Dave and Charlie are in the pro shop everyday from 10:00 to 3:00 or later.  We are accepting membership payments (remember that we do offer a 3 month payment plan, if this will help you become a member).  Due to the change over to the BlueGolf system for our handicaps, association dues for everyone is $30 this year.  Please pay this, as soon as possible, as the deletion date this year has been moved up to April 15.

The Women's Association plans are almost complete.  They should all be on the Ladies Events page the beginning of next week.

March 5 We need to change our hours of operation over the next three days.  We will be open on Saturday March 6 from 10:00-2:00; Sunday March 7 from 10:00-2:00; Monday March 8 we will be closed as we have a meeting in Indianapolis to attend on the BlueGolf System.

The weather is calling for temps close to 50 the next few days with some rain early next week.  This will melt most of the snow and start thawing the ground.  If it stays warm, we will get some good drying days and can open shortly after that.  Naturally, it will still be a while before we can get carts on the course, but that is just around the corner.

March 1 Dave and Charlie would like for everyone to come out and say "Hi" and help us get the 2010 golf season underway.  As long as the  course is not playable, our hours will be from 10:00 to 3:00 or so.  When the course becomes playable, we will naturally expand our hours. 

Please remember that we are not offering a 10 round play pass this year (those left over from last year will be honored), so a membership might be the way to go for the 2010 season, especially with the extra benefits you receive for being a member.   You can check the Rates page to see all offerings for this year.  We will still offer a 10 round cart pass as well as the full season cart pass.  Please also remember that we offer a payment plan for yearly memberships and/or the yearly cart program.  We are also offering $100 off an adult membership for anyone 35 years of age or younger.  Please see us for more information on all of our programs.

You can begin signing up for Men's Spring League anytime now.  Get with your partner and sign up early.  The format will be the same as last year, but you can see all of the dates and other info on the Men's League Schedule page.  We hope to see a great turnout again this year.

The PGC pro shop has become a 100% Titleist ball shop.  In other words, we will only carry the various types of Titleist golf balls.  You will also see that we will not have in stock a large selection of clubs from the many, many club companies out there today.
However, we can order anything that you might need and have it for you in a very short amount of time.  Please give us a chance to help you with all of your golfing needs.

Charlie can take care of most of your golf club repair and regripping needs.  Now is the time to get you clubs regripped while the snow is still on the ground.  Please take a look at the Golf Club Repair page for more information or give Charlie a call at the pro shop.

We are learning more and more about the new BlueGolf handicap system.  We should have everything up and running by the middle of the month, at the latest.  To join either our Men's or Women's Assocations this year with be $30.  This will allow you to play in all Association events (other tournament or league fees will apply) and give you an official handicap for the 2010 golf season. 

February 16   In the January 1 newsletter (below), we mentioned that the Indiana Golf Association (of which the Portland Golf Club is a member) was changing from the GHIN handicap system to the BlueGolf system.  This system will allow you to do so much more with the scores you post and with keeping track of your golf statistics.  This system will not be operational for us until sometime late this month, but we are receiving more and more information that might be helpful in your understanding of the new system.  Below are the Frequently Asked Questions, about BlueGolf, that are found on the IGA web site.  I have duplicated them here for your viewing.  Please keep checking back here for more updates.

Please remember that Dave and Charlie will be back in the Pro Shop on March 1.  Stop in to say Hi and we should be able to give you more information at that time. 

What is BlueGolf?
BlueGolf is a complete golf management program being used by the Indiana Golf Association – Indiana PGA. Since 2007, the IGA-PGA has used the BlueGolf platform for tournament administration and online registration. Beginning in January 2010, the IGA-PGA has now added handicap services to the BlueGolf platform to provide a complete solution for members. In addition, the IGA-PGA and BlueGolf will provide www.IndianaGolf.org with the most complete directory of Indiana golf courses available on the internet. 

What does this change mean for members?
IGA-PGA members will see a change in the way they post scores both at a club’s handicap kiosk and online. While the look of the handicap kiosk will change, many of the same features remain. Because the new club kiosk runs in a web browser, scores posted through the kiosk will be available immediately at any other computer with internet access. This will provide members with a real-time record of their scores. To access your handicap record online or post a new score, the login process will change slightly. There will now be one login portal available on www.IndianaGolf.org, for both handicap records and tournament registration. The user name will be a member’s IGA-PGA number and the password will be set by the player once the player has logged in for the first time – when logging in for the first time, the member’s password will be set to their last name.

What features are available in my new and improved member account?
For the first time, all IGA-PGA services are now available in one member account. Once a member logs into their account, they will have access to their member information, handicap services, and online tournament registration. In addition, members will have access to all of BlueGolf’s Game Tracker. This feature includes the ability to track hole-by-hole scores and shots (e.g. fairways hit) for every round. Members will also be able to track their friends’ handicaps and can receive an update of their friends’ handicaps in every revision email.

