High School Golf Scoreboard

Be Informed on the new scoring input system and vision to revolutionize your sport's recognition and exposure!

Parents & Coaches,

I am writing in response to your feedback on the tournament scoring input process and share the common vision of High School Golf Scoreboard (HSGS). We can revolutionize your sport and profession by working together as a TEAM.

In HSGS's first year, we implemented an Excel based scoring "input" system based on the input of a high school coaches' panel. HSGS was told that coaches/tournament directors use Excel to report tournament scores and we assumed from those many conversations and meetings this process was the most effective and "ease of use" process to implement. Therefore, much time and financial resources were utilized to create a system that was simple for all coaches. In reality, after the first year, we learned that many coaches either did not understand how to use Excel or possessed different versions that created many problems and frustrations on the coaches' side and the HSGS/Golfstat side.

Therefore, immediately after the state tournament, HSGS staff consulted with many coaches across the state, as well as Golfstat, to create a web-based system that would meet the following five objectives:

• Remove the Excel application to eliminate confusion and create ease of use on both sides: Coaches/Players and HSGS/Golfstat.
• Create a web-based solution so any coach/tournament director could log in from different computers to make the entire process more efficient.
• Create a review process that includes an automatic email to each team/coach to allow EVERY coach within the state the ability to review and correct scores for accuracy. As you know, a wrong score, or one that is input incorrectly or omitted, can affect the exposure of the team & player as well as the rankings. Rankings are based on accurate data, therefore a simple and very accessible system needed to be created.
• Create a rankings criteria that would eliminate the "one tournament wonder". I.e. A team ranked high with only one tournament submitted. The criteria would give a team more recognition when rewarded for good play over several tournaments as well as motivate coaches to submit results. Different requirements for sizes of schools & schedules also needed to be addressed.
• Create affordable pricing for players/families in order to provide the opportunity for EVERYONE to participate. Cost would not be a reason for lack of membership.

Five solutions for each objective:

• HSGS developed a web-based system almost identical to what EVERY college coach or team representative inputs into Golfstat to report tournament scores. The new program was written to allow coaches to log in from any computer and submit, review or verify their scores according to their work schedule. College tournaments are submitted within 24 hours of completion if not sooner to Golfstat. Our goal with EVERY high school tournament is to receive tournament submission NLT 48 hours of completion. Furthermore, if every high school tournament/school submits scores on a common standard, this is how high school golf can receive the greatest exposure and recognition. The same exact process was done for all levels of NCAA golf and this alone expanded its reach and exposure dramatically. Presently, millions of visitors go to Golfstat to see scores/results each year. This is the exact same vision and reality of what can happen for Texas High School Golf! Therefore, the goal of having every high school golf tournament submitted in the same format is essential to copying the success of the college game. Click here to view the month of October in men's college golf. Once at the webpage, then click on the month of October.
• HSGS developed a web based solution so any coach or parent will not be limited when or where they log into the internet to view, review and submit scores. A very important feature is that any coach can input only a portion of the tournament scores and have the ability to save his work and finish the submission at a later time. We clearly heard the panel of coaches speaking when they wanted the ability to work for a certain period at school and finish at home or during a free school period etc. This ability is programmed into the system and is covered in the very easy video tutorial. Click here to view this video tutorial.
• HSGS built an online review system and automatic email program to give EVERY coach input for ANY tournament submitted for their team/individual players. The system allows a 48 hour review process for EVERY coach to review their scores for accuracy before posted on leaderboards and submitted to Golfstat for rankings criteria. Any ranking system whether football, golf, basketball is solely dependent on the quantity and accuracy of the data submitted. Our goal is to eventually have every tournament submitted, as does the NCAA with Golfstat. When this happens, you find the rankings to be virtually perfect. However, we do realize we don't live in a perfect world, therefore, creating a common standard for high school tournament results is the first goal as well as getting high school coaches to take pride in their sport/profession and submit every tournament. When this happens, your schools, players and your sport gain significant recognition with the press as well as credibility for your coaches' association and profession.
• As a result of consulting with your regional and state coaches association, a new criteria for rankings at each level was developed to bring more stability to the rankings and eliminate the team who was a one or two tournament "wonder". Therefore, this will require the individual high school coach to get involved and take responsibility for his team scores and recognition. This is where positive peer pressure from coaches to coaches is vital to bring the standards and professionalism of the High School Golf Coach to the next level. This is exactly what happened in college golf and high school football and as a result the coaching profession received more credibility, recognition, status and more compensation for their services.
• The membership pricing was moved from $49/year to only $20/year. This allows a player to also post his/her individual profile that was developed by university academic & athletic officers to maximize what colleges/universities are looking for when considering a student for admission and scholarships. The student athlete may change his/her profile as many times as they want and receive all the other benefits of recognition the website generates via the leaderboards, rankings, live scoring etc. Twenty dollars per year is essentially two trips to Taco Bell or Subway. This price would eliminate any financial constraint to become a member.

In closing, HSGS has not invested a penny of resources unless there has been consultation from high school golf coaches. Therefore, it is a worthwhile goal to have 100% participation from every high school golf coach in Texas. The membership for coaches is FREE. HSGS and your coaches association's goal was to not give any coach a reason not to join and get involved. Coaches are leaders, and revolutionizing your sport through a common scoring & ranking system, which has worked beautifully for collegiate golf, is a worthy and attainable goal.

For many years, thousands of players throughout high school golf have lost millions of dollars in athletic & academic financial aid/scholarships as a result of no exposure and no vehicle to view a student's academic & athletic profile online. I can assure you that in my many of years of junior golf I have never had ONE parent tell me they didn't want a scholarship for their son or daughters education. Specifically, in these very difficult economic times, every edge you can give your players for only $20 per year is an investment that any parent would make 100% of the time.

HSGS along with your state and regional coaches associations are committed to working with each of you. We don't want to take another phone call from a parent or player that says 'my coach didn't take the time to participate and therefore I didn't have the opportunity to have universities view my scores or accomplishments'.

We trust that each coach will take a few minutes to view the VIDEO TUTORIAL and listen to the podcasts to gain a greater understanding of the vision and process. Once again, this process is FREE. HSGS considers it an honor to work with such quality coaches around the state and together we can take your sport and profession to new heights.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kindest Regards,

Dave Jones, President HSGS
davejones@tjgt.com | 817-707-8460

Jerry Crumpton
TxAGC President
McKinney
Boyd Head Golf Coach