In early 2021, the USGA will implementing a Digital Profile feature for a number of reasons and this will be impactful in the posting of scores (Digital Profile tentatively required after January 11 to post scores via either the GHIN Mobile App or GHIN.com, but not at course Kiosks/computers).
SCGA Members with unique email addresses in their SCGA records will receive an email from [email protected] with an opportunity to create a Digital Profile on or near January 11. In addition, after the launch date in January, when accessing GHIN.com or the GHIN Mobile App there will be a create profile link/opportunity. For GHIN.com, two of three items will need to be verified to create the Digital Profile: GHIN Number, Name, email address. (Exception for golfers age 12 and under – see later paragraph). Mobile App users who have been logged in as of the launch date of Digital Profiles and don’t log out will get an extra week to create the Digital Profile before the App will force them out if they have not done so.
As a club official, if you are already an admin user for the USGA Admin Portal and your email address for being a user and your SCGA record (specific to your Handicap ID (GHIN #) are the same then you have essentially already created a Digital Profile – you will receive a special email asking you to accept the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service only.
As part of the Digital Profile implementation if an email address is being shared by two different GHIN numbers (example: spouses sharing the same email address) the first person to claim the email address will be able to create a Digital Profile; others sharing will have to use a different email address to create a Digital Profile. Those sharing an email address will not receive the email from [email protected] to create a profile; they will need to use the create profile link/opportunity on ghin.com or GHIN Mobile App.
Upon implementation of the Digital Profile, the member who has not created such a profile will be limited in the ways he or she can post scores. Existing SCGA members WITHOUT a unique email address will only be allowed to post via the posting station at course computers, known as the Golfer kiosk. They will not have access to the mobile app or online posting (ghin.com). The unique email address will be required to create a digital profile which will be used to access the mobile app and GHIN.com. As noted earlier in the year it is important to get a unique email address for each SCGA member, as those without an email address in their SCGA record will not be positioned to create a digital profile in any way. In addition, without an email address, the bi-weekly eRevisions are not delivered, SCGA Member Benefit coupon codes (Roger Dunn and UnderPar at this point in time) are not delivered, etc. Bottom line, a unique email address unlocks many features and benefits. The accompanying video positions club officials with access to the USGA Admin Portal to determine who does not have an email address in their SCGA record.
A unique email address has been required for several months when adding a “new golfer.” As many of you have seen in the SCGA Club Billing and Roster Maintenance (Golf Nations), USGA Admin Portal and the SCGA eCommerce Portal, this requirement is already in place and if you edit the golfer’s profile (address, phone number, etc.), you are required to provide an email address for the golfer to save the information.
One small exception to the unique email address requirement: a golfer age 12 and under will not be able to have an email address specific to their record. They will have an opportunity to be linked via a Guardian Management feature and the Guardian’s account will be positioned for a Digital Profile and used for score posting. The Guardian does not have to be a golfer. The Guardian capability is available in the USGA Admin Portal at this time and admin users and the SCGA can create this connection. If you as an official access the golfer and choose account tab red imagery/a link in the “Is Minor” sub-section will get this started. We encourage that this connection for those age 12 and under is in place as of the tentative January 11 launch date to enable Digital Profile creation and ultimately score posting on GHIN.com or the GHIN Mobile App. Unfortunately, for privacy reasons, as of the launch of Digital Profiles golfers age 12 and under will not be able to post at the course Kiosks whether they have a Guardian Management link in place or not. Also, the Guardian Management feature is available for golfers 13-18, but is not required. The Guardian Management feature is in accordance with The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
One final note and a key benefit for both Club Officials and SCGA Members is approximately one week after the tentative January 11 launch of the Digital Profile (let’s tentatively say January 19) profile management will become available. As of that date, a golfer can log into their Digital Profile and change/update their email address, mailing address and phone number on their own/with no assistance from the club or the SCGA. As a club official this positions you (and the SCGA) to have the best contact information for members. There are likely to be more edit capabilities introduced over time. P.S. There is a single Digital Profile for a golfer, regardless of how many clubs in which that person is a member.
What Club Officials need to do:
• Begin collecting your members email addresses and inputting them into the USGA Admin Portal and/or Golf Nations. Click the video above to watch how you can pull the Roster Report.
• As many of you have seen in the SCGA Admin Portal and the SCGA eCommerce Portal, this requirement is already in place and if you edit the golfer’s profile (address, phone number, etc.), you will be required to provide an email address for the golfer to save the information.
• Existing members WITHOUT a unique email address will be migrated over to the new GHIN platform, yet as noted earlier, will only be allowed to post via the course GHP Golfer kiosk/club posting station. They will not have access to the mobile app or online posting. In addition, without an email address, the bi-weekly eRevisions are not delivered, SCGA Member Benefit coupon codes (Roger Dunn and UnderPar at this point in time) are not delivered, etc. A unique email address unlocks many features and benefits.
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