Where do I go to login for handicap or tournament services?
There is now one login area located on the right-hand side of all pages on the www.IndianaGolf.org web site. Use your IGA-PGA number and password to login (first time login password will be your last name, and then you may change it to something personal after logging in). This one login will access your member record, which includes all handicap information, statistics, and the ability to register for IGA-PGA tournaments. 

Will I still be able to access my historic score and revision information?
Yes! Your score and revision history have been transferred from GHIN to the new handicap platform.

How do I post a score online?
There are two ways to access your member account to post a score online. The first option is to click the “Post Score” button on the Indiana Golf "Handicapping" page. You will be asked to login and will be taken directly to the score posting page of your member account. The second option is to login to your member account using the login box on the right-hand side of all Indiana Golf pages of the website. Once you are in your member account, click the “Handicap” tab and then the post score link under that tab.

How do I register online for IGA-PGA tournaments?
Online registration for IGA-PGA events has not changed. Login to your member account and click the “Tournaments” tab. You will see all of the tournaments for which you are eligible. Check the box next to the tournament you wish to register for and click the register button below. You may also register directly from the tournament schedule page.

How are handicap revisions calculated?
Handicap revisions will now take place on the 1st and 15th of every month beginning March 1st, 2010. Revisions will happen automatically since scores posted at the club and online will now be available instantly.

Why should an email address and mailing address be added to my record?
All players with an email address will receive an email update every time their handicap is revised. In addition, all players with a mailing address or email address may receive publications and notifications from the Indiana Golf Office. Simply login to your member account to update your information.

Can I have my IGA-PGA handicap record linked with my handicap record in another state?
Yes. The IGA-PGA and BlueGolf are members of the International Golf Network (IGN). The IGN allows members to have their handicap records linked through state and regional golf associations throughout the country. Please contact the Indiana Golf Office to have your record linked to another club.

Where do I access the IGA-PGA’s course directory?
Click on the “Indiana Courses” link on www.IndianaGolf.org.
 
 

January 1               Happy New Year to All from everyone
                           at the Portland Golf Club

Dave and Charlie will be back in the pro shop on March 1.  If you need to contact us before then, please give us a call. 

   Some pages of the 2010 PGC website are not complete at this time.  Tournaments, league information, and outing dates may not be officially finalized until sometime in March.  We will, however, update pages as the information is completed.  Please keep checking back here for all Portland Golf Club news.

     For those of you who have not yet joined for the 2010 season, you still can save money by joining on or before January 15.  Click on to the Rates page for more information.  We do offer a payment plan to help make it easier for you to become a member of the Portland Golf Club.  We are also offering a Young Adult Membership for the 2010 season:  $100 off the membership rate for the first 35 single or men/wife memberships for anyone 35 years old and younger.   Check with the pro shop for more information about all of these programs.  We will NOT be offering a 10 round play pass this year, so here is extra incentive for becoming a member. 

Please keep our member benefits package in mind :
*Unlimited golf for the 2010 season 
*Bring a guest, up to 4 times, for cart fees only
*Range balls $3.00 per bag or Range Membership for $100 (save $50)
*10% discount on all merchandise (excluding balls and gloves)
*$100 off your membership for sponsoring a new member
*Play up to 4 times at Hickory Hills for cart fees only 

    As many of you already know, Jerry Abbott was approached about heading up the Men's Association Tournaments for 2010 and has accepted this position.  Jerry is already hard at work talking with people and putting together a nice variety of tournaments for the 2010 season.  Thank you, Jerry, for helping us out with this part of the Portland Golf Club.  If Jerry has not contacted you about your ideas for 2010, let us know and we will have Jerry get ahold of you.

     The Indiana Golf Association is changing our handicap provider.  We will be attending a workshop this spring to learn more about the BLUE GOLF system that will be implemented.  Unfortunately, as with a lot of things, there is a rate increase associated with the use of this system.  Remember that anyone can join the Men's or Women's Golf Associations here at the Portland Golf Club.  You do not need to be a full member to join.  By joining, you will have an accurate handicap and can play in all PGC events. 

  In January, the Indiana Golf Office will transition to a new handicap vendor, BlueGolf. The IGA-PGA is committed to providing the most innovative services available to IGA-PGA individual members and member clubs. The IGA, PGA, IWGA and BlueGolf are excited to bring you many new and enhanced services for the 2010 season including those outlined below. Visit www.indianagolf.org for future announcements regarding additional new services for members, including mobile support for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.
     All current members’ handicap information (number, handicap, score history and email) will be transferred over from GHIN automatically for a seamless transition. However, members will now post scores directly to this web site, indianagolf.org, a service which will not be available until March 1, 2010. More information on posting will follow. 

  The Portland Golf Club is now on Facebook. This is still a learning process for us, but we hope to be able to reach more people through this avenue.  For you veteran Facebook members, please check us out and let us know how we can improve our Facebook page.