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1.1. Create Member Account – The first step you take when you sign up for an NGL account is to create a user login. This step requires you to fill out some basic information about yourself, including contact information (i.e., email address). The final requirement for creating an account is to agree to NGL’s “Terms of Service”. You are encouraged to read the document before you agree to them. Please note that if you already have an existing NGL login and password, you should login using them, even if you are creating another league. This will enable you to view information regarding both leagues by simply changing the league view from the main menu.

1.2. Setup League – Upon saving your member account, you will be taken to the league setup screen. Please note that you should be the league administrator if you are setting up a league on NGL since you automatically become the league administrator upon completing the league setup step. Your next step will be to create your league and season.

1.2.1. Basic League Information – This includes the League Name and Season Description.

1.2.2. Season Duration – As you setup your league, you are also asked to define how long your first season will last and how it will be named. Your Season Description will identify the season that you are viewing when on your league homepage. NGL allows you to store numerous seasons so that you can keep league statistics over time. It is simple to change the season you want to view – (Home à Add/Change Season).

1.2.3. Subscription Type – The subscription type you select will determine the features that are available to you after you are done signing up. Look at our View Feature List to compare the two services. Signing up for a NGL Premium Subscription means your league can enjoy all that NGL has to offer for one full year. This includes multiple seasons and tournaments that your league might have scheduled for the year. If your subscription happens to expire before you get a chance to renew it, your league information does not get deleted or disappear. By renewing your NGL Premium membership at a later date, you can regain access to your data from past seasons. Of course, it is best to renew your membership before it runs out to ensure continuous access to your data.

1.3. Setup Season – If you are a trial league member, you will be taken directly to the season setup configuration screen after finishing the league setup page. If you are a regular NGL member, you will first be taken through the payment process, after which, you will have the option to go to the season setup configuration screen.

Alternatively, you can get to this screen by clicking on “Setup” from the menu.

1.3.1. Golfer Management – You can access the golfer management page by clicking on the “Setup” option in the menu and then selecting “Golfer Management” or by clicking on the “Edit” button of Golfers List on the Homepage. This screen gives the league administrator a useful area from which to use the many functions discussed below, along with providing a quick way to see member contact and login information. You can select one, multiple or all League Members when deciding to use any of these functions. You merely have to click on the checkbox next to the member(s) you wish to take action on. You also have the option of selecting all League Members by clicking on the “All League Members” checkbox in the upper right corner of the screen. This will automatically check all member checkboxes.

1.3.1.1. Moving/Copying/Adding/Deleting Golfers

1.3.1.1.1. Moving/Changing Member Status – You can change a member’s status for the season from this screen (see #1 below). After selecting the members that you want to change the status for, click on the “Move members to…” dropdown and select what you want to change that member’s status to (e.g., Substitute to Golfer). Finally, click on “Move” button.

1.3.1.1.2. Copying Golfers from one season to another - After selecting the members that you want to copy, select which season you want to copy those members to from the “Copy members to…” dropdown and click on the “Copy” button (see #2). This is the best way to add golfers to a new season if many league members will remain the same from season to season.

1.3.1.1.3. Add Members – Click on the “Add” button and fill out a new member profile and “Save” (see #3 below).

1.3.1.1.4. Delete Members – Select the members you want to delete and click on the “Delete” button (see #4 below).

1.3.1.1.5. Edit Member Profiles – You can edit a member’s profile by clicking on the member’s name which is actually a link and will take you to their profile (see #5 above).

1.3.1.2. Email Notification - NGL gives administrators a quick and easy way to send out email to league members.

1.3.1.2.1. Invite Email – After selecting the members you want to send an invite to, choose “Invite” from email dropdown and click on the “Email” button. You can select all members by clicking on the checkbox next to “Name” label.

1.3.1.2.2. General Email – You can send an email to one, multiple or all members by selecting “Compose” next to the “Email” button (see above) from the Golfer Management screen. You can also email a particular member by clicking on their email address which is a link to a page where you can compose a message to them.

