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What's New in HandicapMaster 6

Get to know the new HandicapMaster.

HandicapMaster 6 is packed with more new features. To help you find your way around them all, we have put together some handy notes.

Competition Score Entry Changes

Competition score entry has been given a major facelift with HandicapMaster version 6. HandicapMaster has been optimised for the input of scores by competition administrators.
By default, selecting 'Enter Scores' will take you to an opened competition. A new score input screen is then revealed, with powerful on-screen editing tools ready for a Competition Administrator to process the scores. The standard full screen player self entry screen can still be readily accessed from within HandicapMaster.
A major innovation is the option for players to access the “Public” Score Entry Screen directly from within its own program without running HandicapMaster.
Highlights of the changes include
  • "Enter Scores" is now embedded into the main HandicapMaster desktop, with its own mini-toolbar. To enter scores, simply double-click an Opened Competition.
  •  You may now edit a scorecard already entered, without cancelling it first (*)
  •  You may now change the characteristics of an Opened Competition, no longer having to cancel and re-open it. For example, in some cases you can now change a competition from Stroke-play to Stableford format even though some scores have already been entered!
(*) Available when the scorecard has been input using version 6 and not available for Four ball Best Ball Competitions.

In more detail:

New Program for Public Entry of Competition Scores
The Public screens for entry of scores into HandicapMaster are split out into their own program, called HMPlayerEntry. This means that you may set up a public computer for players to enter their own scores, without running the full HandicapMaster program.
Alternatively, these Public "Player Entry" screens may be run within HandicapMaster by selecting COMPETITIONS menu, then RUN PLAYER ENTRY PROGRAM. A toolbar button (named "Access") is also available from the ENTER SCORES toolbar, that will start the Public Screens.
Introduction of 'Player Entry' Option
From this version of HandicapMaster onwards, use of the Public Player Entry screens will be offered as a purchasable option when registering HandicapMaster. Existing users will continue to have access to these screens.
The "Configure Score Entry" wizard is renamed to "Configure Player Entry" wizard. For Premier Edition users, new wording on the first page of the Wizard confirms that a separate collection of Player Entry settings is maintained for each Userid in HandicapMaster.
Entry of Competition Scores is improved for Competition Administrators
Entry of competition scores in the main HandicapMaster program is now better suited to Administrators who are managing competitions and inputting scores.
Score Entry is moved into the main HandicapMaster desktop, with ENTER SCORES option taking you to any one of your opened competitions.
A new mini-toolbar is added to support entry of scores through the "Players" list, or analysis of scores already entered through the "Analyse" list.
New Enter Scores Toolbar
You now have a powerful new option to change the nature of the opened competition (without first cancelling the competition). The amend competition button ("Config") is available on the mini-toolbar.
Items that may now be amended after the competition has been opened include (but are not limited to):
  • Competition Name
  • Competition Date (subject to all players who have scores already entered having a handicap award at the time of the revised date)
  • Competition Venue and Tees used
  • Nature of Competition (whether Stroke-play, Stableford or Par)
  • Whether Men or Ladies or Visitors may compete
  • Competition Handicap allowances
Note: Some restrictions apply when making these changes, depending on the nature of any scores already input to the selected competition.
Editing Scores already entered
Where a competition score has been entered using HandicapMaster version 6, you may now edit the scorecard (without first cancelling it).
This is not available for Four Ball Best Ball competitions, however.
More targeted list of Names
The "Players" list now only shows those players believed to be eligible for the competition (no men for ladies-only competitions, for example).
As scores are input, names of players are removed from the "Players" list.
New Scorecard window
A new Scorecard window is added. This window adds new options through a toolbar to
  • Enter a score over 19 for a single hole,
  • Print a picture of the scorecard window.
New Scorecard Window
Improvements to Opening a Competition
You may now set a different name for a competition (than the template name) when opening a new competition.
The option to declare a Competition Fee is added to the Open a New Competition wizard. If set, this fee is then added to any Start Sheet report created for the competition.
The option to extract a list of Competitors who have played in a competition is added to the Premier edition. Configuring this option is added to the Reports menu -> Layout and Options -> Competition Reports tab.
Applying Competition Scores
Aggregating Competitions as Alternative Day or Multiple-round Competitions is now made easier by the removal of the restriction that all rounds need to have been entered using the same competition Template.
You may now aggregate any competitions together provided they are the same format (E.g. All Stableford or Stroke-play, etc.).

