New phase of the handicap system rolled out

As promised NGN have rolled out another phase of the handicap system. This phase deals directly with the time allowed to enter a score and the dynamic course rating system.

I would like to have had more time to supply you with the relevant information but we only received this correspondence from NGN on Wednesday morning.

Stage 2 of NGN’s Upgrade now live – Possible disruptions for 72 hours.

As part of the process of upgrading our infrastructure to accommodate the last 2 changes for the handicap calculation and to prepare for the internet and cell phone tee booking and many other new features we upgraded the physical hardware during last month. Now the software on those servers has been updated. This could cause some disruptions again.

With so many clubs on our database we have started the process of rolling out the corresponding changes to match the software at club level with that now live on the main servers. This process should take about 72 hours and then settle into a normal synchronised operation.

New changes will mean that penalty scores will be calculated automatically for all registered rounds where we have not received a score within 72 hours and also that the course ratings will now be dynamic and possibly change based on the actual performance of the field on any given day.

This is also the first step towards launching the long anticipated mobile and internet tee booking options as well as upgrading the international networks which NGN operates throughout Africa.

We will essentially be the only fully compatible handicapping solution in South Africa and these changes will be back dated to 1 November so for all intents and purposes they will have been live from 1 November.

Please be aware that special attention should be paid to the DATE LAST CALCULATED field when accessing the accuracy or relevance of any golfers handicap and also that where there is any doubt the handicap on the physical terminal at the home club will be the most up to date.

This is a little step backwards for the giant leap forward that we have been setting up for so long now – bear with us because the future is awesome and it is very, very close.

Regards
Paul Smulders

More about the new capturing of score policy

What the new capturing of score policy means is that if a player does not enter a score within 72 hours of playing the game the system will automatically enter a score of 6 under par or the lowest counting differential in the last 10 counting scores- whichever is the lower. For example, a player shooting an 80 off a 6 should record a differential on the Randpark course of 9 ( 80 - 71 = 9 ) but if it is not captured a differential of -5 ( 66 - 71 = -5 ) will be entered. If for some reason the player has shot the lights out and there is a differential better than -5 counting it will be used.

This means that those players that fail to enter scores on a regular basis will see their handicaps reducing at an alarming rate. The club has no jurisdiction over this adjustment. Hopefully this will see players enter their scores in a far more disciplined fashion. If the clubs at which you are playing is experiencing problems with there terminals it is now even more important to phone us within 72 hours of playing the game and we will enter the score for you.

The dynamic course rating system is however a bit more complex and rather than explain it to you a link has been created to the 2007/2008 South African Golf Handicapping System booklet. This booklet is worth filing or printing and reading for those that are handicap aware. The section pertaining to the calculated rating system falls under Section 6. Representatives of NGN indicate that the Gauteng clubs should see very little variation due to our benign climate.

So start a new habit and enter those scores as soon as you have played. Let’s see how it goes!

On a related topic, there has been a resurgence of poor scorekeeping which has resulted in players being disqualified. The following bad habits have re –surfaced.

• Players submitting one scorecard with 2 better ball scores recorded. Only the Players A/B scores will be considered.
• No Markers name supplied.
• Unsigned cards.
•  Only first name supplied for the player. This is a club policy which allows the prize announcer to be more personal when announcing the names of prize winners. It also means that the correct names of the winners can be written on the prize vouchers. We are unable to just write ‘James’ on a voucher as this is essentially money which can therefore be collected by any body with that name. Initial and surname is the least we can accept but first and surname would be great.

Your assistance in correcting these issues would be much appreciated as it will prevent embarrassment from our side and annoyance from yours.

There were a couple of incidences involving caddy behaviour recently and it was observed that the perpetrators were hard to identify. This has been rectified and the caddies are now required to wear name tags. This will hopefully allow players to report both positive and negative events. There has been an incentive scheme in place for the better part of this year whereby a positive player report could result in a monetary voucher reward for the caddy. If somebody really impresses you let us know.