1.3.2. Team Management – You will have an option in the Main Setup screen to setup teams only if you have selected a team scoring method when setting up your season. You can access the Team Setup screen by either clicking on the “Team Management” option from the “Setup” menu.

1.3.2.1. Create a Team Name – Create Team Names

1.3.2.2. Add/Remove Golfers to that team by using the two buttons in the middle of the page.

1.3.2.3. Save the configuration for that team

You can also edit (click on pencil next to team) or delete teams (click on waste can next to team) from within this page. This page also shows you how many golfers have not yet been assigned to a team – in the example above, there are 2 golfers yet to be assigned as you can see in the “Available Golfers” list above.

1.3.3. Schedule and Scoring Management – You setup events for you season through the Main Schedule screen which can be accessed in three ways. Click on “Schedule & Scoring” in Main Menu, or click on the “Edit” button on the Schedule List on the Homepage or click on “Schedule & Scoring Management” from the “Setup” screen. This takes you to the Schedule Overview page that gives you a summary of all events currently scheduled. This screen enables the league administrator to easily manage all league events from one place. The season schedule can be set up there along with the posting of scores for each round. By clicking on “Add” on this page, you will be taken to an “Add Event” screen
(see below). The example below will be a Round of golf, although you can use the same dialog box to add other types of events, such as league get togethers.

1.3.3.1. Setting up Rounds

1.3.3.1.1. Basic Event Settings – On the top section of this form, you will select the date, time, type and status of your event. The description section also gives you a place to put notes about the event.

1.3.3.1.2. Course Settings - Selecting or Adding course information. There are a couple of different ways to add a course to your event.

1.3.3.1.2.1. Select from existing courses in the NGL database. By clicking on the “Select” button next to the club textbox, you will be taken to a form that enables you to search for your course. You can search the NGL database in a variety of ways – Name, City and/or State.

1.3.3.1.2.2. Add your course to our database by sending it in to us. There are variety of options that we give members for getting course scorecard information to us. Click on the “send your scorecard” link at the bottom of the form to find out about these options. We strive to add your scorecard within 48 hours of receiving it.

1.3.3.2. Setting up Matches – By clicking on the “Matches” button in the Main Schedule screen, you can setup matches between available teams (see below).

1.3.3.3. Setting up Pairings – After setting up team matches, you can click on “Pairings” in the Main Schedule screen to pair up golfers from the teams.

1.3.3.4. Posting Scores - To post scores for golfers, you merely click on the “Scorecard” button in the Event Management/Schedule screen which will take you to the Scorecard screen above. You then enter each player’s gross score for each hole (taking into consideration the maximum score per hole you entered in season configuration). If you are tracking putts, you will then enter a forward slash (“/”) followed by the number of putts taken for each hole.

1.3.4. Team Scoring Setup – The “Team Scoring System Wizard” can be accessed through the “Setup” screen.

1.3.4.1. Team Scoring System – Here you have the option of playing Match Play or Best Ball and to select how team competition will be shown on the homepage - Total Points vs. Wins/Losses. Please see “Team Scoring Configuration” below for setting up team scoring details. You can also select not to enable Team Scoring at all. If you select this option, you will obviously be unable to setup teams under “Team Management”.

1.3.4.1.1. Match Play – In this format, players compete against each other to win, lose or halve each hole. The player with the lowest gross or net score (configurable setting) for the hole wins it and is awarded points as specified in the setup screen.

1.3.4.1.1.1. Scoring System Name - this shows what you selected under Team Scoring System in the “Scoring Settings” screen.

1.3.4.1.1.2. Pairings per Match – Each Match pits one team against another. Here you will indicate how many pairings there will be per Match. Below is an example with 4 pairings per match.
Example – Match 1 for this Event pits Team 1 against Team 2. There are 4 pairings in this Match.

1.3.4.1.1.3. Standings by “Total Points” vs. “Wins & Losses” – The standings of each team on the homepage will be shown by either Total Match points or Total Wins & Losses for each team.

