‘Change is hard’: What to know about Clippd, Spikemark’s failures and future of college golf scoring and rankings

“We’re super excited about this partnership… and we know they’ll get it done.”

The start of the 2023-24 college golf season has been tumultuous, to say the least.

On Monday, Oct. 16, the NCAA announced Clippd, a technology business founded and staffed by passionate golfers, would take over as the official scoring and rankings provider for college golf. This comes on the heels of numerous failures from Spikemark Golf, which replaced Golfstat in July and was supposed to provide tournament scoring, real-time leaderboards, detailed statistics, in-depth analytics and media, allowing fans to keep track of their favorite teams and players.

However, from day one, Spikemark’s website encountered numerous issues, there have been no official college golf rankings with the fall season nearing completion and plenty of questions remain from coaches and those involved with the inter-workings of the sport about the future.

Here’s what you need to know about Clippd, Spikemark’s failures and the future of college golf scoring and rankings.

Spikemark Golf to manage NCAA college golf scoring and rankings, beginning in 2023-24

There’s a new scoring system for college golf.

[anyclip pubname=”2122″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8171″]

There’s going to be a major change where fans go to get their college golf scores beginning this fall.

Spikemark Golf will become the provider for all golf scoring and ranking services utilized by the NCAA, beginning with the 2023-24 season. Spikemark will transition into the service role previously provided by Golfstat.

“We are pleased to announce Spikemark as manager for NCAA golf scoring and ranking services,” Joni Comstock, NCAA senior vice president of championships, said in a release. “Spikemark’s effective use of current technologies, including the implementation of a transparent ranking system with daily updates, will provide a statistical approach that has been widely adopted throughout the golf community, and one that will positively impact the user experience for our membership and the championships.

“On behalf of the collegiate golf community, we want to express our sincere gratitude to Golfstat and specifically to the late Mark Laesch and the Laesch family for their many years of partnership and dedication to collegiate golf.”

Spikemark, created and founded by former collegiate player and coach, Derek Freeman, will have a new website and mobile app that are designed to meet the needs of collegiate golf at every level. Spikemark provides tournament scoring, real-time leaderboards, detailed statistics, in-depth analytics and media, allowing fans to keep track of their favorite teams and players. Spikemark also provides real-time access to team schedules, up-to-date results and the latest rankings.

Spikemark’s ranking system was developed in collaboration with Mark Broadie, who is widely known for his development of the Official World Golf Ranking algorithm and the modern statistical approach using “Strokes Gained” statistics. Broadie is also a 20-year member of the USGA’s handicap research team.

“We’re incredibly excited and deeply honored at Spikemark to join the NCAA family as the new golf scoring and ranking provider. Spikemark’s platform is designed to foster a robust and vibrant community around collegiate golf by utilizing modern technology that incorporates an engaging user experience for coaches, players, and fans,” Freeman said in a release.

“We are committed to bringing transformative change to collegiate golf providing real-time scoring, detailed analytics, transparent rankings, comprehensive player profiles, and live tournament updates. It is a priority at Spikemark to bridge the gap between teams, players, and those who love the sport, offering an enriched way to interact. Spikemark is a gateway to a reimagined collegiate golf journey.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=4 category=1362]