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Guest Players - User Guide

How to Add & Manage Guest Players

What are Guest Players?

Guest players are golfers who can participate in your rounds without creating a Buddies on the Green account. This feature is perfect for:

  • Playing with friends who don't have the app
  • Including visitors or one-time playing partners
  • Casual rounds where you want to track everyone's scores
  • Tournament scenarios with non-members

Key Points:

  • Guest players don't need to download the app or create an account
  • You'll enter their scores for them during the round
  • Guests are saved to your account and reused — add the same person again without retyping their details
  • Guests can participate in side games like Nassau, Skins, and Wolf
  • If a guest joins Buddies on the Green later, you can invite them and their guest history moves to their new account

How to Add a Guest Player

Step 1: Start Creating a New Round

  1. Tap the "New Round" button on your dashboard
  2. Select your course and tee time
  3. Choose your tee

Step 2: Open Buddy Selection

  1. Tap "Select Buddies" to choose who's playing
  2. You'll see your list of connected buddies

Step 3: Add a Guest

  1. Tap the "Add Guest Player" button (appears above your buddy list)
  2. A popup will appear asking for guest information

Step 4: Enter Guest Information

Required:

  • Guest Name: Enter the guest's name (2-50 characters)
    • Example: "John Smith" or "Sarah P."
    • Type a name you've used before and the app matches your existing guest instead of creating a duplicate

Optional:

  • Handicap Index: Enter their handicap if known (0 to 54)
    • Leave blank if they don't have one
    • For a plus handicap, switch on Plus (+) Handicap and enter the number as a normal positive value — typing a minus sign won't work
    • This helps with NET scoring calculations

Step 5: Save the Guest

  1. Tap "Add Guest"
  2. The guest will appear in your buddy list with an amber "Guest" badge
  3. They'll be automatically selected to play in your round

Adding, Editing, or Removing a Guest Before the Round Starts

You don't have to add every guest while first creating the round. If a round has already been created but hasn't started yet, you can still add, edit, or remove guests:

  1. Open the round from your dashboard or rounds list
  2. Tap Share to open the Share Round window
  3. Find the Guest players section (below the Share Only / Play Together choice)

This isn't just the round owner's job — any player in the round and the scorekeeper can add, edit, and remove guests before it starts.

To add a guest: Tap Add Guest, enter their name (and optional handicap), and tap Add Guest. They appear immediately in the guest list and will be a player when the round starts.

To edit a guest: In the guest list, tap the ✏️ edit button next to their name to change their name or handicap, then tap Update Guest. A handicap change is applied to the round's scoring, so the guest's NET scores and Match Play "pops" will be correct once you begin.

To remove a guest: In the guest list, tap the ✕ button next to their name. They're removed from the round right away.

Note: Adding, editing, and removing guests is only available before the round starts. Once a round is active or completed, the guest list is locked in (so scores/results can't change mid-round).

My Guests

Every guest you add is saved to your account, so you never have to type the same person's details twice. Open My Guests from the menu to see everyone you've played with as a guest.

Each guest shows their history with you:

  • Total rounds they've been part of
  • Completed rounds
  • Last played — the date you last teed it up together

From here you can:

  • Edit a guest's name or handicap
  • Delete a guest you no longer play with
  • Invite to Join BOTG — see below

Reusing a guest: When you type a name that matches a guest you've already saved, the app reuses that guest instead of creating a duplicate — and updates their handicap if you've entered a new one.

Inviting a Guest to Join

If a guest starts showing up round after round, invite them to get their own account.

  1. Open My Guests
  2. Tap Invite to Join BOTG next to their name
  3. Send them the email invite

The invite is good for 30 days. Each guest's row shows their current invite status, and a Resend Invite button is there if the first one goes unnoticed.

When they sign up, their history comes with them. Their guest rounds, scores, and side-game results are moved over to their new account — so they start with the record you already built for them, and from then on they enter their own scores.