1.3.4.1.1.4. Hole Points – For each pairing (e.g., Player A vs. Player E), for each hole, points are awarded to players and their team for winning or halving a hole.

1.3.4.1.1.5. Match Points – For each pairing, for the whole Match, points are awarded to players and their team for winning or tying the Match.

1.3.4.1.1.6. Use net score for determining match winning points – This gives you the option to use a player’s Net Score or Gross Score when determining which player won a match. At this moment, all holes are decided by Net Score only. A Gross Score option for holes is coming soon to NGL (see example 2 below for example of this).

1.3.4.1.1.7.        Match outcome determined by using: – This gives you two options for awarding match points.

Option 1 (Net Score): You can use, for example, Player A’s total Net Score vs. Player E’s total Net Score to determine who gets points for winning the match or;
Option 2 (Holes Won): You can award match points based on the number of holes that each Player won. So, for example, if Player A won 3 holes and Player E only won 2 holes then Player A would be awarded points for winning the match.

Match Play – Using Net Score

Examples
Points Awarded to each Golfer based on Match Play Scoring Configuration
Player A:
     Points per Hole: Won 3 holes (3 * 1 = 3) + Halved 3 holes (3 * .5 = 1.5) = 4.5 Points
     Points for Match:
         Option A: Tied 3 holes to 3 holes = 1 Point (using Holes Won to determine Match Points)
         Option B: Lost 34 strokes to 33 strokes = 0 Points (using Total Net Score to determine Match Points)
     Total Points:
         Option A: 5.5 Points
         Option B: 4.5 Points
Player E:
     Points per Hole: Won 3 holes (3 * 1 = 3) + Halved 4 holes (3 * .5 = 1.5) = 4.5 Points
     Points for Match:
           Option A: Tied 3 holes to 3 holes = 1 Points (using Holes Won to determine Match Points)
           Option B: Won 33 strokes to 34 strokes = 2 Points (using Total Net Score to determine Match Points)
     Total Points:
           Option A: 5.5 Points
           Option B: 6.5 Points

Match Play – Using Gross Score

Points Awarded to each Golfer based on setup
Player A:
     Points per Hole: Won 3 holes (3 * 1 = 3) + Halved 4 holes (4 * .5 = 2) = 5 Points
     Points for Match:
           Option A: Won 3 holes to 2 holes = 2 Points (using Holes Won to determine Match Points)
           Option B: Won 36 strokes to 37 strokes = 2 Points (using Total Gross Score to determine Match Points)
     Total Points: 7 Points (in both scenarios)

Player E:
     Points per Hole: Won 3 holes (2 * 1 = 2) + Halved 4 holes (4 * .5 = 2) = 4 Points
     Points for Match:
            Option A: Lost 2 holes to 3 holes = 0 Points (using Holes Won to determine Match Points)
            Option B: Lost 37 strokes to 36 strokes = 0 Points (using Total Gross Score to determine Match Points)
     Total Points: 4 Points (in both scenarios)

1.3.4.1.1.8. Forfeit Points (Playing Against Par) – Settings for times when a golfer does not have another golfer that they are paired with in a match. This gives you a way to award points to that golfer and their team by essentially pairing them against course par. You can also award points for merely “showing up” which gives golfers more incentive to not miss a league event (as if they need an additional incentive).

1.3.4.1.1.9. Match Best Ball Points – These are additional points that can be awarded to teams based on the total Net Score of ‘X’ number of players on Team 1 vs. ‘X’ number of players on Team 2. You must decide on the number of scores from each team that will be used to determine how points are awarded to each team.

For example, below we have 2 teams with 4 players per team. For option 1 above (i.e., “Net Scores/Team”), we are going to award additional team points based on the best 2 total Net Scores from Team 1 vs. the best 2 total Net Scores from Team 2. Based on these settings, Team 2 would be awarded an additional 2 points for having a lower total Net Score (see below, Team 1: 72 points; Team 2: 71 points)

1.3.4.1.1.10. Handicap Options for determining Net Scores – You have two options for distributing golfers’ handicap strokes over a round for a Match Play pairing.

