Handicap Seminar Offers Insight On Ghin System, NJSGA Programs
Rich Kennedy, NJSGA Director of Handicapping and Member Benefit Services, provided some early signs of spring when he conducted the first of two GHIN handicapping seminars on Wednesday, March 23, at the Eagle Ridge Country Club in Lakewood.
A number of golf professionals and administrators from the Shore area were in attendance.
“The NJSGA offers these seminars to answer questions and clear up anything that might be complicated to the people who administer the GHIN handicapping system at their respective courses,” Kennedy said.
“The meeting sets the tone for the upcoming golf season. We also let the audience know what the NJSGA has been working on in the offseason. We also tell about our history and purpose and reiterate our objectives about growing the game in New Jersey.
“We are also spending time going over the online GHIN services,” Kennedy said.
Among the newer events the NJSGA has unveiled is a summer-long “Beat Scratch” tournament for NJSGA members who can post their best net scores, the Ultimate Team Event, where clubs enter two-man teams for a one-day 27-hole tournament, and the Senior Inter-Club Matches (Bud Foley Cup) where seniors from entered clubs play at each other’s courses in a series of matches.He also told of the 10 Member Golf Days slated for 2016.
“I’m learning about the online options, the reports available to update golfers more efficiently,” said Kevin Maciorowski, director of golf at Westlake. “You always learn something new at these seminars. Rich Kennedy does a good job explaining things. There’s always something you can take away. It’s a good refresher, too, for the coming season.”
Bill King, long-time head pro at Spring Lake, added: “I’m always picking up new tools that I didn’t know about that allow me to find shortcuts in the administration of the GHIN system.”
Jim Moscarello, the manager of the Princeton Country Club, was attending for a third time in recent years.
“I’m brushing up on the online access to the GHIN system. I’ve had technical problems in the past. Here, I can find solutions.”
The second NJSGA hosted GHIN handicap seminar is slated for Wednesday, March 30, at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth, beginning at 8 a.m. Galloping Hill will also be the host site for an NJSGA Rules of Golf Seminar on April 6. Cost is $40.
“I’m hoping to learn about the new updated GHIN system and see how it works,” said Kevin Darlington, the head pro at Greenbriar Oceanaire. It’s always nice dealing with Rich. He makes things very clear. I want to be comfortable using the webpage to do updates.”
“I use the program a lot. I’m very familiar with it because we have many tournaments at the club,” said Larry Cittadino, assistant pro at Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield. “I’m picking up good information today, such as how to activate new members in a timely fashion and how to schedule reports and email them back to myself.”
Scott Tucci is the pro and superintendent at Pine Ridge, located at the Lakehurst Naval Base.
“The operation of the management part is user friendly. The different options make my job a lot easier. It cuts down on the man hours,” Tucci said.
Keep in mind, these are not USGA Handicap System seminars and attendance does not fulfill any USGA Club licensing requirements. However, the USGA Handicap System procedures and rules will be discussed throughout the seminars in relation to the functionality of the handicap software and Web services.
