GOLFLink is an initiative of the Australian Golf Union, and serves to centralise the process of handicapping golfers. The objective of the system is to ensure that handicapping procedures remain consistent for every Australian golfer, and that golfers play off their true handicap wherever they may be in the country.

Golf Computer Systems has developed software for Australian golf courses which interacts with the central GOLFLink system. As a specialist golf company we have been supplying computerised handicapping systems to Australian golf courses since 1985. All of our development addresses golf specifically, rather than being a modification of applications written for non-golf environments.
The introduction of GOLFLink in Australia in 1999 was the catalyst for a complete redevelopment of our handicapping and competition management systems into full multi-user Windows applications. The software then underwent certification and accreditation by the AGU.
Importantly the scope of our software is much broader than just dealing with the handicapping process. We have incorporated competition management, tournament management, management of "social" and corporate golf, electronic score cards, electronic leader boards and electronic tee sheets, endeavouring to cover the gamut of golf play management.

So how does GOLFLink work, and what are the implications for your club? Golf courses using computerised recording systems are able to record details of golfers rounds into their computer systems, and have the computer send those rounds details directly to a central GOLFLink computer system via Internet connection. The calculation of the change in the players handicap is performed on the central GOLFLink server, and the results are then returned to the club in the same communications session. The players handicap records are updated at the club from the data returned from GOLFLink.

Golfers themselves may interact with the GOLFLink system via a GOLFLink terminal. At courses which elect to operate computerised golf management systems (GOLFLink Tier 3) this terminal is a computer screen attached to their broader computer platform. Every Australian golfer is issued with a GOLFLink card which has a magnetic stripe containing the players' unique Australian golfer number - the GOLFLink number. When this card is swiped at a GOLFLink terminal, the player may then view his or her handicap details and join into available competitions.

Because the GOLFLink terminal is connected to the broader computing platform, it can provide further functionality. For example, we provide the ability for golfers to:

The GOLFLink terminal can also be used by the club to display promotional information such as forthcoming functions or events.

The Golf Computer Systems golf management system incorporates the processes of defining competitions and days of play, booking of players into those competitions, entry of player results, communication with the AGU GOLFLink host computer, collation of rounds against players historical records, and management of competition results and prizes.

Specific areas incorporated within the software include:

* Defining daily competitions. All competitions which are to be fed back to the GOLFLink host computer for handicap processing are established in the system, and then display as available for booking by players on the booking sheets. A competition definition screen allows competitions to be defined in the system, including details such as competition name, scoring system, course, date, start and finish times and so on. Competitions may be individual or may be team events such as 4-ball best ball or 4-ball aggregate.

* Defining broader competitions. Competitions may be run on the day of play, but of course any day of play may form a part of some broader multi-round competition or tournament. An example would be the club's Club Championships which are typically over 4 rounds. The tournamnet feature allows progressive results to be produced after each round, and final results at the completition of the tournament. Results can also be based on the bext x number of rounds over a tournament. The club may have a progressive event which uses the best three monthly medal rounds returned over the year by each player for example, and the results of those best three rounds are then to be averaged and ranked in order of merit for the competition results. This broader competition can be established within the system, and the various daily events can be associated with the tournament. In doing so, the computer knows which day's rounds to include in the calculation of the tournament results.

Eclectic competitions can also be established as tournaments so that progressive results are calculated. Australian women's events such as the International Bowl are able to be maintained in the same manner through the system.

* Booking of players into competitions. The system includes software to enable members to interact directly with the system. When a daily competition is defined it can have a date and time set at which to allow members to enter the competition, and similarly can have a date and time set at which time entry to the competition will be closed.

The scope of our sotfware extends through to fully electronic tee sheets if required, in which case players can book themselves into competitions via touch screen, via the internet, or can be booked by club staff using our golf management applications. Touch screen entry by the players themselves offers a simple environment for members and guests to interact with the system as it does not presume that they can operate a computer or a mouse. Member touch screen interaction has proven to be a huge success with members. The absence of a mouse and keybord on a touch screen provides a more secure network environment. A magnetic card reader is attached to the GOLFLink computer for swiping of the players GOLFLink card, thereby identifying him/her to the system. Players may also enter their member number manually to log into the touch screen kiosk.

* Reviewing of competition fields. Any competition may be viewed in advance, on the day of play, or historically, and the participants of the competition are displayed, together with their scores returned. Daily events may be included into a broader tournament retrospectively if they were originally omitted in error. Similarly the reverse is true.

* Entry of player scores. Players results may be entered by a club official or by the players themselves into the GOLFLink computer. This is at the discretion of the club.

We also offer fully elecronic score card entry via an electronic card reader to minimise the administrative time and effort of recording scores.

* Transmission of data to GOLFLink. When the competition field is closed and all returned scores are entered, the computer connects to GOLFLink and sends the player results to the GOLFLink host computer. The scores are processed for handicapping purposes and the results returned to the club in the same communication session. This process takes less than a second per player in the field as a guide.

* Recording of scores against player records. All scores returned by a player are recorded against that players history and can be viewed at any time.

* Daily results sheets. Competition results can be produced at any time detailing the order of merit for the day, by grade if required, and in gross or net order.

* Tournament results. Results of any multi-round competitions in progress may similarly be produced as and when required, and can be done so progressively throughout the tournament.

* Reporting. Extensive reports are incorporated into the system. These include: Player lists, by grade or handicap range if required. Days booking sheet, showing players booked by time or an alphabetical listing of players booked and their time alongside. Visitor report - showing visitors entered into competitions with their results and home club. Handicap increase/decrease reports detailing handicap changes. Player reports detailing all rounds returned by a selected player. And many more......

* FACTS integration. Courses using our Facility & Activity Scheduling software have the added benefit of complete integration of the GOLFLink software with FACTS.

* Membership integration. Our Membership software also integrates directly with the GOLFLink software (and FACTS) ensuring that all golfing and related activities are recorded against each member and can then be used in conjunction with the extensive profiling and recording systems incorporated into the Membership application.

Golf Computer Systems have developed their GOLFLink Tier 3 software and supporting applications to manage the function of golf play, rather than dealing solely with the handicapping process. The inclusion of the tournament and social handicapping systems provides practical revenue and customer service benefits to your important social and corporate golfer markets.

On the more technical side, the software is a 32-bit client/server application developed in Delphi, and requires Windows '98 or better to operate. It is fully multi-user, and resides on a Microsoft Windows based network. Minimum display resolution required is 800x600 in 16-bit high colour. Higher resolutions are recommended if available.

Please feel free to e-mail us if you require further information. Further updated information will be available on this Web site as it comes to hand.