Option 1: Use full handicap for hole allocation – Do not use handicap difference before determining allowances. This means you will be distributing each golfer’s actual course handicap strokes over the round. For example, if Player A gets 2 strokes and Player E gets 4 strokes, each player will have their number of strokes distributed over their round to lower their respective scores.
Option 2: Subtract handicaps before allocating – Use handicap difference before determining allowances. For this option, difference between the golfers’ handicaps in a particular pairing would be calculated and the resulting number of strokes would be distributed over a round for the golfer with the higher course handicap. For example, if Player A gets 2 strokes and Player E gets 4 strokes, the handicap difference would be 2. This would mean that 2 strokes would be distributed over Player E’s round. Player A would not have any strokes distributed over their round.

1.3.4.1.2. Best Ball – This is a scoring format where the best net or gross score of a specified number of golfers per team is counted – for example, the single best score on a 2-player team or the best two scores on a 4-player team. There are numerous variations of best ball that a league can select when setting up their season. Below are the two ways that a Best Ball competition can be decided.

Stroke Play format – The net score for each team for each hole is added up for the round with the team posting the lowest score winning. This is also known as Better Ball when using 2-player teams.
Match Play format - Each hole is either won, lost or halved when playing the match play version of Best Ball. Points are awarded based on how each team performs vis-à-vis each other on each hole. The team with the most points at the end of the round wins. This is also known as Four-Ball when using 2-player teams.

1.3.4.1.2.1. Scoring System Name - this shows what you selected under Team Scoring System in the “Scoring Settings” screen.

1.3.4.1.2.2. Number of golfers per team – Each Best Ball Match pits one team against another. Here you will indicate how many golfers there will be per team.

1.3.4.1.2.3. Number of scores to determine best ball per hole – Set the number of scores per team to determine which team wins a hole. For example, if there are four players per team and you set the scores to be used to determine best ball at 2, then for each hole the two best scores per team will be added together and compared to the two best scores from the opposing team to determine which one wins the hole and is awarded points.

1.3.4.1.2.4. Use to determine best ball – You can use either “Net Score” or “Gross Score” to determine which team is awarded points on a hole. Using our example above, you would either add up the two lowest Net Scores or Gross Scores on each team to determine which team wins a particular hole.

1.3.4.1.2.5. Standings by “Total Points” vs. “Wins & Losses” – The standings of each team on the homepage will be shown by either Total Match points or Total Wins & Losses for each team.

1.3.4.1.2.6. Points for “Showing Up” - You can award points for merely “showing up” which gives golfers more incentive to not miss a league event (as if they need an additional incentive).

1.3.4.1.2.7. Hole Points – Points are awarded to a team based on the best ball results on each hole.

1.3.4.1.2.8. Match Points – Points are awarded to a team based on overall match results.

1.3.4.1.2.9. Use net score for determining match winning points – This gives you the option to use a player’s Net Score or Gross Score when determining which team wins the overall match.

1.3.4.1.2.10.            Match outcome determined by using – This gives you two options for awarding match points to teams.

Option 1 (Net Score): You determine which team wins the match by, for example, taking the 2 lowest Net Scores (given out example above) and comparing them to the other teams 2 lowest Net Scores or;
Option 2 (Holes Won): You can award match points based on the number of holes that each team won. So, for example, if Team 1 won 5 holes and Team 2 only won 2 holes then Team 1 would be awarded points for winning the match.

