As you can clearly see from the two images in this post, support is now available for fivesomes in Golf Whiz!!!  This was a highly anticipated feature from a number of current customers and one that I'm sure will bring a smile to many faces.

As you see, not much has changed in the interface but for the additional player in the scoring and tally interfaces.

Coming up next:  iOS 7 support.  Note: Once I come out with a version that conforms to iOS 7, no further work will be done on the previous iOS 6 release.  In order to gain any new functionality from Golf Whiz releases from this point forward, you are going to have to be running iOS 7. 

Apple put their foot down pretty hard on developers with this new OS.  I surely like it but in order to maintain and operate a single app that supports both GUI paradigms is more than the indie developer can manage.

Oh well, onward and upward.

Phil

Version 2.5.5 is out!

A shout out to many of you for your constructive feedback.  This entire release is composed of enhancements sent in from active users!  Special shout out to Bryan and Kevin for providing some great new ideas.

Please update your reviews on iTunes for this new version!

major enhancement ::  Can now save default preferences for all bet settings.  You can save your bet values/preferences for the four ball bet and for your singles matches.  The nassau and skins "bet center" will  remember the settings you used the last time you were there. Note: first time using this version, you will have  to set the bet parameters one last time.

minor enhancement ::  Added course slope values in preparation for auto-calculation of a player's course handicap using the USGA formula for course handicap, using player's handicap index and course slope.

minor enhancement ::  Added name of golf course to the scoring page to provide more information to user.

minor enhancement ::  Replaced all "+" buttons with "New" buttons for clarity.  These are the buttons used when adding a new player, course, or scorecard. 

minor enhancement ::  Tapping a scorecard now launches edit-mode on that card or foursome-of-cards.

minor enhancement ::  New options now available for sending leader board join-codes.  Can now email, SMS, or Facebook post the code so that others can watch/participate with the leader board.  

Note: The leader board allows multiple foursomes playing at the same time to see a cloud-based leader board as they play.  (every foursome has to have a Golf Whiz user so that each group's scores can be sent up to the leader board.)

Play well.

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

New Features Coming in next release

Notice on the scoring page to the right that the name of the course is prominently displayed at the top of the screen.  This was placed here to reduce confusion. Seeing the name of the course here on the scoring page will reassure you that you are on the right 'track'.
















The "Skin Settings" image to the left represents the main screen used to calculate skins.  This screen will always "remember" the settings you used last time you were here.

The Nassau Settings screen to the right will also "remember" every setting from the last time you used that page.  No need to continually flip all the switches the way you like them - for each visit - Golf Whiz will now remember remember how you bet and will re-use the last settings every time in.















Notice on the screen to the left, that there is a "Save As Default" button.  This is the screen used to setup the fourball and this same screen is used to setup each of the six singles matches that can exist within your foursome.  When you tap this button in either context (fourball or singles), Golf Whiz will save the current settings as your default nassau bet values.  The nice thing is that it will distinguish between your fourball defaults and your singles defaults.

Play well.

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

Golf Whiz 2.5.4 released to Apple for review

Today, we released v2.5.4 to Apple for review.  It should be available for download in the next 3-5 days.  Here are the changes you can expect to see in this new release.

major enhancement :: black dots are displayed on the scoring page to show where shots are being given.  See in the image to the right that Dave Ambrose is a 5 handicap and is getting a shot on the current hole.  (#9 with hole handicap: 4).  Other player handicaps are shown beneath the player names.  

This works for the main 2-man match (i.e. the four ball) only.  Note also that if you have selected the option for "Stroke off low man in the group", the low man's handicap will be adjusted up or down to 0 and the other 3 players in the group will be adjusted in the same direction for the same number of strokes.  (When this feature is activated, a message appears at the bottom of this page indicating that handicaps have been adjusted.)

major enhancement :: now supports 9 hole skins calculations where handicaps are being applied.  We had several 9-hole leagues contact us with this request.  (See toggle bar in the screenshot for All 18, Front Only, and Back Only)

minor enhancement :: modified Facebook posts to omit the Golf Whiz icon, which was making the Facebook post convert to a Facebook picture upload/post.  Now Golf Whiz Facebook posts are textual only.

Play well.

