To ensure all communications are compliant with regulations and to provide a professional experience for golfers, our system requires consent before sending text messages. This opt-in process applies to all phone numbers that are added to the database for the first time.
In this article, we will give an overview of the opt-in process, how it works, how to view subscription statuses, delivery reports and errors, its impact on existing golfers, and how to use the subscription status tracker tool.
How It Works
When a text message is sent to a phone number that has not previously received texts from Golf Genius, the process is as follows:
Opt-In Invitation: The golfer receives an automated text message asking for their consent to receive notifications from Golf Genius (as shown below). The original message you sent is held and will be delivered only after consent is given.
Notes:The opt-in invitation clarifies that consent applies to messages from Golf Genius on your behalf and any other Golf Genius customer account the golfers is associated with. This is a one-time process.
Once a golfer has opted in, they will not be prompted to do so again for any future messages, even if they are associated with multiple clubs.
Providing Consent: The golfer must reply to the automated message with the word START within 24 hours.
Once they reply START, their subscription status is updated, and the original message is then delivered.
If the golfer replies with STOP at any time, or if 24 hours pass without a response, their subscription status is marked as Unsubscribed, and the original held message is canceled.
Text Message Delivery Report Error Messaging
Our system includes tools to help you manage your contacts and identify issues. Navigate to the Message Delivery Reports (as shown below):
Customer Center Messages: Navigate to Master Roster > Manage Text Messages > Message Delivery Report.
Event League Messages: Navigate to Golfers > Manage Text Messages > Message Delivery Report.
Rounds Messages: Navigate to Rounds > Manage Text Messages > Message Delivery Report.
The Text Message Delivery Report reflects the consent with the following statuses:
Queued: The message is waiting to be processed by the system.
Pending Opt-in: The original message is being held while the system awaits a START reply from the recipient to the opt-in invitation.
Delivered: The message was successfully sent to the recipient’s carrier.
Failed: The message could not be delivered (e.g., incorrect number).
Unsubscribed: The recipient replied STOP, or the 24-hour opt-in window expired without a START reply, resulting in the message being discarded. When a message is not delivered due to a lack of consent, the Text Message Delivery Report will show the error message, "Unsubscribed recipient: The recipient either replied with STOP to a previous message or has not yet subscribed to notifications from Golf Genius" (as shown below).
From this page, to effectively manage and review messages based on the opt-in process, you can filter by error messages types to determine why a recipient isn't receiving a message:
Filtering: Use the filter options in the Text Message Delivery Report to easily find all golfers who have unsubscribed or have not yet opted in. When filtering, use the Select Error option to view recipients based on specific errors. This allows you to maintain an accurate contact list for all your messaging needs.
Check Opt-in Status (Verifying Subscriptions Status)
To diagnose issues and provide golfers with correct subscription instructions, staff can use the Check Opt-in Status tool. To access the status verification tool, follow these directions:
Navigate to manage text messages:
Customer Center Messages: Navigate to Master Roster > Manage Text Messages.
Event League Messages: Navigate to Golfers > Manage Text Messages.
Rounds Messages: Navigate to Rounds > Manage Text Messages.
Click the "Check Opt-In Status" button.
Enter the golfer's phone number and click “Check Status” (as shown below).
The system will display the current status of the phone number, offering immediate troubleshooting guidance based on the tracker results:
Tracker Result | Description | Manager Action |
Subscribed | The number is active and ready to receive messages. | Confirm the number is correct; check the Message Delivery Report for other errors. |
Unsubscribed | The user has opted out, or the opt-in window has expired. | The pop-up will provide the correct number the golf should text START or UNSTOP to re-subscribe. |
Landline | The number entered is a landline and cannot receive text messages. | Request a valid mobile number from the golfer. |
Number not found | No subscription record exists (e.g., the number has never been messaged). | Proceed with sending a text; the opt-in process will begin automatically. |
Subscribing or Re-Subscribing Golfers to Text Messages
If a user needs to opt-in, has unsubscribed, or wants to re-subscribe, they can text "START" or "UNSTOP" to the original Opt-in text message or any other text message thread previously received from Golf Genius. Once they have opted in, they will receive all future messages that are sent.
If the user has deleted the text messages, you can verify the number they need to send "Start" to resubscribe using one of the following options:
Check Opt-in Status: Use the Check Opt-In Status button (as described in the section above) for the clearest instructions.
Text Message Delivery Reports: Hover your mouse over the info icon next to the phone number on the message that failed to send. This will provide you with the correct number to send the "Start" message to (as shown below).
Send "Start" Message: Alternatively, have them send the "Start" message to both of the following numbers:
+1-855-559-8763
+1-201-885-5464
Note: Managers will not receive any replies to the text message. We suggest informing recipients that this is a "Do Not Reply" text message.