Examples

Best Ball - Using Gross Score

Examples
Points Awarded based on Best Ball Scoring Configuration
Team 1:
     Points per Hole: Won 5 holes (5 * 1 = 5) + Halved 1 hole (3 * .5 = .5) = 5.5 Points
     Points for Match:
         Option A: Won 5 holes to 3 holes = 2 Point (using Holes Won to determine Match Points)
         Option B: Won 79 strokes to 80 strokes = 2 Points (using Total Gross Score to determine Match Points)

     Total Points:
         Option A: 7.5 Points
         Option B: 7.5 Points
Team 2:
     Points per Hole: Won 3 holes (3 * 1 = 3) + Halved 1 hole (1 * .5 = .5) = 3.5 Points
     Points for Match:
          Option A: Lost 3 holes to 5 holes = 0 Points (using Holes Won to determine Match Points)
          Option B: Lost 80 strokes to 79 strokes = 0 Points (using Total Gross Score to determine Match Points)
     Total Points:
          Option A: 3.5 Points
          Option B: 3.5 Points

If we were to use Total Net Score to determine which team receives 2 points for winning the match, Team 2 would have won rather than Team 1. This would have made the points awarded to each team even given both hole-by-hole points and match points rather than a 4 point difference.

Forfeit Points (Playing Against Par) – Settings for times when a golfer does not have another golfer that they are paired with in a match. This gives you a way to award points to that golfer and their team by essentially pairing them against course par.

1.3.5. Individual Scoring Setup The “Individual Scoring System Wizard” can be accessed through the “Setup” screen.

1.3.5.1. Individual Scoring Systems – There are 2 choices when it comes to individual scoring – (1) Individual scoring not enabled, meaning that you will essentially be playing straight stroke play (see below for details); (2) Stableford Scoring where points are given depending on number of stokes relative to par.

1.3.5.1.1. Stroke Play/Medal Play - There are two types of straight stroke play: Total Gross Score (Total Strokes) or Total Net Score (Total Strokes less Course Handicap). Lowest score wins.

Example:

1.3.5.1.2. Stableford Scoring Method – Points are awarded for each player based on their scores per hole vs. par.

1.3.5.1.2.1. Stableford points determined using – Decide whether you want to use “Net Scores” vs. “Gross Scores” relative to par for awarding points.

1.3.5.1.2.2. Number of rounds to use for total point – Number of golf rounds you will use to decide the total points for each golfer

1.3.5.1.2.3. Stableford Configuration – You decide how many points to award for each score relative to par. Below is an example of how Stableford can be set up. It is the standard used by a majority of golfers who use the Stableford scoring method. Of course, you can customize the Stableford system however your league deems necessary. One popular modified version is called “The International” and it is geared more towards penalizing golfers for scoring worse than par on a hole by doling out negative points for such scores.

Example Stableford Scoring – Using Standard Stableford Scoring and Net Score:

1.4. League and Season Options

1.4.1. League Options – Here you can change/update basic information about regarding your league (e.g., Name, Email, Address, etc…)

1.4.2. Season Options – This admin area shows, among other things, the type of subscription (Premium or Basic) that you have with NGL and when the subscription period ends. The Season Description is used to differentiate one season from another. You can changed your homage view by clicking on “Add/Change” Season in the menu and clicking on the season you want to see.

1.4.2.1. Handicap Options - NGL offers its golfers three ways to calculate player handicaps – (1) Standard; (2) Standard with Equitable Stroke Control; (3) Standard with Stroke Average.

1.4.2.1.1. Handicap Method - Three supported NGL handicap methods
The three methods explained below essentially determine what score will ultimately be used in calculating a golfer’s handicap. For example, say you score a 90 on a par 72 course. The score of 72 would be considered your gross score. Depending on the handicap method you selected and league rules, your gross score might be used to calculate your handicap or it might be adjusted downward if you, for example, limit the strokes that can be counted for each hole.

