The IGN was developed by the International Association of Golf Administrators to facilitate the transfer of posted scores between associations, which use different handicap vendors. It provides associations and their handicap vendor’s access through the internet to share scores between the participating associations. Through this system, MGA members will have the ability to post scores when playing outside of the Met Area and have their score routed back to their MGA file.

To learn more, please review these frequently asked questions:

Q. What is the International Golf Network (IGN)?
Q. Does my association participate?
Q. Do all associations participate in the IGN? I don’t see Hawaii on the list?
Q. How do I post an IGN score when traveling outside of the Met Area?
Q. Can I find out if my score was posted correctly?
Q. When will the score that I posted show up in my MGA scoring file?
Q. What should I do if scores are not showing up on the IGN site or in my MGA file?
Q. I am a member of the MGA and the Arizona Golf Association, do I have to post twice each time I play?
Q. My club has a large member-guest event with many out of state participants. Is there a way to verify a Handicap Index through the IGN?
Q. How will my club get the IGN software?
Q. What features are available on the IGN Web site for member clubs of participating associations?
Q. What is the password for my club to use the IGN Web site?
Q. What features are available on the IGN Web site for individuals to use?
Q. How can we get more information on the IGN?
 

Q. What is the International Golf Network (IGN)?
 
A. The IGN was developed by the International Association of Golf Administrators to facilitate the transfer of posted scores between associations, which use different handicap vendors. It provides associations and their handicap vendor’s access through the internet to share scores between the participating associations. Through this system, MGA members will have the ability to post scores when playing outside of the Met Area and have their score routed back to their MGA file. The network also provides the ability for individual golfers who are members of more than one IGN association to have their score files linked. This enables the golfer to maintain a more accurate Handicap Index at the associations where they are a member. The IGN is the first international network of its kind, with 48 participating associations at this time.

Q. Does my association participate?

A. Yes, the MGA is currently a member of the IGN. Currently there are 48 associations across North America and abroad that are participating. Following is a list of current participating associations. For the most recent listing please visit the IGN Web site, www.ign.net.
 

• Alaska GA
• Arizona GA
• Arizona Women’s GA
• Bermuda GA
• Carolinas GA
• Chicago District GA
• Chicago District Women’s GA
• Colorado GA
• Colorado Women’s GA
• Connecticut State GA
• Delaware State GA
• Georgia State GA
• Golf Association of Florida
• Golf Association of Michigan
• Golf Association of Philadelphia
• Greater Cincinnati GA
• Hong Kong GA
• Idaho GA
• Indiana GA
• Kansas GA
• Kansas City GA
• Kentucky GA
• Louisiana GA
• Maryland State GA
• Massachusetts GA
• Metropolitan GA
• Minnesota GA
• Missouri GA
• Montana State GA
• New Hampshire GA
• New Jersey GA
• Northern California GA
• Oregon GA
• Public Links GA of Southern California
• Rhode Island GA
• South Carolina GA
• Southern California GA
• Southern Nevada GA
• Toledo District GA
• Utah GA
• Vermont GA
• Virginia State GA
• Washington State GA
• Western Pennsylvania GA
• Western States GA
• Wisconsin State GA
• Women’s GA of Northern California
• Women’s Public Links GA of Southern California
• Women’s Southern California GA

 
Q. Do all associations participate in the IGN? I don’t see Hawaii on the list.

A. Each association has to determine if they feel this service will be a member benefit to their association. There are fees involved paid by the participating association to the IGN on an annual basis.

Q. How do I post an IGN score when traveling outside of the Met Area?
 
A. First, you must be playing golf within an IGN participating association’s region (see above list). Next, look for the posting computer in the golf shop or locker room. On the front posting screen should be the IGN symbol or lettering. You will want to make that selection for the IGN. In some order you will be asked to enter your association membership number, the date you played, the course and slope ratings, your score and finally what association you want this score routed back to. The order of these steps may vary slightly with each association. Please be sure that you have selected the MGA as the association to have your score routed to.

