Tag: Spikemark

‘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 gets spiked; NCAA turns to Clippd for scores, rankings

Clippd bills itself as ‘a technology business founded and staffed by passionate golfers.’

Just five weeks into a new season, the NCAA has officially severed ties with Spikemark for its official scores and rankings.

The NCAA announced Monday that Clippd will take over after a series of false starts and empty promises from Spikemark.

“A leader in the golf technology industry,” according to the NCAA, Clippd will take over from Spikemark “following an agreed handover period.”

Clippd bills itself as “a technology business founded and staffed by passionate golfers” and is already providing stats to more than 100 Div. I, II and III programs.

The NCAA notes that Spikemark approached Clippd for help. Clippd reports its site has been able to publish more than 75 percent of all Div. I college golf tournaments.

In July, the NCAA announced Spikemark Golf would become the provider for all golf scoring and ranking services utilized by the NCAA beginning with the 2023-24 season. Spikemark took over the service role previously provided by Golfstat.

Nine days later, Golfstat responded with a statement saying the company wasn’t going away, though its role was going to be reduced.

The 2023-24 season was already underway when Spikemark posted a message on its website, labeling the non-functioning platform as “Ground Under Repair.”

Spikemark was created and founded by former collegiate player and coach Derek Freeman. In the initial release, the company said it would provide tournament scoring, real-time leaderboards, detailed statistics, in-depth analytics and media, allowing fans to keep track of their favorite teams and players. Spikemark would also provide real-time access to team schedules, up-to-date results and the latest rankings.

However, many tournament directors were scrambling because of live-scoring issues in the initial week of competition. Some tournaments switched to Golf Genius or even back to Golfstat. Others kept scores on their own team websites.

In July the NCAA appeared confident in Spikemark’s technology.

“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 July 2023 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.”

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.

The NCAA’s release Monday said Broadie, “a pioneer in the world of golf analytics,” will be the ranking authority and is working with the Clippd team to provide individual and team rankings following the conclusion of the fall season.

“We are confident that Clippd will lead us through technology challenges faced during the 2023 fall season and serve as a valuable partner into the future, as well,” said Comstock. “The goal of this partnership is to fully deliver the quality services that our student-athletes and the college golf community deserves.”

– Golfweek’s Cameron Jourdan contributed to this article.

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Here’s what you’ve missed from the beginning of the college golf season

Let’s face it: it has been hard to follow college golf in the first two weeks of the season.

Let’s face it: it has been hard to follow college golf in the first two weeks of the season.

With the myriad issues Spikemark has faced providing scoring for college golf, numerous tournaments and schools have been forced to find other ways to keep track of their tournaments and provide live scoring. Some have used Golfstat and Golf Genius. However, the issues Spikemark has faced have made it difficult for coaches, players, parents, fans and more to simply follow the sport.

However, that doesn’t take away from what has been an incredible start to the year.

For the first time, a woman shot 60 in a tournament. A team won its first tournament in Division I. And much, much more.

Here are some storylines you may have missed from the start of the 2023-24 college golf season.

Golf world reacts to Spikemark being down in first week of college golf season

People are not happy about Spikemark’s issues with college golf live scoring.

To say Spikemark’s debut in the college golf world has been a struggle may be an understatement.

In July, the NCAA announced Spikemark Golf would become the provider for all golf scoring and ranking services utilized by the NCAA, beginning with the 2023-24 season. Spikemark took over the service role previously provided by Golfstat.

Nine days later, Golfstat responded with a statement, saying the company wasn’t going away, though its role was going to be reduced.

The 2023-24 college golf season got underway last week across the country, but there has been no shortage of issues with Spikemark and its scoring system. Although rankings weren’t going to be released until October, tournaments, teams and fans across the country have had myriad issues trying the scoring side of it.

A message on Spikemark’s website as recently as Wednesday morning said the site and accompanying apps are currently “Ground Under Repair” as it carries out essential maintenance work in order to deliver the best possible service.

“Providing timely and efficient information for all collegiate golf coaches, players, and fans is always our #1 priority, and we will update this page accordingly.”

A message on Spikemark’s website addressing the maintenance. (Spikemark Golf)

Spikemark was created and founded by former collegiate player and coach, Derek Freeman. In the initial release, the company said it would provide tournament scoring, real-time leaderboards, detailed statistics, in-depth analytics and media, allowing fans to keep track of their favorite teams and players. Spikemark would also provide real-time access to team schedules, up-to-date results and the latest rankings.

However, many tournament directors have been left scrambling because of the live scoring issues in the first week. Some tournaments have switched to Golf Genius or even to Golfstat. Others have been forced to keep scores on team websites.

With Spikemark down, there’s no way to track schedules or results all in one place. Even when the website wasn’t undergoing maintenance, many users reported extremely slow load times and issues navigating the site, as well as difficulty setting up tournaments and inputting scores.

It’s still early in the season, but Spikemark’s debut was anything but flashy. Here’s a look at reactions in the college golf world to the new scoring system.

Golfstat to continue college golf live scoring amid NCAA’s decision to change providers

“As we move forward, we will continue to pursue our passion and purpose to support college golf.”

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Last week, the NCAA made a major announcement in regard to the future of college golf.

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

However, Golfstat isn’t going away. The company partnered with the NCAA for more than 30 years and serviced all levels of college golf with rankings and scoring. Those who are addicted to refreshing Golfstat’s feed will continue to do so at certain events.

Kathy Laesch, Golfstat’s president, released a statement Wednesday regarding the future.

“The NCAA’s decision to no longer utilize Golfstat as the official scoring and rankings service will be a huge change for all. Please do know that we did our best effort to present a comprehensive outline for the future of Golfstat, what changes we had already made, and the many reasons we’ve been able to service ALL of college golf for so long. As we move forward, we will continue to pursue our passion and purpose to support college golf.

“We will still be offering live scoring for events that choose to utilize the service at an affordable price that you are accustomed to. Along with this, we will make sure to find a solution with the new scoring platform to make sure those scores are submitted in a timely manner. Thank you to those that have already reached out with their intentions to use Golfstat live scoring this 23-24 season. You should expect to see a portal to register your event on our homepage in early August.

“We look forward to continuing to work with all of you. We will provide updates as they become available. Thank you and good luck this 2023-2024 college golf season!”

The statement also noted Golfstat’s extensive database with college golf data and its goal to preserving and making the information available in the future.

Although Golfstat is no longer partnered with the NCAA, it will continue to provide live scoring at certain events in the coming season.

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

There’s a new scoring system for college golf.

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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.”

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