In an attempt to better manage the pre-game registration and post-game compilation of paper and digital scorecards, I hope the following process is less cumbersome than our last game.
Registering
Register and pay your game fee ($25) as we normally do. At this time any uncollected Cash $ Prizes, including lucky numbers from last week, and any NTP / Rundown balls will be distributed to those owed. I will also handout your Scorecard and provide/confirm with you your Daily Handicap for the day.
If this is your 1st game this year, or are a new member, I will provide you with the Application / Renewal form when you register for you to take away and complete. Once you have completed the form, then return the form, pay your membership fee ($20) and collect your IDVGA and QVGU membership cards.
Scoring
We will be recording all results digitally, but we still all still need to complete a paper scorecard.
Digital scoring. This is where everyone can help.
Most players now have the Golf Australia App on their phone.
If you have the GA App on your phone, we encourage as many players as possible use the App please.
You can input your score as you play or input your round when you have finished and returned to the clubhouse. Either way works.
If you do not have the GA App, or do not feel comfortable using the digital version; that’s OK. Just return your paper scorecard and the committee will enter your scorecard for you.
Using the GA App
Like all new things it may seem overwhelming at first. However, I can assure you that once you have used the GA App it will become easier. To help you I have created a short video tutorial to help you step-by-step through the process. If you are reading this post now. Watch the video in the link below. I will also have this video playing continuously on a loop whilst we are all checking in.
One last thing. If you used the GA App and are comfortable using it, perhaps you could assist your other playing partner(s) and/or other players who have returned to the clubhouse to input their score in the GA App on their phone. Every little bit helps.
Welcome all. We hope you all are having a great holiday and are getting refreshed for a new season of exciting veterans golfing. This year promises to be beginning of a new era with the introduction of digital scoring via the Golf Australia (GA) Application (App) on your phone and the replacement of the old GolfLink program with the GA Web based Venue Management System (VMS).
The IDVGA Website has now been fully updated and is ready for the new season. Some playing conditions, fee and competition structure for 2026 have changed. I encourage you all to visit some of the other pages on this website and read and click on the associated links below to fully understand all the changes being introduced in and how it WILL impact you and your golfing experience this year.
2026 Programme
This year we will being playing 30 events (games) across 11 different venues. To add variety, in addition to our tradition STABLEFORD format, 2 events will be an AMBROSS format, with the 2 rounds of the Championship remaining a STROKE event. The full programme can be viewed on our website (idvga.com.au) or by clicking on the following link: 2026 Programme.
Fees
Membership Fee: The membership fee this year has been set at $20.
This fee will cover our anticipated running expenses and your QVGU membership card, with whom we are affiliated. In addition, your IDVGA membership will also entitle you automatic entry in the newly created Members Draw bonus cash reward competition.
The Members Draw has been established to encourage more comradery among members by having as many members as possible to remain in the club house till after the presentations. The Members Draw will be a “Jack Potting” prize that is drawn after the presentation of all the game result prizes. You MUST BE present to win. If the member number drawn is not present, the prize will JACKPOT to the following game.
Game Fee: The game fee this year has been set at $25 for every event, regardless of the venue.
The association will be charged a variety for Green Fee cost throughout the season by different clubs. To simplify the registration, process each morning before teeing off, the committee agreed that a standardized single fee would be more helpful, not only to the match committee, but also to our members. Game result, including Nearest the Pin and the ball rundown, prizes amount will be determined from the Game Fee pool, depending on the numbers playing on the day.
More good news though, this year we will not sell additional numbers in the lucky number raffle. Your Game Fee will now include automatically entry (2 numbers) in the Lucky Number raffle as an additional reward. The Lucky number raffle will be drawn immediately after the completion of the competition whilst the game results are being calculated. Players on the day DO NOT need to remain after the game or to be present to receive their prize if they win a prize in the lucky number raffle.
Modified Competition and Standardised Local Rules for 2026
The following changes to our competition and playing condition will apply from 2026 for ALL Games at ALL venues. Full details of these changes can be viewed on our website (idvga.com.au) or by clicking on the following link: Modified Competition and Standardised Local Rules for 2026 and scrolling down through the page.
Standardized Competition Rules. The Rules of Golf, with the following IDVGA Competition Local Rules will apply for ALL our competition events:
Alternative to Stroke and Distance for Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds. (Reference: Based on R&A Model Local Rule E-5).
Preferred Lie through the Green. (Reference: Based on R&A Model Local Rule E-3).
Line of sight relief. (Reference: Based on R&A Model Local Rule F-5).
Relief for Ball in Bunker. (Reference: Based on Rule 16.1c – Abnormal Course Condition).
The Competition. All IDVGA competitions will a Medley event, played in three Men’s Divisions, and a Ladies Division. These will be:
Men’s Division 1 – Scratch (0) up to Handicap 10,
Men’s Division 2 – Handicap 11 to 18,
Men’s Division 3 Handicap 19+, and a single
Ladies Division.
Digital Scoring
As most of you are aware, recently GA introduced their new website (golf.com.au) and digital phone App.
Members are encouraged to use the digital phone App competition scoring feature when playing in all future IDVGA competitions. However, all players will need to take a physical scorecard with them when playing until such times as they have successfully returned your digital scorecard via the App, and you and the match committee are sure your digital score has been CORRECTLY completed and uploaded into new Venue Management System (VMS) on the GA Website.
Those players using the digital phone App competition scoring feature, please view the tutorial video (click on the following link – GA-App-Scoring-Tutorial) BEFORE starting your round. I know the tutorial video may not be the best teaching video on the web, nor I the best narrator, but I hope the principles of using the digital phone App competition scoring feature comes across enough for you to use the APP.
For those who wish to continue to only use a physical scorecard, you will need to ensure that your score is entered into the many (4+) IDVGA laptop and tablet computers available in club house after the completion of your round. Committee members will be “manning” these computers to assist you with your score entry.
All players, DO NOT place your physical scorecard in the “VETS SCORECARD DROP BOX” until after your score has been successfully uploaded from your phone or entered in one of the computers in the club house.
Committee Members – please refer to the separate email I have sent you on how to upload scores into the new Venue Management System (VMS) on the GA Website.
Thank you ALL. Merry Christmas and happy (good golfing) new year.