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

v2.5.3 is released to iTunes

Today, we released v2.5.3 to Apple for review.  It should be available for download in the next 3-5 days.  Here are the changes you can expect to see in this new release.

major enhancement: greatly increased the amount of window space given to the leader board.  Now, the leader board and the chat window are separate windows that you toggle between, rather than the two windows splitting a single screen in half.  Leaderboard/chat window toggle buttons now moved to the bottom of that screen.

minor enhancement: fixed the spinning activity indicators so that they spin properly when updating/refreshing the chat window as well as the leader board.  The spinner also now works when the leader board is first displayed.  (the spinner used to only come up on refresh - it did not appear on initial load).

minor enhancement: swapped out the Facebook integration engine.  Provides cleaner posts to Facebook.  Pictured throughout this post are some examples of the new posts you can make to facebook.

minor enhancement: when the leader board is displayed, the "show join codes" button was already depressed and can not be pressed again until the "update leader board" button is tapped.  Now, either button is ready to be tapped when the leader board is displayed.

minor enhancement: changed the wording on the main buttons used to enter scorecard info.  One now says, "Enter Completed Scorecards" and the other, "Play Golf Now".  

minor bug fix: The email that is generated when sending a leader board "join code" to someone did not correctly display the name of the event (i.e. leader board title) in the body of the email.

minor enhancement: fixed leader board issue 

Play well.

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

Using Golf Whiz to calculate bets for up to 20 players at a time

We have had a number inquiries recently about calculating bets for/with players that are outside your foursome.  That is, if you are playing in a group of 20 or so players (say 5 foursomes), or even two foursomes, you may have bets with players that are playing behind or ahead of you.  Obviously, you can't enter their scores into Golf Whiz until the round is complete.  Let's go through the process...

So you are playing in a foursome and you have bets that only apply to the guys in your immediate group.  Yet, you have singles (nassau), team nassau bets, etc... with other players ahead or behind.  Here is how you will be able to use Golf Whiz to handle both.

First, you will begin by going to the "score cards" tab and clicking on the "Play Golf Now" button.  Go immediately to "Settings" and setup the players in your foursome and the bets you have that apply to your foursome.  You will use Golf Whiz to track the scores and bets for your foursome, "live" as you play.  Golf Whiz will show you the status of every bet (in your foursome) after every hole you score.  Once you are done with 18 holes and have seen the win/loss status for every bet in your foursome, tap the "save" button to save the four score cards for your immediate group.

Now, once you reach the clubhouse and order beers for everyone, you will need to enter the

completed score cards for each of the other players.  So if you are part of a larger group of players, (say 2 foursomes), you will need to go to the screen shown on the right and tap on "Enter Completed Score Card(s)".  You will need to enter the scores for each of the other 4 players.  Once all 8 score cards are in, you will tap on the "Bets" tab (see bottom right of picture), to access the bet calculator for the larger group of players.  You will then see the two buttons shown in the image to the left...  From here, you will have access to all score cards entered for the entire day and will be able to perform both simple and highly complex bet calculations.  (See image on right).

Please note the youtube video that was recorded to show this process.  The video is located here: Using Golf Whiz bet calculator for up to 20 players

Play well.

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

Personal Records for Each Player

The image to the right is another one of the reports generated by Golf Whiz.  This report is access from the "Players" tab.  Once there, you will see a scrolling list of all the players that have been added to your Golf Whiz.  Tap on one of them to enter this report area.  Note the tabs at the top of this window labeled, "Scorecards", "Records", "facebook", and "email".  The screenshot to the right was taken, obviously, while viewing the "Records" tab.

This report shows many other metrics for the player but I wanted to more fully describe this scoring tabulation.  Golf Whiz searches the database for all the holes this player has ever played and it calculates that players scoring average on par 3's, par 4's, and par 5's and then renders the following data values for each: 

• Number of each hole type played
• The player's scoring average on each type of hole
• The total number of birdies the player has ever made on that type of hole
• The % of times the player birdies that type of hole.

It is fun to compare these figures across the different players you play with most often.  We have discovered that we have a "par 3 specialist" in our crew...

Play well.

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

New LeaderBoard Layout!

