Scoring Portal

The Scoring Portal is a mobile-optimized interface that lets golf trip members enter scores, view leaderboards, and track competitions from any device without needing full dashboard access or an app download.

Accessing the Portal

There are two ways to access the Scoring Portal:

Using a Portal Access Link

Trip organizers can generate unique access links for each player. When you receive your link:

1. Open the link on your phone or tablet
2. The system validates your access automatically
3. You’ll see a welcome message with your name
4. After a moment, you’re redirected to the Portal Home

Access links are time-limited (typically valid for the duration of your trip) and tied to your player profile. If your link expires or stops working, contact your trip organizer for a new one.

Example link format:

https://syncedgolf.com/play/trips/abc123/access?token=xyz...

Signing In with Your Account

If you have a SyncedGolf account:

1. Go to the portal URL or use the link your organizer shared
2. If prompted, tap Sign In
3. Enter your email and password
4. You’ll be taken directly to the Portal Home

Signed-in users don’t need access tokens - your account automatically grants access to trips you’re part of.

Portal Navigation

The Scoring Portal uses a mobile menu (hamburger sheet) for top-level navigation:

Navigation remains touch-optimized for one-handed mobile use.

Portal Home

The Portal Home gives you a quick overview of your trip:

Trip Header

A branded card showing:

• Trip name and destination
• Date range for the trip
• Total player count

Quick Actions

Two large buttons for the most common tasks:

• Enter Scores - Jump directly to scoring (shows count of active rounds)
• Leaderboards - View current standings instantly

Today’s Schedule

See what’s happening today:

• Active rounds highlighted with a green indicator
• Upcoming rounds with start times
• Quick “Enter” button to jump straight to scoring

Championship Standings

Preview of the top 5 players in overall trip standings with:

• Position (with T prefix for ties)
• Player name
• Score to par (E for even, +/- for over/under)

Ryder Cup Score

If your trip has team competition, see the current team totals at a glance with team colors.

Starting a Round

When it’s time to play:

1. Tap Enter Scores on the Home screen or navigate to Rounds
2. Find your round in the list (active rounds show a green indicator)
3. Tap the round to open the scoring interface
4. Your scorecard loads with the first unscored hole displayed

If you don’t see your round, the organizer may not have assigned you to a pairing yet. Contact them to confirm your tee time and group.

Selecting Tees

If multiple tee options are available:

1. You’ll be prompted to select your tees when first accessing the round
2. Choose from available options (Championship, Regular, Forward, etc.)
3. Course handicaps adjust based on your selection
4. Your selection is saved for the round

Entering Scores on Mobile

The mobile scorecard is designed for fast, one-handed entry while walking the course.

Navigating Between Holes

Swipe navigation: Swipe left to go to the next hole, swipe right for the previous hole. A minimum swipe of 50 pixels triggers navigation.

Hole strip: The horizontal strip at the top shows all 18 holes. Tap any hole number to jump directly to it. Scored holes show colors:

• Yellow - Eagle or better
• Red - Birdie
• Green - Par
• Blue - Bogey
• Dark Blue - Double bogey or worse

Arrow buttons: Use the large left/right arrows next to the hole number for precise navigation.

Entering Your Score

Each hole displays the hole number prominently along with par and stroke index. You have multiple input options:

Quick score buttons: Pre-calculated buttons show common scores (par-2 through par+3). Tap once to select.

Plus/Minus buttons: Large circular +/- buttons increment or decrement from the current score. Hold for rapid changes.

Direct input: Tap the score field to open a numeric keypad. Type your score directly (supports 1-15).

Saving Your Score

Once you’ve entered a score:

1. The score name appears below (Birdie, Par, Bogey, etc.)
2. A colored badge shows your score relative to par
3. Tap the green Save Score button to confirm

The scorecard automatically advances to the next hole after saving. If you’re on hole 18, you’ll see a “Round complete!” confirmation.

Score Colors and Names

Viewing Your Full Scorecard

Tap the View button in the header to open your complete 18-hole scorecard in a bottom sheet. This shows:

• All scores by hole with colors
• Front 9 total
• Back 9 total
• 18-hole total
• Running score to par

Hole Information

Tap the info icon (i) next to the hole number to see:

• Par for the hole
• Stroke index (handicap ranking)
• Your current score
• Visual scoring guide showing what each score means

Mini Scorecard Footer

At the bottom of the scoring screen, a compact summary shows:

• Front 9 total
• Back 9 total
• Overall total

This updates in real-time as you enter scores.

Understanding the Leaderboard

Navigate to Standings from the bottom menu to view leaderboards.

Live Rankings

Leaderboards update in real-time as scores are entered. Each entry shows:

• Position - Ranking with T prefix for ties
• Player name - Display name or guest name
• Score to par - E for even, red numbers for under par, blue for over
• Thru - Holes completed (e.g., “Thru 12”)

Leaderboard Types

Depending on your trip’s competitions, you may see multiple leaderboards:

Tap tabs or use the dropdown to switch between competitions.

