Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2018 - 5

FRONT
BY THE NUMBERS
Score Posting Gets Easier
G
olf score posting is the backbone of the handicap
system and one of the pillars of the game. And when
golfers are posting scores, it can give us an indication
about the health of the game, in terms of how much core golfers
(who post) are playing. Now, the USGA is trying to improve
on the data collection of posted scores
and perhaps offer even better information.
We
know Minnesotans play a lot of
golf. For years, the state has been either
No. 1 or 2 in terms of golfers per capita.
While not all golfers carry a handicap,
we can still look at scores posted
to see trends.
In terms of MGA golfs rounds in
Rounds
posted via
GHIN mobile
app
2017, there were 1,358,477 posted by
64,488 golfers-which averages out to
21.06 rounds per golfer. Interestingly,
the number of golfers posting
decreased from 2016 (which was
64,603-down only 0.1 percent), but
the number of rounds actually went
up (from 1,292,890) last year.
Posted rounds being slightly up (by
65,587) strongly indicates a better weather season. But we also
know that golfers' preferred method for posting their scores has
changed, and that they now like to post while on the go with
their mobile device.
Since 2011, when the USGA's GHIN mobile app was intro299
2011
2017
*
BY JOSEPH OBERLE *
GHIN posting can show us where our game is at-and the numbers
are about to get even better.
429,405
duced, the number of MGA golfers posting via the app has
grown significantly-from 299 rounds posted in 2011 to
429,405 rounds in 2017. Meanwhile, the use of GHIN.com
(accessed via home computers or kiosks at golf course pro
shops) has steadily declined-from 281,189 rounds posted in
2011 to 107,378 in 2017. The app has
certainly increased the ease in posting,
and next year the USGA will improve
the collection of their handicap data
and strengthen their numbers. (Even
more convenient than an app, MGA
members with smartphones can post
their scores at mngolf.org/postscore.)
" At the end of 2018, the USGA
will require all handicap vendors
to house their scoring data at the
USGA, " MGA Member Services
Director and handicap guru Stacy
Sazama says. With all that data,
according to Sazama, the USGA will
have a truer representation of golfer
behavior across the country.
In a year's time, the collected
numbers of posted rounds will paint
a more accurate picture on the health of the game. But those
numbers are ultimately dependent upon golfers posting their
rounds, which is now much easier to do thanks to mobile
technologies -such as mngolf.org/postscore, and the GHIN
mobile app.
207,879
Number of rounds
that 14,009 MGA
women posted in
2017 (avg. 14 rounds
per golfer).
mngolf.org
14.2/25.7
Average index for men
and women MGA members
(respectively)
13
Average number of
nine-hole rounds
posted by 3,263
MGA golfers in
2017.
1.2 million
Number of rounds that
50,195 MGA active men
golfers posted in 2017 (avg.
23 rounds per golfer).
Directory 2018 MINNESOTAGOLFER
5
http://www.GHIN.com http://www.mngolf.org/postscore http://www.mngolf.org/postscore http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2018

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