New leaderboard layout coming soon.  This will be in the 2.5.3 release which already has the following additional enhancements and bug fixes incorporated:

Note: sadly, we are getting ahead of Apple's review process with the new releases of our app.  We are still waiting for Apple to release version 2.5.2 to you all on iTunes!!!  We will submit 2.5.3 immediately after Apple gets our previous release out the door.  Come on, Apple!

Regardless, Version 2.5.3 will contain the following, (at least)...

major enhancement: greatly increased the amount of window space given to the leader board.  Now, the leader board and the chat window are separate windows that you toggle between, rather than the two windows splitting a single screen in half.  Leaderboard/chat window toggle buttons now moved to the bottom of that screen.  Note the improvements in the screenshot to the right.  

For the uninitiated, the Golf Whiz Leaderboard provides you with the ability to view many player scores right from your iPhone while you are on the course competing in the same event.  The "event" can be your regular 3 foursomes that play every Saturday or it can be a 100 person event, etc...

minor enhancement: fixed the spinning activity indicators so that they spin properly when updating/refreshing the chat window as well as the leader board.  The spinner also now works when the leader board is first displayed.  (the spinner used to only come up on refresh - it did not appear on initial load).

minor enhancement: when the leader board is displayed, the "show join codes" button is already depressed and can not be pressed again until the "update leader board" button is tapped.  Now, either button is ready to be tapped when the leader board is displayed.

minor enhancement: changed the wording on the main buttons used to enter scorecard info.  One now says, "Enter Completed Scorecards" and the other, "Play Golf Now".  

minor bug fix: The email that is generated when sending a leader board "join code" to someone did not correctly display the name of the event (i.e. leader board title) in the body of the email.

Play well.

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

Notice the chart listed to the right.  This is one of the reports generated by Golf Whiz.  It shows the difficulty ranking for each hole, based on actual scores recorded for each hole.  There are 213 rounds of golf represented here by 25 unique players.

Probably the most surprising result shown on the right is the ranking of hole number 2.  The handicap shown on the score card indicates that this is the 16th most difficult hole, when, in actuality, it is the 3rd hardest hole on the course.  Interestingly, almost every other hole is well represented by the USGA hole handicap ratings.

Play well.

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

Ok, we goofed, but only a small goof

We just released version 2.5.1 which included the following enhancements:

-- major: when the feature 2-man nassau bet amount was set, it would revert back to $2, until you set it a second time, then it would stick.

-- minor: when you hit "save" after specifying bet details, you are returned all the way back to the dashboard rather than having to hit "done" 4 times to get back to the dashboard.

-- minor:  after scoring a hole, user is returned to either the front9 scorecard or the back9 scorecard, depending on the current hole.  (Used to be returned to the dashboard each time).

Shortly after it left our hands, we realized we'd omitted one other small bug fix that we had readied for this release.  So we have now issued another release, v2.5.2 that has the fix.  Here is a description of the current issue in the latest release:  If you setup a two-man team nassau bet and accept the default bet settings, the bet values will revert to an invalid number - ie the bet values for the front nine, back nine, and the full 18, will all be $-1...  Workaround: Just 'tap' your way into the bet settings for the two-man team nassau bet and set them the way you want them, tap on save and all will be fine.  We expect the fix to be released by Apple around April 24.

Play well.

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

Check out these videos that show you how to use Golf Whiz

Golf Whiz - the cloud-based leaderboard.

This video will give you a good introduction to the new "cloud based" leaderboard functionality that is built into Golf Whiz 2.5.  It provides you with a 3-way demonstration of the leaderboard in action and also provides you with ideas of how the leaderboard can be used, aside from the obvious uses.

Enjoy the new leaderboard feature.  There is no charge for using this feature!

The next video will take you through the new "live scoring" features of Golf Whiz that were introduced in v2.0 of the app.  Enjoy!

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

New Release Sent to Apple

We have just submitted a small .release to iTunes.  We have amended four items:

major: when the feature 2-man nassau bet amount was set, it would revert back to $2, until you set it a second time, then it would stick.

minor: The icons on the dashboard were hard to read and they would stick occasionally.  The new ones (see to the right) are easy to read and are lightning fast with no "stickage".

minor: when you hit "save" after specifying bet details, you are returned all the way back to the dashboard rather than having to hit "done" 4 times to get back to the dashboard.

minor:  after scoring a hole, user is returned to either the front9 scorecard or the back9 scorecard, depending on the current hole.  (Used to be returned to the dashboard each time).

