Scoring Portal FAQ

Common questions about accessing and using the Scoring Portal during your golf trip.

Access & Authentication

How do I get my portal access link?

Your trip organizer sends you an access link. Here’s how to request one:

1. Contact your trip organizer directly
2. Ask them to send your personal portal link
3. The link arrives via text, email, or messaging app
4. Tap the link on your phone to access the portal

If you don’t have the organizer’s contact info, check any trip communication channels (group text, email thread, etc.).

My access link isn’t working. What should I do?

Common reasons and solutions:

If you see “Access Denied” or “Invalid Token,” the link has expired or been revoked. Contact your trip organizer for a fresh link.

Can I access the portal without a link?

Yes, if you have a SyncedGolf account:

1. Go to syncedgolf.com and sign in
2. Navigate to your trips
3. Select the trip you want to access
4. The portal loads automatically

Account access is recommended for frequent players who participate in multiple trips.

How long does my access last?

Token-based access (via link) expires based on trip settings:

• Typically expires 1-2 weeks after the trip ends
• Organizer can extend or revoke access anytime
• Your expiration date shows in Settings

Account-based access has no expiration as long as you remain a trip participant.

Can I share my access link with others?

No. Access links are player-specific:

• Each link identifies you as a specific player
• Sharing would allow others to enter scores as you
• Organizers can generate unique links for each player

If someone needs access, have them contact the trip organizer.

Connectivity & Offline

What happens if I lose internet connection?

The portal continues working offline:

1. Scores save to your device locally using IndexedDB
2. An “Offline” badge with a WiFi-off icon appears in the header
3. When connection returns, scores sync automatically
4. You never lose entered data

For best results, load the portal while on WiFi before heading to the course.

Why does it say “Offline” when I have signal?

Your device shows signal but may not have data connectivity. This happens when:

• You’re on the edge of cell coverage
• The course’s WiFi is spotty
• Network is congested (tournament day)
• You’ve exceeded data caps

Wait a moment and check again. The portal will sync when true connectivity returns.

Why aren’t my scores syncing?

If scores aren’t syncing after you regain connection:

1. Check connection: Make sure the “Offline” badge has disappeared
2. Wait briefly: Syncing can take 10-15 seconds
3. Force refresh: Pull down on the page to refresh
4. Check local storage: Scores may still be queued
5. Re-enter if needed: If a score is missing, enter it again

The sync process runs automatically when online. If scores were saved while offline, they’ll upload in the background.

How do I know my offline scores synced?

After regaining connection:

1. The “Offline” badge disappears
2. Pull down to refresh the leaderboard
3. Your scores should appear within 10-15 seconds
4. If not, re-enter the scores that are missing

Do I need to keep the browser open?

For best offline support:

• Keep the portal tab open during your round
• Don’t close the browser or restart your phone
• Avoid clearing browser data mid-round

If you must close the browser, your locally-saved scores should persist, but reconnect before entering new scores to ensure sync.

Scoring Issues

Why aren’t my scores showing on the leaderboard?

Check these common issues:

1. Connection: Are you online? Check for the “Offline” indicator.
2. Sync delay: Wait 10-15 seconds after entering scores.
3. Refresh: Pull down to force a leaderboard refresh.
4. Correct round: Verify you’re looking at the right round’s leaderboard.
5. Re-enter: If still missing, try entering the score again.

Can I edit a score after entering it?

Yes, while the round is active:

1. Go back to the scoring screen
2. Select the hole you want to correct
3. Enter the correct score
4. Tap Save Score to confirm
5. The new score replaces the previous one

Once the round is finalized by the organizer, scores become locked.

I entered a wrong score. What do I do?

Simply re-enter the correct score:

1. Navigate to the hole with the wrong score (use the hole strip or swipe)
2. Enter the correct number using quick buttons, +/-, or direct input
3. Tap Save Score
4. Score updates automatically

If the round is already finalized, contact your trip organizer to make corrections.

How do I enter a score for a hole I skipped?

