Intelligolf
from Karrier Communications
Page 2

Cont'd from Page 1

The round begins

My information is already entered, but I had to manually enter Dylan. I entered his Handicap manually, but there is added functionality for determining handicap:

• USGA Index - for players that have a USGA Handicap Index. IntelliGolf will compute a course handicap for the golfer using the formula: Course Handicap = Index * slope / 113. IntelliGolf supports a men's and women's slope rating for each tee, so you need to be sure to set the Sex field correctly if you are using this handicap choice.
• Average Score - Use this selection when a player does not have an established handicap but they have some idea of what their "average" score is on this course. IntelliGolf will compute a handicap using the formula: Handicap = Average Score - Course Par.
• EGA Index - Use this selection for players that have a Handicap Index issued by a European golf association. IntelliGolf will compute a course handicap for the golfer using the formula:
• Course Handicap = Index * slope / 113 + rating - par.

After clicking OK, I'm given the option to choose a side game to play. We chose to play Skins.

As you can see, there are many games to choose from, including the ability to create a custom game. Admittedly, I don't even know what most of them are (if you recall, I am just now graduating beyond hacker!).
We chose a wager of $1.00 per Skin - I guess I'm in a mood to lose some money today!

Entering data for the holes is quite easy. You don't even have to use your stylus - a golf tee works just fine! The basic info to enter is the Score on the hole, and the number of putts. This can be done by tapping on the black numbers at the bottom. For the first hole, I had a 6 with a 2-putt, and Dylan had a 5 with a 2-putt, so I tapped 6-2-5-2 and was finished. You can also go into much greater detail for each hole (which I tend to do when keeping track of just my game). More on that in a moment.

Notice how I am also down a dollar already for the Skins! That is automatically calculated, which is nice.

At any time, you can also add Notes, which I did for the 2nd hole for Dylan. To do that, you simply tap on the little Note icon in the toolbar

Tapping on the Player icon during the round will show you who has honors for the next hole.

GPS Feature

Tapping on the Satellite icon will bring up the GPS info. IntelliGolf provides the ability to view distances from tee-to-green with GPS accuracy when using a GPS receiver. If you don't own a GPS receiver, IntelliGolf's IntelliGPS™ technology will automatically predict distances to key target locations (i.e. fairway markers, green, etc) for you. So, that means you don't have to own a GPS receiver to enjoy the benefits.

One thing I will add, however, is that doing some of these things takes time, and if play is moving along quickly (as it should), then you'll need to figure out how to use the extensive features without holding up your group!

Here's an example of something that could take some time to enter. Perhaps you'd want to do this on a slow day! Tapping on the Distance Calculator icon brings up a a distance calculator to help you determine the distance to the green and your drive distances.

You calibrate the distance calculator by measuring how many steps it takes you to pace off 10 yards or meters and then recording that number in the steps field provided.
To use the distance calculator: For each step you take, tap on the area at the bottom of the distance calculator window (you can do this with your index finger while you walk if you hold the device upside-down). When you're done pacing off the distance, tap whether you paced "from the mark" or "to it", and select which yardage marker you used. If you paced from a distance marker other than that shown (like a spinkler head), check the radio button on the far right and enter the distance in the field provided. IntelliGolf will then calculate how far it is to the green and how far from the tee.

While the functionality is there, if a person were to "lolligag" on the course, I think his or her playing partners would begin to get irritated! Seems to me some of these features would be great for a Caddy to use. They could keep all sorts of info, and not hold up game play...

Back to the round

Here is an example of the more detailed info that can be entered in for a hole. Tapping on the box indicated below brings up a screen where you can enter in the clubs used, the length of the hit, the result, and other details. Again, this could be time-consuming, so I'd advise doing this when it won't hold up play!

The thing is, the more of this data you capture while playing, the more robust your stats will be when you synchronize with the Desktop! One of the very powerful features of this application is the Stats, so the more you enter, the more you will have to analyze your game and know what to work on. You'll see that when I show the Desktop portion...

Tapping on the box beneath the little bullet (second from the right) allows you to enter Game Points, such as Closest to the pin, Longest Drive, etc

At any time during the round, you can tap on the Scorecard icon and see how the round is shaping up:

Next, wrapping up the round...

Continued on Page 3 >>