Getting Started Quickly
Handicap Manager for Excel is very user friendly and requires little preparation to use. All the data entry takes place in easy to understand input forms that are initiated from the Home worksheet. This section describes how to get started quickly using the program. For more detailed instructions and comprehensive descriptions of all the functions of Handicap Manager for Excel, click one of the links below to take you to the appropriate section. You can also display context-sensitive help for any of the input forms by clicking the help (?) button on the form and then clicking anywhere on the form. Helpful tips are automatically displayed by holding the mouse pointer over an input field.
To start Handicap Manager for Excel you can use the Handicap Manager shortcut in the Windows Start Menu program group or start Microsoft Excel and open the hdcpxl8xx.xlsm file in your Documents folder. (The xx will be two numbers like 01 or 02 depending on the latest release.) The first time you run the program, you will be prompted to decide between an eighteen-hole or nine-hole handicap format. The 18 Hole format is the normal handicap format. It allows you to post 18 hole scores and provides an 18 hole handicap. It also allows you to post 9 hole scores, which it automatically combines into 18 holes scores when a second nine-hole score has been posted. The 9 Hole format is limited and should only be used for 9 hole leagues or for other circumstances where players want only a 9 hole handicap and play 9 hole rounds almost exclusively. When using the 9 Hole format you can only post 9 hole scores. Make your selection and click OK to continue. The Home sheet will appear with the command buttons which initiate the various program functions. Just click on the buttons to use one of the functions. Almost all the data entry and program functions can be accessed from the Home sheet.
First, you need to enter information on the home golf course or golf courses for the players you will be tracking. Just click the Golf Course Information button and the golf course information form will appear that allows you to enter the necessary information. Enter the name of the golf course and any other information that you feel is pertinent. You must enter the eighteen hole par, course rating, slope rating and gender for at least one set of tees. Don't worry if you don't know the nine hole information, it's not necessary for the program to function properly.
Next, enter information about the golfers you will be tracking by clicking the Golfer Information button. A pop-up data entry form will be displayed for entering information for each player. The only information that is required is the golfer's name, home course, the tees they normally play and their gender. All the address information is optional.
You are now ready to enter scores for individual players. Click the Enter Scores button to display the Score Entry form. Select the golfer, golf course, the tees that were played and whether nine or eighteen holes were played then enter the score. The par, course rating and slope rating change automatically depending on which golf course and tees are selected. If the round was played on a course that is not listed, you will need to type the name of the course into the "Golf Course" field and manually enter the par, course rating and slope rating. If scores are being used to calculate World Handicap Indexes or Traditional Handicap Indexes, then the Limited Gross Score must be adjusted based on the Limited Stroke Control (LSC) limits. If the score is from an event/tournament, or is a penalty score, check the appropriate checkbox. The program also provides the option of entering five additional user defined statistics. The additional statistics can be enabled and defined using the Options button on the Home sheet.
If you make a mistake and need to edit or delete a score, use the Manage Scores button to display a form where you can make the changes.
After you have entered scores for the players you are tracking, you can calculate handicaps. Click the Calculate Handicaps button and enter the current revision date for the calculation. The current revision date will be today's date unless you change it and is the cut-off date for scores you want included in the handicap calculation. Scores posted later than the current revision date will not be included. The default calculation method is Global; click the Calculation Method button to change to a different method.
If you also wish to track team competitions, you can assign players to teams using the Enter Team Assignments button. You can allow the program to assign teams automatically or choose to do it manually, selecting individual players for each team. Once you have assigned players to teams, you can use the Enter Team Scores button to enter team scores and match results. Players' individual scores should be entered before the team scores are entered. This allows the program to automatically calculate the team scores for those dates from the individual scores.
The Golfer Statistics button displays scoring and handicap information for individual golfers.
The Score Analysis button displays an Excel pivot table that lets you view scores by date, golf course or golfer.
The Golfer Summary button lets you create a report that summarizes the scoring for each golfer over a period of time.
You can use the Prepare Golfer Report button to limit the information that is visible on the Golfers worksheet and to display just golfers from a particular golf club. This is convenient for preparing printed reports or PDF reports that shows the latest handicap and scores for each golfer.
The Prepare Scoring Reports button automatically prepares scoring records for all the golfers in the program and displays them on the Scoring Reports worksheet. This is convenient for preparing printed reports or PDF reports of detailed scoring records.
The Prepare Date Report function automatically prepares an individual player or team summary of scoring and match information by date.
The Prepare Handicap Sheet function lets you prepare a sheet that shows all the golfers course handicaps for any golf course entered in the program. This is great for printing before your weekly league play or an event so everyone knows their handicaps.
The Prepare Handicap Cards function automatically prepares handicap cards in a format that will print out in standard 2" x 3½" business card size (Avery 8371 or equivalent).
The Prepare Tournament Sheet function automatically prepares a Tournament sheet for an upcoming tournament, league play or other round of golf.
The Prepare Team Report function allows you to prepare a customized report displaying a summary of team scoring and match information.
The Course Handicap Calculator button displays the Course Handicap Calculator. Just follow the directions in the form to automatically calculate course handicaps.
The Export PDF Reports button initiates Excel's web publishing feature and allows the Golfers Report, Golfer Stats, Golfer Summary, Scoring Report, Team Report, Date Report or Tournament Sheet to be saved as HTML files for publishing on an Internet web site.
The Member Mode button provides a method for club or league members to enter scores into the program from a common computer without having access to other program functions.
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