You can enter scores in any order:

1. Go to the Rounds tab
2. Select the active round
3. Navigate to the skipped hole using the numbered strip
4. Enter your score

You don’t need to enter scores sequentially. The scorecard auto-advances to the first unscored hole, but you can navigate freely.

Can I score for multiple players?

By default, each player enters their own scores. However:

For group scoring (one person entering for everyone):

• Contact the trip organizer to enable “Group Scorer” permissions
• With permissions, you can access scorecards for your entire playing group
• Switch between players from the scorecard header
• Each player’s scores are tracked separately

Without special permissions:

• You can only enter scores for your own scorecard
• Each playing partner uses their own device
• This ensures score accuracy and attribution

Ask your trip organizer about your trip’s scoring setup before tee time.

Outdoor Mode

How do I enable Outdoor Mode?

1. Tap the Settings tab (gear icon)
2. Find Outdoor Mode under Display
3. Toggle it on

The change applies immediately. Your preference saves automatically to local storage.

What does Outdoor Mode actually do?

Outdoor Mode adjusts the display for sunlight visibility:

This helps you see the screen clearly when the sun is shining directly on it.

Should I always use Outdoor Mode?

Use it when you need it:

• Enable when playing in bright sunlight
• Disable indoors or in shade for normal appearance
• Toggle as needed throughout the day

There’s no battery impact - it only changes CSS filters.

The screen is still hard to see outside

Additional tips beyond Outdoor Mode:

1. Increase phone brightness to maximum (Settings > Display)
2. Find shade when possible (cart roof, tree)
3. Angle the screen away from direct sun
4. Clean your screen - smudges worsen glare
5. Consider a matte screen protector for anti-glare
6. Cup your hand around the screen to block sunlight

Device & Browser

What devices are supported?

Any modern smartphone or tablet with a web browser:

Which browser should I use?

Recommended browsers:

• iPhone/iPad: Safari (best performance, full haptic support)
• Android: Chrome (best performance, full feature support)
• Desktop: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge

Avoid older browsers or non-standard browsers for best experience.

The portal is running slowly. How do I fix it?

Try these steps:

1. Close other browser tabs
2. Close background apps
3. Restart the browser
4. Check your internet speed
5. Try a different browser
6. Clear browser cache (Settings > Safari/Chrome > Clear Cache)
7. Restart your phone as last resort

Can I add the portal to my home screen?

Yes, for quick access like a native app:

iPhone/Safari:

1. Open the portal in Safari
2. Tap the Share button (square with arrow)
3. Scroll and select “Add to Home Screen”
4. Name it (e.g., “Golf Trip”) and tap Add

Android/Chrome:

1. Open the portal in Chrome
2. Tap the menu (three dots)
3. Select “Add to Home Screen” or “Install App”
4. Confirm the name and tap Add

The icon appears on your home screen for one-tap access.

Account & Session

How do I change my display name?

Your display name comes from your player profile set by the trip organizer.

If using token access:

• Your name is set when the organizer added you to the trip
• Contact the organizer to update your display name
• They can edit your player profile in the dashboard

If using account access:

1. Go to syncedgolf.com (main site, not portal)
2. Sign in and go to account settings
3. Update your display name
4. Changes sync to all trips you’re part of

How do I log out of the portal?

1. Go to Settings tab
2. Scroll to Account section
3. Tap Sign Out
4. Confirm to clear your session

You’ll be returned to the main site. Your locally stored scores are cleared.

What’s the difference between “Signed In” and “Guest”?

Both provide full portal functionality. Account users can access multiple trips without new links.

I signed out by accident. How do I get back in?

Depends on how you originally accessed:

• Token link: Use the same link again (if not expired)
• Account: Sign in at syncedgolf.com

If your token expired, contact the trip organizer for a new link.

Can I use the portal on multiple devices?

Yes:

• Open the access link on each device
• Or sign in to your account on each device
• Scores sync across all devices
• You can switch devices mid-round

Note: Scores entered offline will sync when that device goes online.

Leaderboards

The leaderboard isn’t updating. Why?

Real-time updates require connectivity. Check:

1. You’re online (no “Offline” indicator)
2. Pull down to force refresh
3. Wait 10-15 seconds for sync
4. Other players may not have entered scores yet

How are ties shown?

