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The Golf League Network’s story begins with Handicomp, Inc., founded in 1968 with a clear mission:
provide reliable golf handicaps to clubs and groups of golfers — many of them leagues. In those early years, however, league secretaries were
carrying a heavy load: scheduling, pairings, scoring, and printing standings — often with no efficient way to distribute updates or reports.
Without an easy delivery mechanism, league handicapping never gained enough momentum to justify a full league-management platform.
That changed with the Internet.
The early vision and the breakthrough
The first designs for the Golf League Network took shape in the late 1990s, as Handicomp began meeting with organizations that shared
a common goal: modernize league play. One of the earliest conversations was with Cecil McKay of the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA).
Like many great ideas, the wheels turned slowly at first — but the path became clear.
Handicomp would contribute its programming and system support expertise to build the platform, while the MGCA would bring marketing reach to member clubs — especially
those interested in a statewide championship concept. That championship idea wasn’t new; it had been attempted in the 1980s, but standardizing handicaps
across leagues and courses proved too difficult at the time. With Internet-based tools, the concept finally became practical.
In 2005, Handicomp released the first version of the Golf League Network, and the MGCA hosted the first Michigan Golf League Championship
later that fall. The event was a major success and enjoyed an excellent run before being discontinued after COVID disrupted the market.
Why Handicomp built its own league handicap system
Most leagues prefer a handicap approach tailored to league conditions. Many do not include scores played outside league play, some use local rules
(for example, alternatives to stroke-and-distance), and not every course or tee set used in league play fits neatly into a traditional handicap workflow.
For many leagues, the standard handicap approach can be a poor fit — or more costly than the league wants.
Handicomp recognized this early and developed a portable, league-friendly solution: the Handicomp Golf Handicap System (HGHS).
HGHS helps leagues equalize competition across different courses and tees by adjusting for difficulty — making it possible for teams from different leagues
and courses to compete on a more level playing field. Over time, HGHS also proved valuable beyond leagues, supporting golfers and clubs looking for an
alternative approach.
Major expansion: 2009
In 2009, GLN took two major steps forward:
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Rick Smith joined as spokesman—an ideal fit for the Midwest league culture.
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The platform introduced the League Course option, allowing golf courses to register and manage leagues under their own umbrella.
This gave courses oversight, simplified administration, and created a new way for courses to support both in-house and independently managed leagues.
Recognition and awards
Over the years, the Golf League Network earned attention in leading trade publications. Most importantly, the original concept was validated at the national level:
the MGCA Golf League Championship received the National Golf Course Owners Association’s Player Development Award in 2012, recognizing programs
that welcome new golfers and deliver measurable value. In 2013, Handicomp received the MGCA’s “Award of Merit,” one of the association’s highest honors — driven
largely by Handicomp’s work with leagues.
A modern era: mobile scoring and AI
GLN continued to evolve beyond its original blueprint.
In 2020, GLN added Mobile Scoring (real-time scorecard) through the Golf Mobile Network smartphone application — partly in response to
the need for touchless workflows during COVID, but primarily to make score reporting easier for golfers and league secretaries (and, frankly, more fun).
Then in 2024, Handicomp introduced the world’s first machine-learned AI formula designed specifically for league handicaps — raising the bar for accuracy
and precision while reducing common sources of bias. Because the AI model is predictive by design, it also enabled a powerful next step:
AI Subs for no-shows, giving leagues a fair alternative to ghosts or “playing against par.”
Looking ahead
With deep roots, steady growth, and meaningful innovation, the Golf League Network has a bright future. Handicomp remains committed to continual improvements — and GLN is priced
to deliver strong value for leagues and courses alike. If your league is considering a management system, we’d love to earn your trust with GLN.
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