Scores may NOT be posted directly on the IGN Web site.

Q. Can I find out if my score was posted correctly?

A. Yes, you may track any scores posted through the IGN on the IGN Web site, www.ign.net. On the homepage of the Web site is the feature Member Functions. The individual should make that selection and then enter their MGA membership number, the month they would like to view scores for, the year and the association they belong to (MGA). The results will show any scores posted by the individual, the date played, course name, corresponding ratings and scores as well as the vendor who sent the score. This information will let the player know the score has been sent to the IGN properly and is waiting to be picked up by the MGA and processed into their handicap file.

The handicap vendors are required to send scores at least once a week to the IGN. Depending upon when you post a score and when the vendor sends scores there may be a slight delay until you will see the score on the IGN website. Scores should show on the IGN website no longer than 14 days after being posted.

Q. When will the score that I posted show up in my MGA scoring file?

A. Each golf association is required by the USGA to establish their own time schedule for the revision of Handicap Indexes. Based on that information not all revision dates are the same for all associations. During the active season, the MGA revises Handicap Indexes generally on every other Friday.  Dependent upon when you posted and when the vendor sent scores there may be a delay as to when your score reaches your scoring file.

Q. What should I do if scores are not showing up on the IGN site or in my MGA file?

A. Please contact Millie Burt at the MGA office at (914) 347-4653 x318 or mburt@mgagolf.org.  Please have the score information (date, location, etc.) available.

Q. I am a member of the MGA and the Arizona Golf Association, do I have to post twice each time I play?

A.  No, all IGN associations including the MGA have made provisions for multi-association members whereby their score files can be linked. Through this linking process when an individual has been identified as a multi-association member once they post a score locally to their MGA number a duplicate score is automatically generated and sent to the other IGN association. If you are a multi association member with another IGN participating association and have not linked your score files please contact Millie Burt at the MGA office at (914) 347-4653 x318 or mburt@mgagolf.org.

Q. My club has a large member-guest event with many out of state participants. Is there a way to verify a Handicap Index through the IGN?

A. Yes, Handicap Indexes can be verified by name or membership number through the IGN Web site. This feature is available at www.ign.net under Club Functions. Keep in mind that only individuals of participating IGN associations will be listed in the Guest Inquiry.

Q. How will my club get the IGN software?

A. GHIN, the MGA’s handicap vendor, includes all IGN software and updates on the GHIN Software Suite. This suite is loaded on your club’s handicap computer by an MGA representative during our preseason visits.
 
Q.  What features are available on the IGN Web site for member clubs of participating associations?

A.  The Web site has a section specifically for member clubs of participating associations. In this password protected section MGA clubs can run an individual guest inquiry for any member within the IGN (over 2.5 million golfers currently) using a last name, member number and/or association affiliation. If only last name or member number is known, the inquiry can still be run and all matches from all associations will be shown. Handicap Index look up can also be performed for up to 25 individuals of the same association if the member numbers are known.

The MGA clubs have the ability to track scores for their members. If an individual member calls their club wanting to know why the score they posted out of state is not showing in their file, the club can look to see when the score was transferred from the other participating association.

Finally, the MGA member club has the ability to view the activity logs from all participating associations. They can view the total number of scores that were passed through the IGN to their association on a month-by-month basis.

Q. What is the password for my club to use the IGN Web site?

A. Please contact the MGA for the password.

Q. What features are available on the IGN Web site for individuals to use?

A. On the home page of the IGN site, there is an option for Member Functions. Individuals who have posted a score outside of their home region through the IGN system can go into this section and track the score. The individual will put in their MGA membership number then select the Metropolitan Golf Association as the member association and the month they want to track. Results will show any scores that were posted through the IGN that month, what handicap vendor sent the scores, and at what golf course the scores were posted.