Gross Score: The total number of actual strokes that a player takes during a round. League’s can set a ‘Maximum Score’ per hole which limits what can be posted on a hole. For example, if a player scores a 12 on a hole, it will be entered into the system as 10 if that is what is set as the Maximum Score.
Adjusted Gross Score: Gross Score adjusted when using Equitable Source Control [ESC] or Stroke Control
Net Score: Adjusted Gross Score – Course Handicap

1.4.2.1.1.1. Standard (no stroke limit)

1.4.2.1.1.2. Standard with Equitable Stroke Control [ESC]
Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make handicaps more representative of a player’s potential ability. ESC sets a maximum number that a player can post on any hole depending on the player’s Course Handicap. ESC is used only when a player’s actual or most likely score exceeds his maximum number based on the table below but is applied to all scores for handicap purposes, including tournament scores. There is no limit to the number of holes on which a player may adjust his score. A Golfer’s gross score (actual number of stokes taken during a round) when adjusted for ESC is called, appropriately, their adjusted gross score.

Course Handicap	Maximum Number On Any Hole
9 or less	Double Bogey*
10 through 19	7
20 through 29	8
30 through 39	9
40 or more	10

1.4.2.1.1.3. Standard with Stroke Average
Stroke Average is used to calculate a golfer’s handicap and is defined as the maximum score a golfer can have on any hole based on their handicap. The maximum score used to calculate a golfer’s handicap for any hole is par plus the number of strokes you receive for your handicap for that hole plus two strokes.

Example:
Player A’s handicap, for the current round, is 18 so he receives 1 stroke for each hole. The maximum score that he can have on any hole is 3 over par (1 for Handicap + 2 for Stroke Average). On par 3's, his maximum score is 6. On par 4's, his maximum score is 7. On par 5's, his maximum score is 8. Let’s say that he scores a 10 on a par 4. When his handicap is calculated the next time, the score of 10 will be reduced to a score of 7.

Stroke Average does not affect the scores entered on a scorecard. It is only applied when the handicap is calculated. However, the maximum score on any hole is a 10.

1.4.2.1.2. Handicap Starting Point – There are two options available to your league when deciding the starting point for individual handicaps. (1) Use only the current season’s scores – this means that any previous NGL seasons for your league would be ignored in determining starting handicaps (2) Use scores for all seasons for this league.

1.4.2.1.3. Handicap Index Percentage – This percentage is used as a multiplier in calculating each golfer’s handicap index. The default that is most commonly used is 96, and it is recommended that you keep this the same unless there is a specific reason why your league uses a different percentage.

1.4.2.1.4. How Handicaps are calculated - This section goes into detail on how NGL calculates handicaps for its members. Most golfers, and even league administrators, need not concern themselves with the explanations below unless interested in understanding in detail how handicaps are calculated for each round. Golfers can also seed their handicaps with scores from rounds completed previously so that their handicap index more accurately reflects their skill level from the beginning.

1.4.2.1.4.1. Calculate Handicap Differentials
Handicap Differentials are an intermediate calculation that is of no real use to golfers but is essential in determining a golfer’s handicap. The formula for calculating a Handicap Differential is as follows:

Formula:
Handicap Differential = (Score - Course Rating) * 113/Slope Rating

A Handicap Differential is calculated for each round that a golfer has played. This score would be either a golfer’s gross score (i.e., total strokes a golfer took for a round of golf) or his/her adjusted score (i.e., a golfer’s gross score adjusted down based on the maximum strokes per hole for his/her league and/or the NGL Basic Equitable Stroke Control table). The Course Rating for a course should be found on the scorecard along with its Slope Rating. If these are not provided and cannot be determined, the defaults for these two variables are: Course Rating = Course Par; Slope Rating = 113. All digits past the tenths place are dropped for the final Handicap Differential. This is not a rounded number.

Example (Score: 78; Course Rating: 72; Course Slope Rating: 131):
(78 - 72) * 113/131 = 5.175
Handicap Differential = 5.1

1.4.2.1.4.2. Determine Number of Handicap Differentials to Use
The number of differentials used in determining a golfer’s handicap is based on a H.D. table (seen below). Depending on the number of rounds, and by definition the number of H.D.s, a golfer has played, this table determines how many of the lowest H.D.s will be used in calculating a handicap. The USGA requires that a golfer play 5 rounds before they can calculate a Portable Handicap. NGL enables golfers to calculate a Handicap Index even if they have played less than 5 rounds. As shown below, a golfer’s lowest round is used as the basis for their Handicap Index up to and including their 6^th round. A Handicap Index is based on up to the last 20 rounds that a golfer has played. Thus, the table below only goes up to 20.

