Welcome to livematchGOLF!

Thank you for signing up. We've sent a verification link to your email address. Please click the link in that email to activate your account.

Important: If you don't see the email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder.

Once your account is verified, you can log in to start creating events and scoring matches.

Creating a New Club/Group

If you are the first person from your golf club, society, or group of friends to use livematchGOLF, you will need to create the club/group profile. On the Sign Up page, choose the "Create a New Club/Group" option. The user who creates a club/group is automatically assigned as its first administrator.

Joining an Existing Club/Group

To sign up as a Scorer or Administrator for a club/group that already exists on livematchGOLF, you must receive a unique invitation link from a current club administrator. When you use this link, the club/group name will be pre-filled on the signup form, ensuring you are correctly associated.

Choosing a Sign-Up Method

We offer two ways to create an account: using a social provider (like Google or Microsoft) or using a traditional email and password. Here’s a quick guide:

Sign up with Google or Microsoft

• Fast & Easy: Uses your existing account, so there's no new password to remember.
• Secure: We never see or store your password. Authentication is handled securely by the provider.
• Note: If you sign up this way, you must manage your password through your Google or Microsoft account. The "Change Password" option on our site will not be available to you.

Sign up with Email

This is the traditional method where you create a password specifically for your livematchGOLF account. You can change your email and password at any time from your "My Profile" page.

Deleting Your Account

You can permanently delete your account and all associated data at any time. This action cannot be undone and will remove your administrative and/or scoring roles and personal information from our system.

To delete your account:

1. Log in to your account.
2. Navigate to your My Profile page from the user menu in the top-right corner.
3. Scroll to the bottom to find the "Danger Zone" section.
4. Click the "Delete My Account" button and follow the confirmation steps.

Please Note: While your account will be deleted, your name may still appear in past match results to maintain historical accuracy. For users who signed up with a social provider (like Google or Microsoft), this action only deletes your livematchGOLF profile and does not affect your actual social account.

Known Behaviours

• BYE matches: The named player is shown as winner automatically and cannot be scored.
• Championship (knockout): Matches unlock only when all matches in the previous round are complete.
• Swiss style: Standings recompute on updates; next round pairings are created when the prior round completes.
• Round robin: The full schedule is generated up-front. Regenerate to change the draw.
• Pairs entry: Enter both names in one field using "/", "&", "+" or "and". Autocomplete works after the separator and partner IDs are stored.

Get a Native App Experience

You can install livematchGOLF on your phone's home screen for quick access, just like a native app. This is called a Progressive Web App (PWA). It offers a full-screen experience and works great even with a spotty internet connection.

On iOS (iPhone/iPad)

1. Open the website in Safari.
2. Tap the "Share" button (the icon is a square with an arrow pointing up: ).
3. Scroll down the share sheet and tap on "Add to Home Screen".
4. Confirm the name and tap "Add". The app icon will now be on your home screen.

On Android (Chrome)

1. Open the website in Chrome.
2. Tap the three-dot menu icon () in the top-right corner.
3. Tap on "Install app" or "Add to Home screen".
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to install. The app will be added to your home screen or app drawer.

Finding a Leaderboard

You can find any club's leaderboard in two main ways:

• From the Homepage: Visit the livematch.golf homepage and start typing your club's name into the search bar. Select your club from the suggestions to be taken to their dedicated page.
• Direct Link: Your club may send you a direct link (e.g., livematch.golf/live.html?club=your-club) which will take you straight to their leaderboard.

Navigating a Club Page

When you arrive at a club's page, you'll see three main options to find the scores you're looking for:

• Search by Player: The quickest way to find a specific person's match across all current events.
• Select Event: The best choice if you know the name of the competition you want to follow (e.g., "Club Championship 2025").
• Live Matches: A single, combined list of every match that is currently in progress or has recently finished (note: this excludes Team Matchups).

As you navigate, remember these two tips:

• The Back button in the header will always take you to the previous screen.
• Clicking on your club's logo or name in the top-left corner of the page will always bring you back to this main landing page with the three buttons.

Understanding the Scores & Symbols

The leaderboard automatically updates in real-time. Here's what the common matchplay terms mean:

• 3 UP: One player is leading by 3 holes.
• A/S: The match is "All Square" (tied).
• Thru 14: The match has completed 14 holes.
• 2&1: A player has won the match by being 2 holes up with only 1 hole left to play.

We also use color to help you see who's winning at a glance:

• Blue Border: A blue border next to a player's name indicates they are currently leading the match.
• Green Text & Border: Green text and a green border mean that player has won the match.

TV Display & QR Codes

Your club can feature a live leaderboard on a clubhouse TV. This display is designed for easy viewing from a distance and cycles through matches automatically.