Tied positions show with “T” prefix:

• T1 = Tied for 1st place
• T5 = Tied for 5th place

All tied players show the same position number.

Can I see hole-by-hole scores for other players?

This depends on trip settings. Some trips show:

• Overall scores only
• Scores through the current hole
• Full scorecards for all players

Check with your trip organizer about visibility settings.

What do the score colors mean on the leaderboard?

• Red numbers (e.g., -3) = Under par
• Blue numbers (e.g., +5) = Over par
• E = Even par
• Movement arrows show position changes from last update

Haptic Feedback

What is haptic feedback?

Haptic feedback provides a subtle vibration when you:

• Enter and save a score
• Navigate between holes
• Confirm actions

It helps you know the action registered without looking at the screen.

How do I enable haptic feedback?

1. Go to Settings tab
2. Find Haptic Feedback under Input
3. Toggle it on

You’ll feel a test vibration when enabling.

Why doesn’t haptic feedback work on my device?

Haptic feedback requires hardware support. It may not work if:

• Your device doesn’t have a vibration motor
• Browser vibration API is blocked
• Device is in silent/vibrate mode
• Low battery mode is enabled
• Browser doesn’t support the Vibration API

Try toggling silent mode or checking browser permissions.

Getting Help

I have a problem not listed here. What do I do?

1. Check the guide: Scoring Portal Guide has detailed instructions
2. Contact organizer: They can often resolve access/scoring issues
3. Try troubleshooting: Restart browser, check connection, re-enter scores
4. Contact support: Use the Help link in portal Settings

How do I report a bug?

If you encounter a bug:

1. Note what you were doing when it happened
2. Take a screenshot if possible
3. Go to Settings > Help & Docs
4. Report through the support channel

Include your device type, browser, and trip name to help us diagnose.

Can I suggest improvements?

We welcome feedback:

1. Use the Help link in Settings
2. Contact support with your suggestion
3. Be specific about what would help you

We actively improve the portal based on player feedback.

Offline & Sync

What happens if I lose internet connection?

The portal continues working normally:

1. Automatic detection: The portal detects connectivity loss instantly
2. Visual indicator: An “Offline” badge appears in the header
3. Local storage: Scores save to your device’s IndexedDB database
4. Queued for sync: Each score is queued and uploads when connectivity returns
5. No data loss: Your scores are preserved locally until synced

You can continue entering scores, navigating between holes, and viewing your scorecard. The only features that won’t work are live leaderboard updates and real-time sync with other players’ scores.

How do I know if my scores synced?

Several indicators confirm successful sync:

Immediate confirmation:

• The “Offline” badge disappears from the header
• A brief success notification appears after each sync
• The sync spinner stops

In Settings:

• Pending score count shows zero
• Last sync timestamp is recent
• Connection status shows “Online”

On the leaderboard:

• Your updated scores appear
• Your position reflects current standings
• “Thru” column shows correct holes completed

If you’re unsure, pull down to refresh and verify your scores appear correctly on the leaderboard.

What if two people enter different scores for the same hole?

This is a sync conflict. Here’s how it’s resolved:

Server-priority (last-write-wins):

• The most recent score submitted to the server is kept
• If you were offline, someone else’s score may have arrived first
• When you come online, your score overwrites theirs (or vice versa)

Conflict notification:

• You’ll see a brief notification about the difference
• The notification shows what the previous value was
• Both the old and new values are logged

Resolution steps:

1. Communicate with your playing partners immediately
2. Agree on the correct score
3. Have one person re-enter the correct value
4. The organizer can make manual corrections from the dashboard if needed

Prevention tips:

• Designate one person per group to enter scores
• Or have each player enter only their own scores
• Communicate when entering scores for others

Side Games

How do skins carryovers work?

Skins carryovers accumulate value when holes are tied:

Basic mechanic:

1. Each hole starts worth 1 skin
2. If no single player has the lowest score (tie), the skin “carries over”
3. The next hole becomes worth 2 skins
4. This continues until someone wins outright

Example scenario:

Player B won 3 skins on hole 4 because holes 2 and 3 carried over.