Score Display

Scores show in golf-standard format:

• E - Even par
• -3 - Three under par (red text)
• +5 - Five over par (blue text)

Using Outdoor Mode

Outdoor Mode increases screen contrast and brightness for better visibility in direct sunlight.

Enabling Outdoor Mode

1. Navigate to Settings from the bottom menu
2. Find Outdoor Mode under Display settings
3. Toggle the switch to enable

When active:

• An “Outdoor Mode” badge appears in the header
• The display shifts to high-contrast mode
• Your preference is saved and persists across sessions

What Changes

Outdoor Mode applies these enhancements:

• Increased brightness - 15% brighter backgrounds
• Higher contrast - 20% more contrast between elements
• Stronger shadows - Elements pop off the screen
• Optimized score colors - Eagle/birdie/par/bogey colors tuned for sunlight
• Reduced transparency - Solid colors instead of semi-transparent overlays

When to Use It

Enable Outdoor Mode when:

• Playing in bright sunlight
• Having trouble seeing the screen outdoors
• Glare makes it hard to read scores

Disable it when playing in low light or indoors for a more comfortable viewing experience.

Offline Scoring and Sync

The portal works even when you lose cell coverage on the course.

How Offline Mode Works

1. Automatic detection: The portal detects when you go offline
2. Visual indicator: An “Offline” badge with a WiFi-off icon appears in the header
3. Local storage: Scores save to your device using IndexedDB
4. Background sync: When connection returns, scores upload automatically

What Works Offline

• Viewing your scorecard and previously loaded data
• Entering new scores (saved locally)
• Navigating between holes and screens

What Requires Connection

• Initial portal load (cache the page before your round)
• Live leaderboard updates
• Syncing locally saved scores to the server

Best Practices for Offline Play

• Load before you play: Open your scorecard while still connected (in the clubhouse or at the first tee)
• Keep the tab open: Don’t close or refresh the browser tab during your round
• Don’t clear data: Avoid clearing browser data mid-round
• Watch for sync: After regaining connection, verify scores synced (offline badge disappears)

Sync Conflicts

If someone else submits a score for the same hole while you’re offline:

• The server version takes priority (last-write-wins)
• You’ll see a notification about the difference
• Contact your playing partners to confirm the correct score
• Trip organizers can manually correct scores if needed

Settings and Preferences

Access settings from the bottom navigation menu.

Display Settings

Input Settings

Note: Haptic feedback requires a device that supports vibration. iPhones and most Android phones support this feature.

Account Information

The Settings screen shows:

• Your display name
• Access status (Signed In or Guest/Portal Access)
• Trip you’re currently accessing
• Access expiration date (for token-based access)

Help and Documentation

Tap Help & Docs to open documentation in a new tab for detailed guidance.

Sign Out

Tap Sign Out to:

1. Clear your session from the device
2. Remove stored portal token
3. Return to the main site

You’ll need your access link or account credentials to re-enter the portal.

Tips for Best Experience

Before Your Round

• Test your access - Open the portal link the day before to ensure it works
• Charge your phone - Keep battery above 50%; bring a portable charger
• Enable settings - Turn on Outdoor Mode if expecting bright conditions
• Bookmark the page - Add to home screen for quick access

During Your Round

• Enter scores immediately - Record each hole right after finishing for accuracy
• Use quick buttons - The pre-set score buttons are fastest for common scores
• Check at the turn - Review the leaderboard during the halfway break
• Protect your phone - Keep it in a shaded pocket when not in use

After Your Round

• Review your scorecard - Tap View to see your full 18-hole card
• Verify sync - Ensure the offline badge is gone (scores uploaded)
• Check standings - See where you finished on the leaderboard
• Report errors - Contact the trip organizer if any scores need correction

Device Compatibility

Recommended Browsers

Minimum Requirements

• iOS 14+ or Android 10+
• Modern browser with JavaScript enabled
• Internet connection for initial load

Screen Sizes

• Phones: Optimized for 360px - 428px width
• Tablets: Works in portrait mode
• Desktop: Functional but mobile-first design

Side Games

The Scoring Portal lets you track side games and view results in real-time as scores are entered.

Viewing Skins Games

Skins games are hole-by-hole competitions where the lowest score on a hole wins that “skin.”

To view skins results:

1. Navigate to Standings from the bottom menu
2. Tap the Skins tab or select from the dropdown
3. View the hole-by-hole breakdown

Each row shows:

Understanding Carryovers

When two or more players tie for the lowest score on a hole, no one wins that skin. If carryovers are enabled:

1. The skin “carries over” to the next hole
2. The next hole becomes worth 2 skins
3. If another tie occurs, it carries again (3 skins, etc.)
4. A single winner claims all accumulated skins

Example:

• Hole 5: All players tie with par - no winner, carryover
• Hole 6: All tie again - no winner, 2 carryovers
• Hole 7: Player A wins with birdie - wins 3 skins (holes 5, 6, and 7)

The skins leaderboard shows a running total of skins won by each player and their total value based on the skin amount set by the organizer.

Nassau Bet Tracking

Nassau is a three-part bet covering the front 9, back 9, and overall 18 holes.