Handicap Differential Table (NGL)

Rounds Entered Differentials Used
1-2 1 lowest

19-20 10 lowest

Example: The scores highlighted below would be the ones that are used for calculating a golfer’s Handicap Index for Players A, B, C, and D.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21
A	5.2	10.5	4.0	6.1	12.3	7.8	8.7	5.4	3.0	17.2	16.2	8.9	12.7	7.3	5.0	4.4	8.7	9.4	7.8	10.0	15.1
B	8.3	13.1	7.7	9.0	16.6	10.5	5.2	9.4
C	7.8	3.9	10.3	0.8	5.2
D	0.0	1.5	1.2

1.4.2.1.4.3. Calculate Handicap Index
Is a number, to one decimal place (e.g., 5.6), that is a generic (i.e., not tied to any one course) representation of a golfer’s game relative to par. So, for example, a golfer with a 5.6 Handicap Index means that that golfer could be expected to shoot somewhere between 5 and 6 strokes over par on any given day.

Formula:
Handicap Index = (Sum of Handicap Differentials being used/# of Handicap Differentials being used) × .96
Note: NGL uses .96 as the default ‘Handicap Index Percentage’, but leagues can change this percentage by going into season configuration.

Examples (Using Handicap Indexes from table above):
Player B
(8.3 + 7.7 + 9.0 + 5.2)/4 × .96 = 7.248
Handicap Index = 7.2

Player C
(3.9 + 0.8)/2 × .96 = 2.256
Handicap Index = 2.2

1.4.2.1.4.4. Calculate Course Handicap
Is a whole number that defines that number of strokes a golfer subtracts from their adjusted score to come up with their net score for a given round.

Formula:
Course Handicap = Handicap Index * Course Slope/113

Example (Course Slope Rating: 128):
Player B
7.2 * 128/113 = 8.155
Course Handicap = 8 strokes

Player C
2.2 * 128/113 = 2.492
Course Handicap = 2 strokes

1.4.2.1.5. Distributing a Handicap over a Round
To determine how to distribute a handicap across 18 holes, a golf course rates the difficulty of each hole on the course by assigning each a Stroke Index which ranks the holes from 1 (most difficult) to 18 (easiest). This is usually displayed on the scorecard in a row marked “S.I.”, “Stroke Index” or “Handicap”. Strokes that a golfer receives for their handicap are used first on the hardest holes working towards the easiest. The following are examples of how to distribute a handicap over 18 holes:

Example 1:
A player has a 15 handicap. He subtracts 1 stroke from his gross score/hole on the 15 hardest holes (1 to 15).

Example 2:
A player has a 18 handicap. He subtracts 1 stroke from his gross score/hole on all 18 holes (1- 18).

Example 3:
A player has a 25 handicap. He subtracts 1 stroke from your gross score/hole on all 18 holes and 1 additional stroke on the 7 hardest rated holes (1-7). In other words, the player subtracts 2 strokes from the 7 hardest rated holes and 1 stroke from the 11 easiest rated holes [(7 x 2) + (1 x 11) = 25].

1.4.2.1.6. Entering an initial handicap index for golfers (using our calculator)
You have several options when entering golfers’ initial handicaps.

1.4.2.1.6.1. No Initial Handicap: If no initial handicap is entered for a golfer, they simply start out with a course handicap of zero for their first round and a handicap index is then calculated given the result of the first and subsequent rounds.

1.4.2.1.6.2. Enter existing Handicap Index or use our Handicap Calculator to calculate an initial Handicap Index.

1.4.2.1.6.3. Seed Handicap with scores from previous rounds – You can seed your handicap by clicking on your name in the Golfers List on the homepage. This takes you to your profile screen where you can click on the “Add” button to add seeds that will be used in calculating your handicap.