We anticipate this release to be available for download on or before Saturday, April 20.

Please visit us at our other web locales!

facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp

youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp

twitter:   https://twitter.com/golfwhizApp

blog:   http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com

iTunes App Store:   http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

Single scorecards, the feature match, and the Golf Whiz Leaderboard.

Some of you have been asking for some clarification on when to use the single scorecard entry, the "feature match" scoring option, and the Leaderboard. Let's say you have 12 players (three foursomes) and you want to use golf whiz to track as many scores and bets as possible.  Here are the bets you have:

Inside your foursome:
- You have 2 singles nassau bets against two guys in your foursome
- The 4 of you are playing your own separate skins game
- You and your partner are playing a nassau against the other two
- The 4 of you have a dots/trash game within the group

Across the 12 players:

- All 12 of you are playing a big skins game
- You and your partner (in your foursome) have a two-man nassau bet against 4 other two-man pairings across the other foursomes.
- You have 5 singles nassau matches against players in the other two foursomes.
- There are many other singles and two-man nassau bets among the 12 golfers that are spanning the 3 groups.


So lots of action!  How does Golf Whiz handle this scenario?

Today, with Golf Whiz 2.5, here is how you will navigate.

First, create a leaderboard (from within the "feature match" button) and distribute the "join code" to at least one other player in each of the other two foursomes.  The leaderboard is the newest feature in Golf Whiz an is in its early stages of feature development.  All it does for now is allow all 12 players to see all player scores as they are entered.  It provides an obvious benefit and has already received great feedback from many.  The 'chat feature' at the top of the leaderboard has also been well received.  But that is it...  You can see the scores of 12 players.  Period.  That is, those 12 players and the scorecards do not live on your iPhone - they remain in the cloud and are only viewable with your iPhone.

Next, from within the "feature match" window, you will setup all the bets inside your foursome, as listed above.  You can see live status for every one of these bets immediately after each hole as it is scored.  Also, those scores are immediately posted to the leaderboard, (in the cloud), for all to see.

When you putt out and enter your scores on the 18th, you will need to tap on "Save" from within the feature match and this will preserve each of the rounds played in your foursome.  You will also immediately be able to view the win/loss results for all the bets within your foursome.  Again, while you will have access to the leaderboard and are clearly able to see all the other player scores, their scorecards are not stored inside Golf Whiz on your phone.  You will have to enter them using the "add a single scorecard" button on the main Score Cards screen.

Once you have entered the other 8 cards, all 12 player scores are on your iPhone and you may then proceed to the "Bets" tab at the bottom right of the app, and work out all the other bets that you have across the 12 players, as listed above.

In the next release, we are looking to allow you to "import scores from the cloud".  You will be able to simply download the scorecards from the leaderboard into Golf Whiz on your iPhone.  You will be able to immediately go to work on any/all bets for the day!

A parting comment: 

You might wonder why anyone would create a Golf Whiz leaderboard for only himself, 2, or 4 players, etc... This is sometimes used by players that want someone who is not at the course, to be able to follow their round of golf remotely. Imaging a grandfather in Kansas who wants to follow his grandson's high school match being played in Virginia... The kid can score his play with GW while the grand dad follows the leaderboard from kansas (and possibly interacts with the kid over the chat feature during the round).

Hit us with some comments below.

_______________________________________________________________

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facebook link:       https://www.facebook.com/golfwhizapp
youtube link:         http://www.youtube.com/user/golfwhizapp
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blog link:             http://golfwhizapp.blogspot.com
iTunes App Store: http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

Golf Whiz 2.5 is out!

Well, it is out!  Now it is up to you to take advantage.  The new Golf Whiz v2.5 sports an  easy-to-use cloud-based leaderBoard capability that can be created by the user in 10 seconds and used by the player to post the score cards for himself or his 4-some up to the cloud.  Many players/4-somes can contribute to the same leaderboard.  This feature appeals to the:

• Regular saturday/sunday group of golfers that play every weekend and would enjoy being able to see a "live" scoreboard.  

