Boss Mode
18Birdies' Boss Mode gives you control over your golf privacy by letting you hide specific rounds from selected friends—whether you're sneaking in a workday round or just want to keep certain games to yourself.
What Does Boss Mode Do?
When activated for a round, Boss Mode creates a selective "cloak of invisibility" that prevents chosen friends from seeing:
- Push or email notifications about your round
- When your round appears in their activity feed
- Visibility in your round history specific to the other golfer
- Score visibility for that specific round
Meanwhile, you'll still have full access to your round data, and any friends not on your "Hide From" list will see your round normally.
How to Use Boss Mode
Setting up Boss Mode takes just a few seconds:
- Open 18Birdies and tap Play on the bottom menu.
- Tap Start Round to open the Round Setup screen.
- Tap on Round Visibility in Round Settings
- Select Friends as your visibility option
- Tap Hide From and then the "Edit List" link
- Choose specific people you want to hide this round from
- Hit Confirm to save your settings
- Start your round and play in peace ✌️
⚠️ Important Notes when using Boss Mode
- Settings Lock: Once you start your round, Boss Mode settings are locked for that round and cannot be changed
- Handicap & Stats: Unless otherwise specified, your round will still count toward your handicap, stats, and insights
When to Use Boss Mode
Boss Mode is particularly useful when:
- You're sneaking in a midweek round during work hours
- Playing a solo round you'd prefer to keep private
- Testing new clubs or practicing without pressure
- You want to avoid questions in group chats about your golf habits
- Playing without your usual foursome
👻 Pro Tip: Go Full Ghost Mode!
Want maximum privacy? Activate Full Ghost Mode:
- Select "Only Me" in Round Visibility
- Enable "Exclude Round" under Other Settings
This keeps your round completely private AND prevents it from counting toward your handicap and stats.
It's your golf. Keep it your business.
Boss Mode is FREE for all golfers!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change who sees my round after I've started playing?
No. Once your round begins, the Boss Mode settings are locked for that round.
Will Boss Mode affect my handicap or statistics?
No. Unless you specifically select "Exclude Round" under Other Settings, your round will still count toward your handicap and all statistics, even when hidden from certain friends.
Can the people I hide my rounds from tell that I've hidden something?
No. The round simply won't appear for them at all—there's no indication that you've played or hidden anything.
Is there a limit to how many people I can hide a round from?
You can add as many friends as needed to your "Hide From" list for any given round.
Does Boss Mode hide my previous rounds?
No, Boss Mode only applies to the specific round you're setting up. Past rounds remain visible according to their original visibility settings.However, you can still change the round visibility from 'Only Me', 'Friends', or 'Everyone'. See more here: Activity Sharing
Can I use Boss Mode for tournament or competition rounds?
Yes, you can use Boss Mode for any type of round, including tournaments. However, remember that Boss Mode only affects visibility to selected friends and doesn't impact official scoring. If you're playing in an organized event, your scores will still be visible to tournament officials and may be posted publicly through the tournament platform.
If I use Boss Mode often, will it affect my friend relationships in the app?
No. Boss Mode is completely discrete - friends you hide rounds from will never know you've hidden anything from them. There are no notifications or indicators that you've played a hidden round, so your relationships within the app remain unaffected.
What happens if someone I've hidden a round from tries to view my stats or handicap?
They'll see your stats and handicap calculations as normal, but without the hidden rounds factored in from their perspective. The rounds still count toward your handicap and stats (unless you've selected "Exclude Round"), but the specific rounds will be invisible to those selected friends.
Can I retroactively hide rounds I've already played with Boss Mode?
No, Boss Mode only applies to rounds you're currently setting up. You cannot retroactively hide from specific users for previously completed rounds. However, you can still change the round visibility from 'Only Me', 'Friends', or 'Everyone'. See more here: Activity Sharing
If I use Full Ghost Mode, will my score still save in my personal history?
Yes. Even when using Full Ghost Mode (selecting "Only Me" visibility and enabling "Exclude Round"), your round is still saved in your personal history for your reference. The "Exclude Round" option only prevents the round from affecting your handicap and stats calculations, but you'll still be able to access and view the round in your personal history.