COMPUTERIZED MISGA SIGN UP SYSTEM

Have you ever wished that your club's MISGA schedule was available so you could access it from your computer, smart phone, tablet, or any device connected to the Internet? How about being able to sign up for one of those mixers or events right then? Well with the MISGA SIGNUP SYSTEM, it is possible.  All you need to do is bring up your club’s MISGA Sign Up web site in your Internet browser; click on the Schedule tab to view your club’s schedule; then click on one of the selectable events.  By doing so the sign up page for that event will be displayed with all the details about the mixer shown.  Details like the date, time, cost, player limit, and other club specific information will be there with information such as dress code, etc. are there for you.  To sign up for the mixer, enter your name and then click on the submit button.  Your name with the date and time will be added to the end of the list of other players that have signed up for the event/mixer.  The date and time are used for selecting who goes to the mixer (or not) when a host club enforces the player limit.

When I started as a Club Rep in MISGA, I found the job of preparing the player’s list for a mixer to be time consuming particularly when I’d rather be playing golf.  I decided to somehow automate the process so I could do it from the comfort of my home.  Several years ago I succeeded and have been using it since.  Now in just a matter of minutes, I am able to prepare the player’s list and send it to the host club.  In addition, the Associates at my MISGA Club are able to sign up for an event/mixer anywhere they have Internet access.  My initial attempt at automation was usable and my fellow associates urged me on by letting me know how much they liked signing up for events online from their home.  For the Associates that do not have access to a computer, they use a “Buddy System” to help their buddies without computers. 

Now it just a few moments after the signups for the event/mixer have closed, I can have the computer prepare the player’s list and email it to myself or anyone else. For the host clubs that require a fax versus email, I print the email at home then fax it.  I would be remiss if I led you to believe there is no work involved in getting the information in the web site’s database for the year.  Inputting the schedule in the database takes some effort but is no more than inputting the schedule in a computer.  One nice thing about having the online schedule is that when it is updated, the changes are available to all you Associates with computers.  If an Associate wants a printed copy of the schedule. It can be printed from their browser.  Updating the handicaps is another task that needs to be done twice a month during the Active Season.  Currently the system supports downloading the handicap indexes from the web site for the Maryland State Golf Association (MSGA).  Then applying them to the web site.  That takes about five to ten minutes each time.  These two tasks require a little experience of using a computer.

Four MISGA clubs have been using a predecessor web site for over three years now and are very happy with how it performs.  Those clubs are:  Musket Ridge GC; Cross Creek GC; Rattlewood GC; and Compass Pointe GC.  They each had to have a web site hosting account in order to install the software.  Since they have been using their web sites, other MISGA clubs have approached me about them implementing it.  I think the costs have been a deterrent.   Last year, a shared web site hosting account became available and I was able to modify the web site software so that multiple clubs could operate using the same hosting account.  This offers a considerable reduction in the costs to operate the web sites.   With separate hosting accounts, the cost is about $100 or more per year for each club.  With the shared Hosting account it is $50 per year each for four clubs.  As more clubs start using the web site, the cost per club will be reduced.  When new clubs start using the web site during the year, I’ll reduce the price and give refunds.  I’m not in this to make money but to provide a service that I believe is useful to many.   Since I have implemented the multi-club MISGA Sign-up Web site three clubs, Montgomery Country Club, the Links at Challedon Golf Club, and Westminster National Golf Club have started to use it.  In addition, Cross Creek moved their previous web site to the multi-club web site because their hosting account was expiring.  All the clubs are happy that they are using the MISGA SignUp Web Site, 

So what does this web site look like?  I’ve set up a demonstration site that uses the operational web site.  You can visit the site and sign up for one or more of factitious mixers at http://demo.misga-signup.org.  You will need the access code of DEMO to sign up for a mixer.  Go ahead and give it a try.  You cannot hurt anything that cannot be fixed.

Below is a sample of the email that is generated by the web site. 

If you are interested in seeing the Administrative portion of the web site, send me an email at tom.rowlett@misga-signup.org and I’ll get you set up.

If you are interested in implementing the MISGA Signup Web Site at you club or have any questions, contact: 

Tom Rowlett
tom.rowlett@misga-signup.org
(301) 473-4785
5203 Hayloft Ct.
Frederick, MD 21703.