Association offers new scoring, event management platform in 2017

The Golf Association of Philadelphia will offer USGA Tournament Management, Powered by Golf Genius Software, LLC., as a new member benefit in 2017.

  Available to all Member Clubs, it is a Web-based, event management system that aims to enhance the golfer experience by helping professionals better manage competitions such as leagues, charitable outing, member-guests and tournaments. It will also serve as the scoring and event management platform for all GAP events moving forward. The Association will still support the Tournament Pairing Program (TPP) for Member Clubs in 2017 to allow a year of transition for its membership. The USGA Tournament Management suite will become the exclusive provider in 2018.

  “This is the best tournament management program in the industry, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to offer it to our Member Clubs,” Mario Machi, GAP Director of Member Services, said. “The biggest benefit at the club level is the flexibility of the system. From different formats to report options to the online portal for pairings and live scoring, the new USGA Tournament Management software is going to be an incredible asset for GAP members.”

  To educate its membership on the USGA Tournament Management suite, the Golf Association of Philadelphia will conduct seven training sessions in March. Each will tentatively feature an introduction to the program, a tutorial on how to set up an event and a presentation of two to three sample events. Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring their own devices (i.e. laptops, tablets) for a small group session with individual, hands-on instruction. PGA professionals can earn MSR credits for attending.

  The USGA Tournament Management training sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There isn’t a fee to register; lunch will be provided courtesy of the Association. Below is a list of dates and venues:

  Of the Association’s 187 total clubs (Associate, Affiliate and Full), Machi estimates that a significant majority will use the USGA Tournament Management suite, to some degree, in 2017. Member Club officials and Association staff alike will see a significant improvement in support troubleshooting. Many issues, Machi says, can be resolved within the USGA Tournament Management suite because of step-by-step tutorials. If users continue to experience trouble, they can then contact the GAP handicapping department via an online chat.

  The USGA announced a partnership with Golf Genius in August 2016 and began a pilot program with six state and regional golf associations. The USGA Tournament Management suite includes three product versions (Club, Club Premium and Association) and supplies the tools necessary to create and run golf events, leagues and outings. Other features include roster management, round management, customizable scorecards, live scoring, customizable event websites and GHIN integration.

  GAP first forged a relationship with Golf Genius Software, LLC. (then GolfLeagueGenius.com) in 2013 to launch GAP League Play, a 12-week competition that featured nine holes of better-ball net stableford scoring. Mike Zisman, a Wayne, Pa. resident and GAP member (Merion Golf Club, Saucon Valley Country Club), is the company’s founder and CEO.

  “Golf Genius has evolved its products over many years by applying modern cloud-based technology, listening to customers and employing golf professionals who have a deep understanding of customer needs,” he said in a release.

  “Most Associations will not be as aggressive with their rollout in 2017, and that’s because the Golf Genius brand isn’t as nationally-recognized yet,” Machi added. “But in the GAP region, there’s a certain cachet associated with the Golf Genius name, and our Member Clubs are clamoring for this. And we’re excited to deliver it to them, because we have such a high level of confidence in the system.”

  FAQs regarding the USGA/Golf Genius collaboration and how it affects GAP can be accessed on the Association’s Web site. For more information on the USGA Tournament Management suite powered by Golf Genius Software, LLC., contact Machi or Steve Latos, Manager of GHIN Technical Support, at 610-687-2340.

Golf Association of Philadelphia
Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional golf association in the United States and serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. Its 153 Full Member Clubs and 57,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.