If carryovers reach hole 18:

• The accumulated skins go to the hole 18 winner
• If hole 18 also ties, organizers decide: split pot, playoff, or rollover to next round

Carryover settings: Carryovers can be enabled or disabled by the organizer. Without carryovers, tied holes simply have no winner and that skin is lost.

What is a Nassau press bet?

A press is a new, additional bet that starts mid-round within a Nassau game.

When it triggers:

• Auto-press: Automatically triggered when a player falls behind by a set number of holes (typically 2 down)
• Manual press: Player can call “press” to start a new bet voluntarily

How it works:

1. You’re playing front 9 Nassau and fall 2 down after hole 5
2. Auto-press triggers, starting a new “mini-match” from hole 6-9
3. Original bet continues separately
4. You can now win the press (holes 6-9) even if you lose the original front 9

Multiple presses: If you fall behind again in the press, another press can trigger. You could have:

• Original front 9 bet
• First press (started hole 6)
• Second press (started hole 8)
• etc.

Why press? Presses give losing players a chance to recover some losses. If you’re 2 down after 5 holes, you’re likely to lose the front 9. But by pressing, you have a fresh start for holes 6-9.

Financial impact: Each press is a separate bet at the same stake. Three front 9 presses means four times the original bet amount is at stake for the front 9 alone.

How is the settlement calculated?

The settlement calculation minimizes the number of transactions between players.

Step 1: Calculate net position Each player’s winnings and losses across all side games are totaled:

• Skins won minus share of pot
• Nassau segments won/lost
• Press bets won/lost
• Any other side games

Step 2: Determine who owes whom Players with negative net positions owe money. Players with positive positions are owed money.

Step 3: Minimize transactions Instead of individual payments for each game, the system calculates optimal settlement:

Example with 4 players:

Settlement calculated:

• Dave pays Adam $30
• Chris pays Adam $5
• Chris pays Brian $15

Result: 3 transactions instead of potentially 10+ individual game settlements.

Settlement report shows:

• Who you owe (with amounts)
• Who owes you (with amounts)
• Breakdown by game type
• Mark as paid button

Portal Access

How long does my portal link last?

Portal access links have configurable expiration:

Default settings:

• Links typically expire 1-2 weeks after the trip end date
• Organizers can set custom expiration (1 day to 30 days)
• Expiration shows in Settings > Account Information

After expiration:

• The link stops working
• You see an “Access Expired” message
• Contact your trip organizer for a new link

Why links expire:

• Security: prevents indefinite access to trip data
• Privacy: protects player information after trips end
• Cleanup: allows organizers to manage access

Account access alternative: If you have a SyncedGolf account and are a trip participant, your access never expires through that route.

Can I access the portal from multiple devices?

Yes, you can access the portal from multiple devices simultaneously:

How it works:

1. Use your access link on each device (phone, tablet, computer)
2. Or sign into your account on each device
3. All devices see the same data
4. Scores entered on any device sync to all others

Considerations:

• Offline scores queue separately per device
• If devices enter different scores, sync conflicts may occur
• Settings (outdoor mode, haptics) are device-specific

Switching devices mid-round:

1. Enter scores on phone for front 9
2. Switch to tablet for back 9
3. All scores appear on both devices after sync
4. No special action required

Recommended: Use one device per round if possible to avoid sync complications. If switching devices, verify scores synced before and after the switch.

What’s the difference between token access and logging in?

Two ways to access the portal, each with tradeoffs:

Token-based access (link):

Account-based access (login):

Which to choose:

Use token access if:

• You’re a one-time trip participant
• You don’t want to create an account
• You prefer minimal setup

Use account access if:

• You participate in multiple trips
• You want consistent settings across devices
• You prefer not to manage access links
• You want permanent access to trip history

You can have both: Even with an account, you can use a token link. The link works independently of your account status.

Related Documentation

• Scoring Portal Guide - Complete usage guide
• Portal Admin Guide - Managing access links and side games
• Trip Portal Overview - Feature overview
• General FAQ - Other common questions