Often, you will see a QR code on the TV screen. If you scan this code with your phone's camera, it will instantly take you to the interactive mobile version of the leaderboard, allowing you to explore the scores in more detail.

Saving Favourites

You can save matches to your favourites for quick access later. This is especially useful for tracking specific matches across multiple events.

How to add a match to favourites:

1. Navigate to any event and find the match you want to track
2. Click on the match to reveal action buttons
3. Look for the "Add" button (green button)
4. Click the "Add" button to save it to your favourites

Accessing your favourites:

• From the club's main page, click the "Favourites" button
• This will show all your saved matches in one place
• Click on any favourite match to view its current status
• Use the "Remove" button to remove matches from favourites

This section describes Live, Hole-by-Hole Scoring. This is typically performed by a designated scorer, an administrator, or a volunteer who updates the leaderboard in real-time as the match progresses.

If you are a player looking to enter your own final score after a match, please see the Player Score Entry instructions below.

Logging In to Score

To perform live, hole-by-hole scoring, you must have a user account and be registered as a Scorer or Administrator for your club. If an administrator has set you up, you can log in with your email and password on the Login Page. This will give you access to score any events you are authorized for.

Finding a Match to Score

The process for finding a match to score is the same as for public viewing. From the club's main leaderboard page, you can use 'Search by Player', 'Select Event', or 'Live Matches' to navigate to the match you need to update. When you are logged in as a Scorer or Administrator, clicking on a match will check your permissions before opening the scoring panel.

Scoring Permissions

When you select a match, the system checks if you are authorized to score it. As a user with the "Scorer" or "Administrator" role, you have permission to score any event at your club. If you are still unable to open the scoring panel for a match, it is usually for one of the following reasons:

• The event is not open: The event's start date may be in the future.
• The match is locked: In a championship bracket, you cannot score a match until all prerequisite matches in the previous round are complete.
• The match is already final: The match has already been won or lost and its score has been recorded.

The Scoring Interface

Once you've selected a match, you'll see action buttons that slide in from the right. For scorers, you'll see three options:

• Score: For live, hole-by-hole scoring as the match progresses
• Result: For entering the final result after the match is complete
• Add/Remove: To save or remove the match from your favourites

Live Scoring (Hole-by-Hole)

When you select "Score", the scoring panel is designed to be fast and simple, especially on a mobile device.

Manual Controls (Default Mode)

• For situations where you need to correct an old score or are not scoring in real-time, the default "Manual Mode" will disable auto-advance hole. This stops the hole number from advancing automatically. You can then use the `+` and `-` buttons to set the hole and score, but you must press Save to record your changes.

Auto Scoring (Fast Mode)

• To award a hole to a player: Simply tap that player's name. The score and hole number will update automatically.
• To halve a hole: Tap the central "½" (Halve) button.

Correcting a Mistake

• If you tap the wrong button, don't worry. Just tap the Undo button (↩) to go back to the previous score and hole.

Final Result Entry

When you select "Result", you can enter the final outcome of the match. This is useful for matches that have already finished or when you need to record the final score without going through hole-by-hole scoring.

Special Scoring Situations

Locked Matches

In a championship bracket, you cannot score a match until all matches in the previous rounds are complete. If a match appears 'locked' and cannot be selected, this is usually why.

Player Withdrawals

If a player withdraws or concedes a match that is already underway, the standard procedure is to finalize the score by recording a **1 Up** victory for their opponent. This marks the match as complete and allows the winner to advance correctly in the draw.

Finishing a Match

The system understands the rules of matchplay! It will automatically detect when a match is mathematically over (e.g., a player is 3 up with 2 holes to play), mark the match as "Final", and disable the scoring buttons.

How to Enter Your Final Score (Player Entry)

Your club may ask you to enter your own final match score using a dedicated tablet in the clubhouse or a link on your own phone. This system is for entering the final result only (e.g., "Player A wins 3&2"), not for live hole-by-hole scoring.

Here is the typical process:

1. Access the System: Use the link or QR code provided by your club administrator.
2. Select Your Event: Choose the competition you just played in from the list.
3. Enter the PIN: You will be prompted for a 4-digit PIN for the event. Your administrator will provide this.
4. Find Your Match: Search for your name to find your match.
5. Enter the Result:
   • First, select the winner of the match (or select "Halved" if applicable).
   • If there was a winner, a dropdown will appear. Select the final score margin (e.g., "2&1", "1 Up").
6. Submit: Review the final result displayed on the screen and tap the "Submit Final Score" button. The screen will confirm success and reset for the next player.

The Admin Dashboard

After logging in, you can access the Admin Dashboard from the user menu. This is your control center for managing all aspects of your club's presence on livematchGOLF. Use the sidebar on the left to navigate between different sections like Events, Players, and Settings. The main dashboard page also provides a quick link to create a new event.