• Tournaments such as two-man or 4-man scramble events where each 4-some is using Golf Whiz as their score card while out on the course.  Once a hole is scored for your 4-some, all 4 scores are uplifted to the leaderboard in the cloud.  All players in the event are seeing the leaderboard "live".  So fun.

• GrandPa or GrandMa may want to follow their grand daughter or grand son who is playing in a high school match far away.  The kid is posting his/her scores to a Golf Whiz leaderboard that he/she created in 10 seconds.  Grandma and GrandPa can follow along and even communicate encouraging words "live" via the score card's chat feature.  This one feature alone is going to change the landscape of how amateur golf is represented on the technology front.

• Mom is playing in round two of the club championship and wants to share the status of the match in real time with friends and family across the country.  Simply create a leaderboard, email the "join code" to other golf whiz owners who are then able to join the leaderboard as an observer and follow along.  Note: every leaderboard provides the ability to chat with all other leaderboard participants.  So fan-to-fan or fan-to-player, or any combination of communications is possible during play.   So fun.

We are looking to release a supplemental app on iTunes that provides the owner the ability to simply follow leaderboards...  It is a stripped down interface that makes it ultra-easy to follow golf scoring results.  Interested in hearing your thoughts on that!...  

Hit us with some comments below.

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Happy Birthday, Golf Whiz, born Apr 7, 2012

It has been an amazing year!  Many thanks to those that have interacted with us regarding the product with enhancement requests, bug reports, and great reviews. I must say, for a "word of mouth" app on the iTunes store, it is easy to get lost in the 500,000 applications that now adorn the vast number of categorical listings.  The reviews that you all have provided are invaluable to the adoption and purchase rate of the application.

NOTE: every time a new version of the application is released, you should come back into iTunes and update your existing review with fresh sentiments.

Having just released version 2.5 that provides you with free access to create a "cloud-based leaderboard" just in time for the spring season, Golf Whiz is looking to have a banner 2nd year!

Spread the word!following this blog!

Happy Birthday, Golf Whiz

Please join in the discourse with us on one or all of the following social media platforms!

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iTunes App Store: http://appstore.com/golfwhiz

Golf Whiz 2.5 goes into final review by Apple

The current version of Golf Whiz, v2.0, is readily available on the Apple iTunes store at Golf Whiz on iTunes. The latest release, v2.5 has just been sent to Apple for review.  Today, Apple updated the status of the new version to "In Review", a phase which typically lasts 20 or 30 minutes before they release it for sale.  Well, that status change occurred at noon today and still not update.  I'm confident it will be cleared some time tomorrow.

What's new in v2.5?  The most significant feature enhancement in this release is the new "cloud-based leader board" feature that allows a group to view the scores of everyone in the larger group.  Supports many many (over 100 players).  Observers can follow the leaderboard from home, pro shop, 19th hole, work, or from the group behind you!  It also has a chat (read "trash talk") feature that allows each participant to communicate to the larger group.  Great for scrambles, tournaments, outings, or even for 2 4-somes playing on any given Saturday!  Note: A leaderboard has no lower limit, that is, you can have a leaderboard for your single round of golf.  Say you are playing in a qualifier, the club championship, or a loaded golf Order of Merit event, you can start your own leaderboard and invite, (sending email is built-in to the app), your friends or family to follow your round as you score it!

What's next?  Our plan is to deliver a separate app to accompany Golf Whiz that provides an extremely easy to use "Follow the Leaders" feature.  It will prompt the user to enter a Golf Whiz LeaderBoard Code and instantly, that leader board will be presented.  That's it - the new app would be a Golf Whiz Leader Board Viewer...    We envision this being most popular with interested parties that are remote from the actual competitors.  For example, the pro in the proshop, family members at home or abroad.    Interested in your thoughts on this idea.  We also plan to harness the power of the cloud in order to simplify (or eliminate) the need to 'hand enter' rounds of golf played in your larger group, outside your 4some.  Since the betting side of Golf Whiz supports up to 20 players at once, those scorecards of players outside your 4some have historically needed to be added one at a time, once all the players had reached the 19th hole.  While entering a scorecard into Golf Whiz is a breeze, doing it at all should be unnecessary now that those other cards are readily available in the cloud.  We just need to work out the most user-friendly approach to handling course and player overlap from one Golf Whiz powered iPhone to the next.