Getting Started as a Tournament Player

As a tournament player, joining and participating in an 18Birdies tournament is easy and straightforward. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from joining a tournament to starting your round and recording scores. 

Joining a Tournament

To participate in an 18Birdies tournament, you need to receive an invitation from the tournament organizer. There are multiple ways to join, including using a tournament code or scanning a QR code.

How to Join With a Tournament Code:

1. Open the 18Birdies app and tap Community on the bottom menu bar.
2. Tap Tournaments, then locate the Join Tournaments section.
3. Enter the four-digit Tournament Code in the text box labeled "Enter Code" and tap Join.
4. Tap Accept on the invitation prompt to complete your registration.

How to Join With a QR Code:

1. Open the 18Birdies app and tap the QR icon in the top menu bar.
2. Scan the tournament's QR code using your phone's camera.
3. Tap Join to enter the tournament.

If You Received an Invitation Link from the Tournament Organizer:

1. Tap the link from your iPhone or Android device.
2. Download 18Birdies from your respective app store.
3. Create your 18Birdies account.
4. Your account should automatically connect to the tournament. 
5. If you don't see the tournament when you open the app, tap the invitation link again.

Starting Your Round

Once the tournament begins, all players are required to start their rounds in the app. This ensures proper score tracking and participation in leaderboard updates.

Steps to Start Your Round:

1. Open the 18Birdies app and tap Play on the bottom menu bar.
2. Locate your tournament at the top of the Play screen (tournaments are displayed in event date order, with the upcoming events shown first).
3. Tap Start Round and choose your course for the round.
4. Add your playing partners (optional) by selecting them from your friends list or searching by name, email, or phone number.
5. Tap Play to officially begin your round.

Note: Side games or targets during your round (such as skins or birdie games) are optional but can be added for extra fun! .

Recording Scores & Stats

After starting your round, ensure all players in your group are added to the scorecard. You can either record your own scores or have one person in your group handle the scorekeeping.

How to Add Players to the Scorecard:

• Players must accept both the tournament invitation and the round invitation to be added to the scorecard.
• If a player does not have an 18Birdies account, they can be added as a Guest Player by the tournament round creator. The round creator will also input the guest’s Handicap Index for accurate net scoring.

For team-based formats like Best Ball:

• Add only the players from your specific team to your group in the app. For example, in a 2-man Best Ball game, each 2-man team in a foursome should create their own group within the app. This prevents the app from misclassifying all four players as part of the same team. .

Virtual Tournaments: 

In virtual tournaments, players participate from different courses, potentially in different locations. This is made possible through 18Birdies' vast course database, which includes over 35,000 courses worldwide.

Choosing Your Course:

1. After joining the tournament and starting your round, you’ll select a course when starting your round.
2. The app will automatically calculate a tournament handicap based on the slope and rating of the course.
3. Be sure to select a course with comparable difficulty (e.g., look for a par of 71 or 72) to maintain competitive balance.

Tracking Scores:

18Birdies uses a system that adjusts scores across all courses, creating a "generic course" to ensure fair competition. This allows players to compete on an even playing field, regardless of course differences. .

Tournament FAQs for Players

Here are answers to some common questions players might have:

1. What happens if I need help during the tournament? Contact your tournament organizer or reach out to 18Birdies support at Support@18Birdies.com for assistance. .
2. Do I need to calculate my handicap manually? No, 18Birdies calculates your handicap automatically based on the course slope and rating. .
3. Can I play on any course for virtual tournaments? Yes, you can select from over 40,000 courses in the 18Birdies database. The app automatically balances scores for fair competition. .
4. What if I don’t have a 4-digit Tournament Code? Reach out to the organizer for your tournament code or check if they have shared a QR code for easy registration. .

18Birdies makes playing in tournaments easier and more fun!

As a player, your tournament experience with 18Birdies is designed to be straightforward and enjoyable. With simple joining options, real-time score tracking, and comprehensive course coverage, you can focus less on logistics and more on your game. Download the app, join your tournament, and start competing today!