Are golfers ready for web2.0 ?

In a past post I have written about an online social website aimed at golfers which fits well with all the talk around social sites for a niche audience and offering more than just creating a public profile. Well now I’ve gone a step further and introduced a load more features inline with web2.0 social sites. Are golfers ready ? who knows really.

In brief the site provides a place for golfer to record, track and analyse their golf score online and also tracks their golf handicap inline with the relevant county golf handicapping system. Users can also analyse and compare scores with their golf buddies, access a golf forum, reiew golf courses and access golf group and golf event management systems.

To move it towards web2.0 I’ve introduced public golf space, public golf groups, tag clouds, user images, RSS feeds, UGC in terms of forums, reviews and blogs and a lot more I can’t even remember. So what have I done,

Golfer profile and ‘my golf space‘

I’ve basically pulled together loads of information already held in the site and updated the existing user profile page. Profiles can now be public so none golfscoretracker users can view the profile, introduced a photo list of golf buddies, listed users golf groups, introduced tag clouds for users favourite golf courses as well as proving quick links to golf stats and user golf information. The page also provides a link to the users golf handicap.

Golf groups and golf societies

I’ve also updated and tweaked the existing golf society system so that it is much easier for users to create their own golf groups which others can join. The golf groups allow users to run and organise golf events as well as providing a golf group message board and group golf blog.

The golf groups can now be set to public so that again non golfscoretracker users can viewthe golf group, golf events and leaderboard for the golf group.

Golf event and golf competitions

The golf event system has been updated to make it easier to use, allow public golf events which members can join and provided RSS feeds.

A full overview of the golf group and golf events being used live can be seen on the golf group pages for the golfscoretracker golf society pages.

Any golfers interested in finding out more, then visit www.golfscoretracker.co.uk to register and sign up for free and starting tracking your golf scores and golf handicap online as well as becoming part of an online golf community.

Moderating UGC (User Generated Content)

I suppose really this poses a question,can you and should you ?

To some degree you have to and site owners should comply with any T&C’s they have in place but it’s a very fine line with censorship and ensuring user loyalty.

I guess this is a lot easier with sites that require registration and users are actually members of a site.  The problems start when you allow free open access.  A great site I found before Christmas and we had fun pimping our IM avatars at the office [PikiPimp.com] seems to be coming under abuse over the last few weeks with images some would find offensive.

It’s the minority and allowing the user base to moderate can only increase loyalty and security in the site, similar to how youtube.com works.