To view Nassau results:

1. Navigate to Standings
2. Tap the Nassau tab
3. View the three-segment breakdown

Nassau segments:

Each segment shows:

• Current leader and margin (e.g., “2 UP”)
• Holes completed out of total
• Status: “In Progress” or “Final”

Understanding Press Bets:

A press is a new side bet that can start mid-round:

• Auto-press: Triggers automatically when a player falls behind by a set number of holes (typically 2)
• Manual press: Player-initiated to “double down” and try to recover losses

Press bets appear below the main Nassau segments with their own standings.

Reading Settlement Reports

After rounds complete, the portal calculates who owes whom.

To view settlements:

1. Navigate to Settings
2. Tap Settlement Report (if available)
3. View your net position

The settlement report shows:

Settlements combine all side games (skins, Nassau, point games) into simplified transactions. Instead of multiple payments between players, the system calculates the minimum number of transactions needed.

Settlement status indicators:

• Pending - Payment not yet made
• Paid - Marked as settled by both parties
• Disputed - One party contests the amount

Offline Scoring and Sync

The portal is designed to work reliably on golf courses where cell coverage is often poor.

What Happens When You Lose Connection

When internet connectivity drops:

1. Automatic detection - The portal instantly detects the loss of connection
2. Offline badge appears - A red “Offline” indicator with WiFi-off icon shows in the header
3. Scoring continues - You can still enter scores normally
4. Local storage - Scores save to your device’s IndexedDB storage
5. Background queue - Each score is queued for upload when connectivity returns

You can continue playing and scoring without interruption. The portal prioritizes your ability to record scores over real-time sync.

How Scores Sync When Back Online

When connectivity returns:

1. Connection detected - The portal notices network availability
2. Queue processed - Stored scores upload in order (oldest first)
3. Conflict check - Server validates against any scores already submitted
4. Badge clears - The “Offline” indicator disappears when queue is empty
5. Leaderboard updates - Your scores appear on the live leaderboard

The sync process runs automatically in the background. You don’t need to do anything special.

Visual Indicators for Sync Status

The portal provides clear feedback about sync status:

In Settings, you can see:

• How many scores are queued
• Last successful sync time
• Current connection status

Troubleshooting Sync Issues

Scores not syncing after reconnecting:

1. Check the “Offline” badge has disappeared
2. Pull down to refresh the page
3. Wait 10-15 seconds for background sync
4. Check Settings for pending score count
5. If stuck, try toggling airplane mode on/off

Seeing unexpected scores:

If someone else submitted a score while you were offline:

1. The server version takes priority (last-write-wins)
2. You’ll see a brief notification about the difference
3. Verify with your playing partners
4. Contact the organizer if correction needed

Lost scores (rare):

If you cleared browser data while offline:

1. Locally queued scores may be lost
2. Re-enter any missing scores manually
3. Verify against your physical scorecard
4. The organizer can make corrections if needed

Best practices:

• Load the portal while on WiFi before your round
• Keep the browser tab open (don’t close it)
• Don’t clear browser data mid-round
• Verify sync completed before leaving the course

Using Outdoor Mode

Outdoor Mode optimizes the display for visibility in bright sunlight conditions common on golf courses.

How to Enable/Disable

Enable Outdoor Mode:

1. Tap Settings in the bottom navigation
2. Find Outdoor Mode under Display settings
3. Toggle the switch ON
4. An “Outdoor Mode” badge appears in the header

Disable Outdoor Mode:

1. Return to Settings
2. Toggle Outdoor Mode OFF
3. The badge disappears and normal display resumes

Your preference saves automatically and persists across sessions. The setting is stored locally on your device.

What It Changes Visually

Outdoor Mode applies CSS filters that enhance visibility:

Specific enhancements:

• Backgrounds become slightly brighter
• Text stands out more against backgrounds
• Button borders become more defined
• Score color badges (eagle, birdie, par, bogey) use adjusted hues
• Modal backgrounds become solid instead of translucent

When to Use It

Enable Outdoor Mode when:

• Playing in direct sunlight
• Struggling to see the screen outdoors
• Screen appears washed out
• Sun glare makes reading difficult
• Morning or afternoon rounds with low sun angle

Disable Outdoor Mode when:

• Playing in shade or overcast conditions
• Indoors (clubhouse, cart barn)
• Evening rounds with low light
• The high contrast feels uncomfortable

Tips for best visibility:

1. Combine with maximum phone brightness
2. Position phone to avoid direct sun reflection
3. Cup your hand around the screen if needed
4. Clean your screen to reduce smudges
5. Consider a matte screen protector for anti-glare

There is no battery impact from Outdoor Mode - it only changes CSS display filters and doesn’t affect phone brightness settings.

Related Documentation

• Trips Portal E2E Lifecycle - Full portal journey and acceptance checklist
• Trips Dashboard E2E Lifecycle - Organizer flow from setup to closeout
• Trip Portal Feature Overview - What the portal offers
• Portal Admin Guide - Managing access links and side games
• Scoring Portal FAQ - Common questions and troubleshooting
• Scoring & Leaderboards - General scoring features