Here are some of the questions that are most frequently asked by our golfers:
Q: Our league has organized a competition in which players will compete in
an individual match play event, and at the same time, each player will also
compete in an individual stroke play competition. Two separate prizes will
be awarded upon completion based on the match play results and the stroke
play scores. Under the USGA Handicap System, are either of the two scores
acceptable for handicap posting purposes?
A: According to Decision 5-1c/1 of "The USGA Handicap System" manual,
the stroke play score is an acceptable score for handicap posting purposes.
Rule 33-1 of "The Rules of Golf" states, "Certain specific
Rules governing stroke play are so substantially different from those governing
match play that combining the two forms of play is not practicable and is
not permitted. The result of a match played in these circumstances is null
and void and, in the stroke-play competition, the competitors are disqualified." Even
though the player(s) are disqualified from the stroke play competition, their
score is still considered an acceptable score and must be posted for handicap
purposes. (See Section 5-1e.)
Q: How do I get the Most Improved Golfer (MIG) Report?
A: Many clubs present a Most Improved Golfer Award at the end of
the year. Some offer it on a quarterly or even monthly basis. Generating
a Most Improved Golfer (MIG) report is fairly simple. However, be warned:
there are differences in the reports depending on from what source the report
is requested. You have the ability to access the report from three
different sources:
1. Club Computer. Let's call this the GHP Report since
you access it at your club computer via the GHIN Handicap (Management) Program
(GHP).
2. GHINClub.net. Within GHINClub.net there are two different MIG
reports that can be requested:
a. An emailed report. Let's call this the PDF
Report since the resulting report is emailed to you in a .pdf format
which is read by Adobe Acrobat Reader.
b. A web report. Let's call this the Web
Report since it appears directly on your screen on the GHINClub.net
website after which you can export and manipulate it.
The GHP Report is the most accurate. You can request a specific time period (Jan-present; Nov 1st of previous year to Nov 1st of current year; May 1 - June 1, etc.). It includes just the members of your club and your service who had valid handicap indexes at the beginning and end of the selected time period. It includes all members including those who did not improve or worsened during the time period.
The PDF Report is the next most accurate. It includes players from your service from the beginning of your requested time period. However, the time period is NOT flexible. It starts with the January 1 Index and ends with the most current Index. The time period cannot start in the previous year. It will select only improved players.
The Web Report, as quick and easy as it is, is not the most accurate report because it will include all members who had an Index, anywhere in the system, even another club, on the beginning date of your specified time period. Example: you request a MIG report for January 1 through November 1. Jane Black, who is an existing member of a neighboring club, joined your club on May 3rd. Your MIG Web Report will list Jane even though she was not a member of your club on January 1st. One advantage over the PDF report is that you can go back into the previous year to select the start of the time frame.
So select with care the report that you wish to receive. Also, be
sure that when you run any report, in the “Print Group” field
you select NONE. If any other print group is selected (i.e. 001), you
may not get a complete listing of players. GHIN Support Staff advises
that Web reports are being modified to eliminate players without indexes
for the club in question for the time period specified which may resolve
some of the Web Report issues.
Q: Why don’t I get my eRevisions on the first of the month via email anymore?
A: The most common reason for this is certain Internet Service Providers (ISP's). Problems have been detected with Juno, Cybercap, and Netzero. If you have an alternate email account, try using that. Or setup a free internet account, such as Yahoo, Google, AOL, for receipt of your monthly Handicap Index report. The problem with the ISP seems to be that it recognizes the eRevision as Spam and blocks it. Work with your ISP to get it to recognize the eRevision as legitimate mail.
Q: Why doesn't Ghinclub.net take a score that I try to enter for a player? (For Club Handicappers using Ghinclub.net to maintain score histories)
A: It might be an abnormally high or abnormally low score. These abnormal scores can only be entered at the club computer.
Q: Why can’t I export or print out a web report from Ghinclub.net? (For Club Handicappers using Ghinclub.net to maintain score histories)
A: Once you bring up a web report on your computer screen at home (via Ghinclub.net) there should be several buttons available at the bottom of the screen: Export Excel, Export Word, Export Text, Export PDF, and Print. There is also a Print icon above the report. Use these buttons to export to software or to print. If these buttons and icon do not appear, it may be because of the type of Internet browser you are using. Problems have been detected with Mozilla Firefox. Try using Internet Explorer. Also try right clicking in the lower right box and select the option "Refresh". The buttons may appear.
Q: What does NH mean on my Score History?
A: NH means you do not have a valid permanent Handicap Index yet because not enough games have been entered into your score history. It takes 20 full (18-hole) scores to calculate a Handicap Index. You gotta go play some golf!
Q: How do I get hold of a CD for the Tournament Pairing Program (TPP)?
A: Contact the PWGA office for it to be sent to you. Also, be aware that, once you have the software installed on your computer, periodic internet updates should be done because GHIN is continually updating the software – updating only takes a few minutes on-line.
Q: Can I look up my Handicap on-line?
A: Yes! You can go to the quick links bar at the bottom (white row), and click on Handicap Index Lookup from any page of the site.
Q: How do I delete a member who has passed away?
A: Just go to the Players section of the GHIN Handicap Management program, bring up your club’s roster, highlight her name and click on the “Delete Member” button at the bottom of the screen. Players cannot be deleted via GHINClub.net; deletions can ONLY occur at the club computer.
Q: When can I add new members to our roster?
A: You can add new members to the roster at any time during the year. Just be aware that if you add them before December 1st, your club will be charged the PWGA membership fee during the fourth quarter and then again in the first quarter of the New Year. If she is a new member, suggest that she submit an application in the fall (so that her name appears in your member roster for the following year) but do not enter her name into the computer until after December 1st.
Q: How do I figure out the Most Improved Golfer?
A: First of all, determine the period of time that this award will cover. Is it from January first of the current year or does the eligibility period begin at the conclusion of last year’s season (usually November 1st). Are there other eligibility rules such as the golfer has to have a minimum number of games with the club to qualify?
Secondly, print a Most Improved Golfer using the club computer at the golf course or via Ghinclub.net (using Web Reports, not the .pdf file that is emailed to you).
If you do it via the club computer, you will find the report in the H.I. Range/Most Improved folder of the Handicap Index folder within the Reports Menu. The report is titled PWGA Most Improved. On the first screen to appear after clicking on “Run” you will select the parameters for the report: your club, your service, Print Group (should always read “None”) gender, status, starting and ending dates (i.e. 1/1/2007 through 11/1/2007 or 11/1/2006 through 11/1/2007), and Show (All, or you can select only the first so many names). Click on OK and, Voilá, you have your report.
If you do it via Ghinclub.net from your home computer, go to Reports and Web Reports. Select the Most Improved Report within the Reports folder. On the right side you will set the parameters for the report: Revision Start and End dates (corresponds to eligibility period) and what to include in the report (Available Fields in lower right quadrant). Your options include Status, Member Type, Rank, GHIN #, Name, Handicap Start, Start differential, Handicap End, End Differential, and Factor. Select or de-select those items you do not want on the report by using the left and right carets (<, >) in the middle of that quad. Click on Run, and Voilá, again, you have the report.