Guest Player Restrictions

Guest players have some limitations compared to registered users:

What Guests CAN Do:

✅ Play in your round ✅ Have their scores entered by you ✅ Participate in side games (Nassau, Skins, Match Play, Wolf) ✅ Have handicap calculations (if you entered their handicap) ✅ Appear on the scorecard and leaderboard

What Guests CANNOT Do:

❌ Enter their own scores (you enter for them) ❌ Be spectators (they can only be players) ❌ Be scorekeepers ❌ View the round in their own app (they don't have accounts) ❌ Receive notifications about the round

During the Round

Entering Scores for Guests

When you're scoring the round:

  1. Guest players will appear in your scoring interface with their names
  2. You'll see their score card just like any other player
  3. Simply enter their scores hole-by-hole as you would for yourself

Example:

Nicole Comstock        (You)
Rudy Dog               (Guest)
lonny G                (Guest)

The amber "Guest" badge only shows in the buddy list while you're creating a round. Everywhere else — scoring, scorecards, leaderboards — guests are simply marked "(Guest)".

Guest Players in Side Games

Guests can participate in all side games:

Nassau:

  • Guests count toward team scores
  • Their handicap (if provided) is used for NET calculations

Match Play:

  • Guests can compete 1v1 or in teams
  • Handicap strokes allocated normally

Skins:

  • Guests can win skins
  • NET scores calculated if handicaps provided

Wolf:

  • Guests can be the Wolf
  • Guests can be selected as partners
  • Full participation in point calculations

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple guests to one round?

Yes! You can add as many guests as needed. There's no limit to the number of guests per round (within the overall player limit for your round).

Example: You could create a foursome with:

  • You (registered user)
  • 1 registered buddy
  • 2 guests

Do guests persist across multiple rounds?

Yes. Guests are saved to your account. Start typing a name you've used before and the app matches your existing guest — same person, same history, no duplicate. If you enter a new handicap for them, it updates their saved handicap too.

You can see all of them, along with how many rounds you've played together, on the My Guests page.

Tip: If you play with someone frequently, invite them to create a free account (see Inviting a Guest to Join). They'll be able to enter their own scores, and their guest history transfers over.

Can I edit a guest's information after creating them?

Yes — before the round starts. From the Share Round window's Guest players section, tap the ✏️ edit button next to a guest to change their name or handicap, then tap Update Guest. A handicap change is applied to the round's scoring, so the guest's NET scores and Match Play "pops" will be correct once you begin.

You can also edit a saved guest at any time from the My Guests page.

Once the round is active or completed, guest information for that round is locked in so results can't change mid-round. See Adding, Editing, or Removing a Guest Before the Round Starts.

Can guests see their scores?

Not directly. Since guests don't have accounts, they can't log into the app to view their scores.

How guests can see scores:

  • Show them your phone during or after the round
  • Share a screenshot of the final scorecard
  • Future feature: Share a public link to the round results

What happens if a guest creates an account later?

Their history follows them. Send the invite from My Guests ("Invite to Join BOTG"), and when they sign up through it, everything you recorded for them as a guest — rounds, hole-by-hole scores, and side-game results — is moved onto their new account.

Nothing is lost and nothing is duplicated. They pick up with the record you already built, and from their next round on they can enter their own scores.

Can I add a guest with the same name as a registered user?

Yes. Guest names don't need to be unique across the entire app. However, try to be descriptive to avoid confusion in your own rounds.

Examples:

  • If you have a buddy named "John Smith" and a guest named "John Smith", both will appear
  • Consider using "John S. (Guest)" for clarity

Do guests count toward my round sharing limits?

No. Guests are separate from your regular buddy sharing limits, and there's no extra charge per guest.

But note: creating a round is itself a Premium feature, so you'll need an active subscription (or trial) to get as far as adding guests.

Can a guest be a scorekeeper?

No. Scorekeeping requires app access, so guests cannot be designated as scorekeepers. Only registered users who are connected buddies can be scorekeepers.

What happens to guest data after the round?

