm going to suggest my club start a concierge service for those of us who still want to talk to person directly. I got no problem paying an extra $50 a month so someone will take my call.


Read the link below and ask yourself if all this could possibly be free.


https://www.golfgenius.com/our-mission

[Dave Doxey]

Not possible for me to keep score on a phone, as I usually leave mine in the car.


Perhaps some people may be taking a scramble too seriously?  It’s not a tournament, but rather a “hit & giggle” social event.


All one needs to keep score is a pencil and a piece of paper, if they need to keep score at all.


Life is already full of measurements.  Golf need not be.   Enjoy the game.

[John Kavanaugh]

We do not knowingly collect or maintain PII from any Person under the age of thirteen. No parts of the Service are directed to or designed to attract anyone under the age of thirteen.


The above is from the Golf Genius Privacy Policy.


https://www.golfgenius.com/privacy

[Peter Sayegh]

JK, fight the good fight!

Only thing worse than a mobile phone during a round of golf is using one while walking a dog. Curses to those who do either.

P.S. Full disclosure: I have my phone in the bag for one, and ONLY ONE reason. To document and send my first hole in one to my buddy who is also aceless.

[Tim Martin]

FWIW mobile scoring is great for kids, because parents and other family/friends can follow along, and the same is true at every level. Whether people care what a 40-year-old is doing such that they'd follow is a different matter, of course, but… live scoring is beneficial. It's also as noted by others a way of providing a live leaderboard to everyone without having actual live physical leaderboards.

I'd argue mobile scoring is awful for children.
The last thing we need is more parental involvement at the golf course and for kids to sink their heads even more firmly into their phones.


There is incredible value in removing youth from their devices- and golf is one of the greatest gifts in this effort.
Being present in nature while interacting with your peers while performing to the best of your ability should be done without the interference of society.


I know its coming now- and I just take my card, and walk directly to my bag and begin my routine. It is an absolute hindrance to be forced to fumble back and forth with a device while trying to compete at a high level.


Moreover, the scores are NEVER correct- so I feel no obligation to the field.


On the first tee of the MET OPEN at the Black this year my group was perfectly silent when asked.


You want to execute mobile scoring? Take advantage of your on course personnel to log scores.


"stop and smell the roses, for you only play one round"


"things with their head down get eaten"

There have been so many issues with parents getting involved that the Connecticut PGA section doesn’t even allow them on the course for their junior events. I think the mobile scoring is a curse for junior players inasmuch as they feel bad enough when they don’t play well not to mention the stigma attached to screwing up the score for themselves, their group or the entire field.