The Importance of Event Dates

When creating or editing an event, the start and end dates are crucial. These dates determine the event's status (Pending, Open, Complete) and are used to sort events on both the public leaderboards and in your admin panel. This ensures that current and upcoming events are always easy to find. Please ensure the date reflects the actual date the competition is being played, not the date you are creating the entry.

Event Archiving

Events are automatically archived 30 days after their end date. This helps keep your active events easily accessible while preserving historical data. When an event is archived:

• It no longer appears in public leaderboards or live match lists
• It's moved to the "Archived Events" section in your admin panel
• You can manually unarchive it if needed by editing the event and adjusting the end date

Managing Events

There are a number of different event types availble to create:

• Match List: A simple, flat list of one-off matches. This is ideal for a single day's play, a social event, or a small set of unrelated games. You can add, remove, and re-order matches easily.
• Team Matchup: Create two teams and pit them against each other in a series of matches. The system keeps a running tally of team scores, with wins worth 1 point and halved matches worth ½ a point. This is perfect for Ryder Cup-style events.
• Championship: A complete tournament bracket structure. This is designed for multi-round knockout competitions. You can add multiple divisions (e.g., Scratch, Handicap A, Handicap B), generate draws of different sizes (e.g., 8, 16, 32 players), and the system will automatically advance winners to the next round as scores are entered.
• Swiss Style: A round-based format often used in chess and similar competitions. It looks like a normal championship bracket in the admin UI (same stacked "vs" cards and per-round controls), but the number of matches does not reduce from one round to the next. Admins set the draw size, enter round one players, and create the total number of rounds they intend to play. Later rounds initially show TBD placeholders and will be paired after earlier rounds complete.
• Round Robin: Everyone plays everyone else once (single round robin). The full schedule is generated up-front using the standard circle (Berger) method, so all rounds are created immediately. If there is an odd number of players, a BYE is scheduled each round; BYE counts as +1 point and +1 margin but does not appear in the standings. Tie‑break options (e.g. total margin/countback, seed priority) are configurable. Matches are non‑editable after generation (regenerate to change the draw), and standings update automatically as results are saved.

Sharing a Specific Event

To share a direct link or QR code for a single event (e.g. to post in chat or email), open the Events view in your admin dashboard and use the Share action in the row for that event. This opens a dialog with a copyable link and a downloadable QR code.

Managing Event Sponsors

You can add a unique sponsor for each event. When creating or editing an event, look for the "Sponsor" card. Here you can upload a logo and an optional website link. This logo will then appear on all printouts, the TV display, and the public leaderboard for that specific event, providing valuable exposure for your supporters.

Pairs in Matches (Entering Two Players on One Side)

You can enter pairs directly in the existing player fields by typing both names. The system recognises common separators and will index both names for search while keeping your original formatting for display.

How to enter a pair

• Type both names into a single player field using any of these separators: /, &, +, or the word and.
• Examples: Smith / Jones, Smith & Jones, Smith + Jones, Smith and Jones.

What happens behind the scenes

• Your typed value is kept as-is for display (e.g., it will show as “Smith / Jones”).
• Both partner names are stored for improved search and future features.
• Scoring and advancement remain per side — no change to how results are recorded.

Cloning an Event (Time-Saver)

For recurring annual events, the "Clone" button is a powerful time-saver. Clicking the icon next to an event will open the event editor with a pre-populated copy.

The cloning process intelligently prepares the new event for you:

• The event name and type are copied.
• The event start and end dates are automatically advanced by one year.
• The event's structure is fully duplicated. For a championship, this includes all division names, draw sizes, and holes per round.
• Crucially, all player name fields are left blank, giving you a fresh, empty draw for the new season.

After cloning, you can make any minor adjustments (like changing "2024" to "2025" in the title) and save the new event.

Handling Byes in Championships

To create a "bye" in a championship draw, where a player automatically advances to the next round without an opponent, simply leave one of the player name fields blank when setting up the draw. The system will recognize the empty slot and automatically advance the named player once the event starts.

Generating a Seeded or Random Draw

For championship divisions, you can automatically populate the first round using the "Auto Draw" button. This is a great time-saver for quickly setting up a draw from a list of qualified players. You have two options:

• Seeded Draw: This method arranges players in a standard seeded format (e.g., in a 16-player draw, Seed 1 plays Seed 16, Seed 2 plays Seed 15, etc.). Enter your players in order of their seed (1, 2, 3...) in the input fields.
• Random Draw: This method shuffles the list of players you enter and places them randomly into the draw.

Event Access Control

Live, hole-by-hole scoring permissions are managed by user roles. Any user you promote to a "Scorer" or "Administrator" in the Scorers section will automatically have permission to score any event at your club.