Guest data remains in the round permanently. You'll always be able to view:

  • Guest names on the scorecard
  • Their scores
  • Their participation in side games
  • Their statistics from that round

Privacy Note: Guest data is only visible to:

  • You (the round creator)
  • Any registered buddies you shared the round with

Tips & Best Practices

1. Get Their Handicap

If your guest has a handicap index, enter it! This enables:

  • Accurate NET scoring
  • Fair competition in side games
  • Better match play handicap allowances

2. Explain the Process

Before the round, let your guest know:

  • You'll be entering their scores
  • They should tell you their score for each hole
  • They won't be able to view the round in the app themselves

3. Double-Check Names

Spell the guest's name the way you'll type it next time — that's how the app recognizes them and keeps their history in one place. You can fix a name later from My Guests or from the Share Round window, but not once the round is under way.

4. Use Guest Players for Casual Rounds

Guest players are perfect for:

  • One-time playing partners
  • Visitors to your course
  • Friends trying out golf tracking
  • Tournament guests

5. Encourage Frequent Partners to Sign Up

If you play with someone regularly, tap Invite to Join BOTG next to their name on the My Guests page. Once they sign up they can:

  • Connect as a buddy
  • Enter their own scores
  • Keep the rounds you already logged for them
  • Build their own statistics from there

Example Scenarios

Scenario 1: Weekend Round with Friends

Situation: You're playing with 2 regular buddies and 1 friend who doesn't have the app.

Solution:

  1. Create new round
  2. Select your 2 regular buddies
  3. Add guest player for your friend
  4. Play the round and enter everyone's scores

Result: All 4 players on the scorecard, complete statistics, and side game results.

Scenario 2: Charity Tournament

Situation: You're organizing a charity tournament with 12 players, only 4 of whom have the app.

Solution:

  1. Create the round
  2. Select the 3 buddies with the app
  3. Add 8 guest players for the others
  4. Enter all scores during the round

Result: Complete tournament scorecard with all participants tracked.

Scenario 3: Course Guest

Situation: You're playing your home course and paired with a random player.

Solution:

  1. Ask if they'd like to be included in your digital scorecard
  2. Get their name and handicap
  3. Add them as a guest
  4. Track their scores along with yours

Result: Complete round data with all players, good etiquette, and accurate record-keeping.

Troubleshooting

Guest doesn't appear after adding them

Try:

  1. Make sure you tapped "Add Guest" to save
  2. Check if the modal closed (indicates success)
  3. Look for the amber "Guest" badge in your buddy list
  4. If still missing, try adding them again

Guest name shows as "Unknown Player"

This shouldn't happen. If it does:

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Try refreshing the page
  3. Contact support if the issue persists

Can't enter scores for guest

Check:

  1. Make sure the round is started (status: "active")
  2. Verify you're the round owner, a player, or the scorekeeper
  3. Confirm the guest is in the "playing" role (not spectating)
  4. Try refreshing the scoring page

Guest accidentally added as spectator

This can't happen — guests are always players, never spectators. If you added the wrong guest or entered their details incorrectly on a not-yet-started round, remove them from the Share Round window's Guest players section (tap the ✕) and add them again.

Need More Help?

  • Check the FAQ section above
  • Visit our Help Center at buddiesonthegreen.com/help
  • Contact Support via the in-app chat
  • Email us at support@buddiesonthegreen.com

Quick Reference

TaskSteps
Add guest (new round)New Round → Select Buddies → Add Guest Player → Enter name/handicap → Save
Add guest (existing pre-start round)Open round → Share → Guest players → Add Guest → Enter name/handicap → Add Guest
Reuse a saved guestType the same name again — the app matches your existing guest
Remove guest (new round)In buddy selection, tap the guest's checkbox to unselect
Remove guest (existing pre-start round)Open round → Share → Guest players → tap ✕ next to the guest
See all your guestsMenu → My Guests
Edit or delete a saved guestMy Guests → tap edit or delete next to their name
Invite a guest to joinMy Guests → Invite to Join BOTG → send the email invite
Enter guest scoresDuring round, tap guest's score card → Enter scores normally
View guest in scorecardComplete round → View scorecard → Guests appear with other players
Include guest in side gameCreate side game → Guests are automatically included in participant list