1.4.3. Scorecard Options

1.4.3.1. Scorecard Options

1.4.3.2. Holes per Round – Number of holes that will be played per round (9 vs. 18)

1.4.3.3. Maximum Score – Maximum score that can be posted on a hole for a golfer in NGL.

1.4.3.4. Track Putts – Option to track number of putts each golfer takes on each hole. Checking this gives you many options regarding fun statistics and can be useful when trying to analyze and improve your game.

1.4.4. Subscription Information – You can find basic information on your NGL subscription including when it expires and a way to renew it.

2. Homepage – NGL uses a system of content widgets to build your homepage. This provides you with a clean and extremely useful page that is flexible and dynamic. It also give NGL the ability to easily add widgets in the future based, in large part, on user demand and ideas. In the future, this will also allow NGL members to build the exact type of homepage that they want – a totally custom league homepage with just the widgets that they want.

2.1. Changing Season or League view - When you sign in to NGL, your Home page will default to show details for your current season. Older seasons can always be accessed by selecting “Change Season” from the Main Menu. If your league happens to have multiple current seasons, the Home page will open up to the last current season you accessed. If you happen to belong to more than one NGL league, you can link into all of your NGL leagues and then select which one to view the same way you do with seasons.

2.2. Season Overview – The Home page is meant to be the main page that members reference to get a quick and extensive overview of a particular season. For example, the Home page provides information on scores for your last event/round and for the upcoming one.

2.2.1. Next Scheduled Event – This widget gives you an overview of the next event, including address, phone number, tees being played, and more…

2.2.1.1. Directions – By clicking on the “Directions” link under the course contact information, you are taken to a Google map giving you the exact location of the course.

2.2.1.2. Matches – All matches and pairings for the upcoming event are shown below the course information.

2.2.1.3. Weather – The forecast for the day for the course is displayed. Furthermore, you can click on the weather to get a more encompassing view of the weather over a period of time for that course.

2.2.2. Last Completed Event – This is shown immediately under the upcoming event and displays statistics on the last round played, including statistics on such things as total putts and greens in regulation. You can get a more detailed look at the round by clicking on “View Scorecard” which takes you to a hole-by-hole view of the round. There are two options you can select when viewing your scorecard:

2.2.2.1. Scorecard View – This view shows players’ scores for a round as they were entered into NGL (in other words, excluding handicap). The main number for each hole is the number of strokes taken and the superscripted number represents the number of putts recorded for the hole. At the end, you are given the course handicap and net score based on the total strokes less course handicap.

2.2.2.2. Net Score View – This view shows a player’s net score on each hole (in other words, including handicap). Underneath each net score in parentheses is the gross score for the hole less handicap. This view enables members to see how their course handicap was distributed over the round.

2.2.3. Select Event View – NGL also gives members the ability to change which previous round they are looking at on the Home page by clicking on the event in the Schedule widget on the same page.

Each event is a link.

2.2.4. Team Scoring View – Changing from one view to the other is possible at any time. You merely click on “Change Season Configuration” in Setup and change your selection and save your change.

2.2.4.1. Total Points – Total points awarded to each team based on how team scoring is configured for a round.

2.2.4.2. Wins/Losses – Total wins/losses from all pairings between teams.

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3. League Tools and Extras

3.1. League Information Center – This widget, which is at the heart of the free service that NGL offers, is an incredibly flexible tool that leagues can use to post anything from By Laws to scores and statistics. Document formats that can be uploaded include but are not limited to Microsoft Word (.doc), Microsoft Excel (.xls), Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), and more…

3.1.1. Adding an Item – Click on “Add” button and following the instructions in the subsequent screen.

3.1.2. Editing an Item – Click on the pencil icon next to the item you want to edit.

3.1.3. Deleting an Item – Click on the waste basket icon next to the item you want to delete.