Configuring the TV Display

From the "Leaderboard" section of your admin dashboard, you can select an event to feature on a public TV display. You have several options:

• Specific Event: Choose a Match List or Team Matchup to display its leaderboard.
• Championship Events: For championships, you have two display modes. Select (Finals Only) to show just the final matches of each division, or select (Live Matches) to show all in-progress matches from all rounds, perfect for the early stages of a competition.
• All Matches in Progress: A combined leaderboard of all live matches from your Match List and Championship events (Team Matchups are excluded due to their specific display requirements).

If you want to share a specific event with members (not the TV view), go to the Events view and click the Share action for that event to get a direct link and QR code.

How to Display on a TV

1. Using a Smart TV or Amazon Firestick:
   • Open the web browser on your TV or Firestick and navigate to:
     livematch.golf/tv
   • Once loaded, search for your club to display the featured leaderboard.
2. Using Chromecast or Apple AirPlay:
   • On a phone, tablet, or computer, navigate to the TV mode URL for your club (e.g., by clicking "Preview TV Mode" in your admin panel).
   • Use your device's built-in "Cast" (Android/Chrome) or "Screen Mirroring" (Apple) feature to display it on your TV and enter fullscreen mode.

Setting Up Player Score Entry

The Player Score Entry system allows players to enter their own final scores after a match. This is different from live, hole-by-hole scoring. It can be used in two ways:

• Mobile Entry: Players use their own phones by scanning a QR code or using a shared link from the admin panel.
• Kiosk Mode: A dedicated tablet is set up in the clubhouse for players to use.

Setting up a Dedicated Kiosk

To create a secure, single-purpose kiosk for score entry, you can lock a device to the livematchGOLF entry screen. This prevents users from navigating away. Tablets are recommended for their ease of use and built-in security features.

On a Tablet (Recommended)

• iPad (iOS): Use the Guided Access feature (found in Settings → Accessibility). Once enabled, open the Player Entry URL in Safari, and triple-click the Home or Top button to start a session and set a passcode.
• Android: Use the App Pinning feature (found in Settings → Security). Open the Player Entry URL in your browser, go to the recent apps screen, tap the app icon, and select "Pin".

On a Desktop (Windows/macOS)

Most web browsers offer a "kiosk mode" that launches the browser in a locked, full-screen view. This is typically done by creating a special shortcut.

• Example for Google Chrome:
  1. Create a new shortcut to Chrome on your desktop.
  2. Right-click the shortcut and go to "Properties".
  3. In the "Target" field, add the following to the very end (after the closing quote), making sure to include a space before the two dashes:
     --kiosk "https://livematch.golf/score.html?club=YOUR_CLUB_ID"
  4. Replace YOUR_CLUB_ID with your actual club ID from the share link in your admin panel. When you open this shortcut, Chrome will launch in a locked, full-screen mode. Press Alt+F4 (Windows) or Cmd+Q (Mac) to close it.

Managing Scorers

The "Scorers" section of the admin dashboard is where you manage users who can perform live, hole-by-hole scoring. The process involves two steps:

• 1. Invite a User: Use the "Invite New User" button to generate a unique signup link for your club. When a person signs up using this link, they will appear in the "Pending Applicants" table.
• 2. Promote to Scorer: To grant scoring permissions, find the user in the "Pending Applicants" list and click the "Promote" button. They will then be moved to the "Active Scorers" list and will have access to score any event at your club.

You can also demote or remove scorers at any time. This revokes their scoring permissions but does not delete their account.

Managing Administrators

In the "Administrators" section, you can manage who has admin privileges for your club.

• Add Admin: You can promote any existing user in your club (e.g., a scorer) to become an administrator. They will gain full access to the admin dashboard.
• Demote Admin: You can remove administrator privileges from a user. They will remain a member of the club but will no longer have access to the admin dashboard. For safety, you cannot demote yourself.

Managing Players

The player database for your club is built automatically. Any time a new player name is entered into a match, it is added to your club's central player list. This allows for quick autocompletion of player names when setting up future events.

From the "Players" section, you can edit or delete player names from your club's database. Note that editing a player's name here will not change it in any past or existing matches; it will only affect autocompletion for future event setups.

Club Settings

In the "Settings" section, you can manage your club's core identity on the platform.

• Club Name: This is the public name of your club that appears on leaderboards.
• Timezone: Set the correct local timezone for your club. This is essential for ensuring event statuses (Pending, Open, Complete) are displayed correctly.
• Club Logo: Upload your club's official logo. This will replace the default livematchGOLF logo on your public leaderboards, providing a branded experience for your members and visitors.

Getting Help

If you have any questions, have found a bug, or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact us at: support@livematch.golf