International Golf Network (IGN) Association Faq Page.

Q. What is the International Golf Network (IGN)?

A. The IGN was developed by the International Association of Golf Administrators to facilitate the transfer of posted scores between associations, which use different handicap vendors. It provides associations and their handicap vendor.s access through the internet to share scores between the participating associations. Through this system, golfers will have the ability to post scores in one region and have their score routed back to their file in their home region. The network also provides the ability for individual golfers who are members of more than one IGN association to have their score files linked. This enables the golfer to maintain a more accurate Handicap Index at the associations where they are a member. The IGN is the first international network of its kind, with 48 participating associations at this time.

Q. Where is the IGN located?

A. The IGN office resides at the same location as the IAGA administrative headquarters. Currently, the Southern California Golf Association is home to both organizations.

Q. How do we know if our handicap provider is participating?

A. The participating association vendors are as follows: EZLinks, GHIN, Golfnet, Golf Soft (Idaho), Handicomp, Integrated Data Corporation (IDC), MTS Computers (Montana), Star Plan. If your handicap provider is not listed, please contact the IGN to check on its status.

Q. If my association is not participating in the IGN, can we still have golfers from other states post a score at our member clubs and have it routed back to their association?

A. Yes, but only if the golfer's home association uses the same handicap vendor as your member clubs. No other IGN member would be able to post. Example: two associations using the same handicap vendor (GHIN) would still be able to have their members post scores and have those scores routed back to their association through the GHIN system.

Q. Does the IGN have a Board of Directors and if so, how is the board formed?

A. The IGN board is made up of administrators from golf associations who are participating in the IGN. The board members are elected in accordance with procedures stated in the IGN bylaws.

Q. How much will this cost my association?

A. There are two separate costs involved. First, a one-time $500 initiation fee is charged to each association who joins the IGN, which is the same for all participating associations. Your association will then be a member of the IGN, which is formed as a non-profit corporation. Second, annual dues are charged based on the number of individuals belonging to your association. The following schedule will provide annual fees based on the number of members in an association.

Number of Members in Association	Annual Association Dues
100,000+	$1,200
99,999 - 50,000	960
49,999 - 20,000	720
19,999 - 8,000	480
7,999 - 2,500	360

Q. Can an individual club join the IGN?

A. No, an individual club may only be a member of the IGN through a participating association.

Q. If my association does not provide unique association member numbers, can we still participate in the IGN?

A. No, your members must have a number that is unique to each golfer within the association; otherwise, he/she will not have a number to post a score through the IGN system.

Q. How long after our association signs up will we be able to participate in the IGN?

A. Once the IGN office has received the application and appropriate fees, an update will be sent out to all existing IGN associations and the handicap vendors. Vendors will then update their software and distribute to association clubs. This process may take up to one month depending upon the revision schedule of the association.

Q. How will this affect my current handicap software that my member clubs are using now?

A. Your handicap vendor will coordinate with your association for the distribution of new software, which your clubs will need to install on their handicap systems. These new screens will have the same feel and similar look throughout all participating IGN associations.

Q. If my association elects not to participate in the IGN, how will this affect my member clubs?

A. The IGN software will not be installed at your member clubs and any IGN participating golfer will not be able to post scores at your member clubs, nor will your members have the ability to post scores when traveling outside of their home region.

Q. I have a very small percentage of members who play out of state or out of the region, why would this benefit my association?

A. You may not have a large percentage of your members. play out of state/region, but you do have out of state/region golfers coming into your area. If you are not participating in the IGN, golfers will not have the ability to post their scores locally at your member clubs. They would have to take their scorecard back to their home course for posting.

Q. I have members who belong to more than one golf association; will they have to post scores to both associations in order to have their Handicap Index consistent?

A. No, each of the vendors has made provisions for multi-association members. Through this linking process when an individual has been identified as a multi-association member of participating IGN associations once they post a score to one IGN association a duplicate score is automatically generated and sent to the other IGN association. You will need to contact your vendor to determine how the linking process is managed (i.e., at the club level, association level or by the individual).

Q. What features are available on the IGN website, www.ign.net, for participating associations?

A. The website has a section specifically for participating associations. In this password protected section associations can run an individual guest inquiry for any member within the IGN (over 2.5 million golfers currently) using a last name, member number and/or association affiliation. If only last name or member number is known, the inquiry can still be run and all matches from all associations will be shown. Handicap Index look up can also be performed for up to 25 individuals of the same association if the member numbers are known. The associations have the ability to track scores for their members. If an individual member calls the association wanting to know why the score they posted out of state is not showing in their file, the association can look to see when the score was transferred from the other participating association. Finally, the association has the ability to view the activity logs from all participating associations. They can view the total number of scores that were passed through the IGN to their association on a month-by-month basis.

Q. What features are available on the IGN web site for member clubs of participating associations?

A. Clubs have a password protected section through the IGN site, which they can perform all of the same functions as associations listed above. This is especially valuable for clubs when verifying Handicap Indexes for member-guest events when players are located out of state. Keep in mind that only individuals of participating IGN associations will be listed in the Guest Inquiry.

Q. What features are available on the IGN web site for individuals to use?

A. On the home page of the IGN site, there is an option for Member Functions. Individuals who have posted a score outside of their home region through the IGN system can go into this section and track the score. The individual will put in their membership number, select their home association and the month they want to track. Results will show any scores that were posted through the IGN that month, what handicap vendor sent the scores, and at what golf course the scores were posted.

Q. How can we sign-up to be a participating association?

A. You may contact Frances Nee at (800) 554-7242 ext. 314 or email fnee@scga.org for more information.