Order of Merit

Within the Order of Merit, you may now limit the points awarded to Players to their 'Best rounds' only. For example, 'Best 5 out of 7 Order of Merit Points scores' per player may be defined.
When a Best scores limit is applied, the Order of Merit report shows points scored by players in individual competitions (in ascending points order). This offers players the opportunity to see the minimum score they have counting for the Order of Merit, providing a target to improve when playing further Order of Merit competitions.
Order of Merit

Best-of Series Competitions

Running Best-of Series Competitions is now offered by running a wizard, rather than configuration through a competition wizard.
Running Best-of series is made easier by the removal of the restriction that all rounds have to be entered using the same Competition Template.
Up to six separate Best-of Series may be calculated.
You may now give each Series it's own title.
A range of new options are added that include:
  1. Option to display each player's 'Best' scores on the report
  2. Option to upload the Series reports to MasterScoreboard.co.uk web site
  3. Option to include Past Members in the report
  4. Option to include Visitors in the report

CONGU Handicapping

The following regulatory changes are made to the CLUB and PREMIER editions, in respect of changes to the Unified Handicapping System for 2006:
  1. 'Adjusted Gross Score' box for Away Scores now shown for Gentlemen Members of Welsh Golf Clubs (Welsh Golfing Union amendment),
  2. Introduction of 'QRZ', 'QRS' and 'QRP' CONGU Three letter Identifiers in place of previous 'QRO' Identifier.

Annual Review Analysis

It is wished to find the best way of assisting Club Secretaries administer General Play, and in particular the Annual Review. It is suggested the following reports may assist Secretaries to identify the players who may be the most appropriate to have their handicaps reviewed.
  • The number of times players have played within (SSS+2), ranking them by percentage number of good scores,
  • Ranking players according to '(Median Gross Differential - Current handicap)', and
  • Ranking players according to '(Average of two best Gross Differentials - current handicap).'
Each of these reports is provided, under the report title of 'Identify Players for a Handicap Review'.
Options to display players in the reports in increasing or decreasing rank, to limit the reports to players who have played a minimum of games and limit the number of players shown on each report are provided.
CONGU Handicapping Analysis

HandicapMaster Database Recovery

If the HandicapMaster database file becomes damaged or missing, a new window will help you with recovery using the automatic backups maintained by HandicapMaster. This window will also assist if a database backup taken from a different HandicapMaster installation is restored and the other installation is running a newer version of HandicapMaster (not allowed).
A button 'Restore From Automatic Backups' is added allowing restoration of the HandicapMaster database from an 'automatic backup'. This is added to FILE menu -> OPTIONS -> DATABASE tab.

Miscellaneous new features

You may now sort columns in the main HandicapMaster window in ascending or descending order by clicking the column headings.
Other changes include:
  • Synchronising with external Membership database; Option to choose whether a load from external membership system is performed, depending upon which user is logged into HandicapMaster is added (Premier Edition only).
  • Opened Competitions List; Tasks displayed alongside list now includes option to 'Cancel Competition'.
  • Analyse Scores Entered; 'Gross Score' column added to grid when analysing Stroke-play Competition and improvements to display of other Score Columns made.
  • Publish to MasterScoreboard.co.uk; Wizard now displays a link directly to the club page on the Master Scoreboard web site if account details for Master Scoreboard have been configured into HandicapMaster.
  • Letters; New Field codes for Membership Number, PIN Number, Telephone Number, Mobile Number, Fax Number and Email Address are added. Also new field added for 'Skip to New Page in Letter'.
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