What is a Digital Divot?
Digital Divot is a FREE web service created for the greater good of all golfers. Simply put, Digital Divot is an on-line, golf handicap index calculator, personal round database, historical trend analysis tool and course score card repository, maintained by the players, for the players.Strictly adhering to stadard handicapping practices, Digital Divot provides accurate golf handicap indexes for it's members. These handicaps are calculated instantly and accurately -- the moment you start entering scores from your played rounds.
|
Why was Digital Divot created?
Digital Divot was created with a single goal in mind: bring standard handicapping to all golfers, not just country club members. Handicaps help golfers track their progress as they improve and make it possible for golfers of all skill levels play together, competitively.
It truly is the root of sport -- equality, fairness and the quest for self improvement.
|
Who created Digital Divot?
Digital Divot is the brain child of senior web-app developer, database architect and avid golfer, Josh Richards. A veteran of the web application development community, with over 15 years industry experience, Josh has hundereds of successful web application projects under his belt and holds numerous Microsoft certifications including the coveted, Master Developer. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, this California native has relocated to Austin, Texas with his wife and two daughters and now enjoys life, "BBQ and Beer Style". Although, the summers are HOT...but it's a dry heat.
It all started back in 1994 as a simple Visual Basic, desktop application named, "Handicalc", that quickly calculated a golfer's handicap index in a local machine, desktop and OS dependent environment. But as the need for expandablitly, scalability and centralized data storage became apparent, Digital Divot took to the internet to become a global presence in 2002. Through a few iterations, it has quickly blossomed into today's version: a full featured web application, using cutting-edge technology like Microsoft® ASP.NET® 3.5, AJAX and MySQL Server® 5.2.
|
How does it work?
It's really quite simple. Go play a round of golf. Save your score card and bring it home with you (or anywhere you have access to the internet). Login into Digital Divot. Check to see if the course you just played is already in the database. If it is, simply add your played round, to your personal round database. If it isn't, then first add the course you just played to the course database then go add your round.
That's it. You are on your way!
|
Who uses Digital Divot?
Digital Divot is used by golfers from all walks of life that simply want to keep track of their handicap index but do not wish to join a country club or some other club to do so. Anyone who enjoys the game of golf and wants to evaluate their game more effectively and play more competitively with fellow golfers, will find tremendous value in using Digital Divot.
What could it really hurt? After all, it's free.
|
I live in a country other than the United States. Can I still use Digital Divot?
Digital Divot welcomes all golfers to become members. But please note that Digital Divot is primarily intended for use by any golfer that wishes to accurately calculate a standard handicap value. While this could include any golfer, from any country, it is important to note that Digital Divot only recognizes and utilizes standard handicapping formulas when calculating your handicap. Digital Divot does not use or employ the handicapping methodologies of other countries or organizations.
However, we must add that Digital Divot's course database is in fact, international. Over 35 countries are already in the database and more are being added all the time. This means, that if you travel abroad and/or play golf in other countries, you can certainly add these rounds to your personal rounds database. Digital Divot also supports both the US Empirical System and the Global Metric System for lengths and measures. So courses can be input in either yards or meters and Digital Divot will gracefully translate these measures into which ever format you prefer within your reports.
So go ahead, play in Mexico, France, England, Singapore or Ireland, we'll gladly accept your course additions and rounds!
|
How do I become the next Digital Divot member?
You can sign up to become a Digital Divot member, immediately and instantly. All that is required is a valid email address -- every member must have their own, unique email address. You can not add multiple members underneath one email address.
All you need to do is click the 'sign up' link on the login page, fill out the form, confirm your email address and you are the newest Digital Divot member!
It's really that easy. Now go play golf!
|
What if the course I need isn't in the database?
Then go add it! It's that easy. That is the real beauty of Digital Divot. It's constantly evolving. The more you use it, the better it gets.
Go to 'courses' and click 'add'. Fill out a few simple course stats, like par, rating and slope (usually found right on the score card for the course) and click 'done'. Then from that point forward, that course's score card will be permanently available for all Digital Divot members to use. For the people, by the people -- it's the American way.
Sound confusing? Don't worry -- it really isn't. We have a thorough help system to help get you on your way, if you need it.
|
What's the deal with 9 hole rounds?
No problem. Add the courses and the rounds to your database. Digital Divot allows you to record 9-hole rounds into your rounds database.
Although 9 hole courses cannot "technically" be used in the calculation of your handicap value, the results of 9 hole rounds most definitely help sculpt your historical trend analysis and count toward your totals for holes played, birdies, eagles and yes, even your aces (because we all get one, eventually).
|
USGA® Terms and Trademarks
The terms "Course Handicap," "Course Rating," "Equitable Stroke Control," "ESC," "Handicap Index," "Handicap Differential," "Home Course Handicap," "Slope," "Slope Rating," "Trend Handicap Index," "Trend Differential," "Trend Handicap," "United States Golf Association," "USGA," and "USGA Handicap System" are trademarks and/or service marks of the United States Golf Association.
Digital Divot is in no way affiliated with the USGA® and does not imply that it issues Official USGA® Handicap Indexes®. Digital Divot is not a golf club or a golf association.
|
USGA® Contact Info
The United States Golf Association
P.O.Box 708
Far Hills, NJ 07931
908-234-2300
908-234-9687 Fax
|