Handicap

Who can sign scorecards used for initial handicap calculation?

When I submit scorecards for initial handicap calculation, what details need to be on the cards?

How are Australian Golf Handicaps calculated?

Golf Australia uses the World Handicap System (WHS) to calculate your official GA Handicap. This global system ensures your handicap is fair, consistent, and recognised at every affiliated course in Australia and overseas.

When you enter your scores, whether in a competition or a social round with a marker, the WHS adjusts them for course difficulty and automatically updates your handicap. Your handicap travels with you, whether you’re playing at your local club or teeing up internationally.

This system gives every golfer, from beginner to low-marker, a fair shot in competitions. It responds quickly to improvements in your game, and because it’s a global system, your GA Handicap is trusted everywhere you play.

Golf Australia uses a few key steps to determine your handicap:

You play a round & submit your score
Every valid 9- or 18-hole score goes into your scoring record.
Your Score Differential is created
This adjusts your score based on the difficulty of the course you played.
Score Differential = (Adjusted Gross Score – Course Rating) × 113 ÷ Slope Rating
Your best 8 rounds count
Out of your most recent 20 rounds, the lowest 8 Score Differentials are averaged.
This ensures your handicap reflects your true playing ability.
Caps protect your number
The system includes controls to stop handicaps blowing out during a rough patch:

Soft Cap: slows increases after your handicap rises 3 strokes above your best 12-month form
Hard Cap: limits total upward movement to 5 strokes

Your handicap updates daily
Once processed, your scores update your GA Handicap overnight so it always reflects your current level.

NOTE: When a player is gaining a handicap a sliding scale of score differentials is used (see table below). As a result of this your handicap will likely fluctuate quite a bit as you’re submitting your first 20 round.

What is the GA Handicap and what is the Daily Handicap?

Can I get my new Golf ID number before I have submitted my scorecards?

If you’ve previously held a Golf link number or Golf ID number, we’ll simply reactivate it and your old record. You can indicate this one the sign-up page. If you can’t remember your number, you should be able to obtain it from the Club you were a member of previously.

To activate a first-time handicap, you need to complete three steps: application, payment, and 54 holes of scorecards. These scorecards can be entered through any combination of 9 and/or 18-hole rounds.

Our standard process is to wait until all three steps are completed before activating the golfer’s entity on Golf Connect (Golf Australia’s Handicap Platform). However, some golfers prefer to receive their Golf ID number before submitting their scorecards. In these cases, the handicap will appear as ‘Pending’ on Golf Connect until 54 holes of scores are entered on the golfer’s playing history.

Rounds for handicap can be scored and submitted via our app (instructions below) or scored on a manual scorecard scored by and marked by another player with an active Golf ID.

For more information, visit: https://golfnetwork.com.au/how-do-i-submit-a-conforming-social-score-via-the-golfer-app/4550

Once you’ve submitted 54 holes of compliant scorecards Golf Australia will automatically issue you with a handicap. You can then view your handicap record on the golf.com.au website. Note you may need to register first using your Golf ID number.

How long does it take to activate a handicap with The Golfer Social Club?

Memberships with the Golfer Social Club last for 12 months from the date of sign-up.

As part of our Handicap and Premium+ Membership categories you will receive an Australian Golf ID number (previously called GOLF Link numbers) and official World Handicapping System handicap.

If you’ve previously held a Golf ID (or Golflink number) we will be able to reactivate this upon sign up. If you haven’t held one before, we’ll issue you one.

It's a common misconception that Golf ID’s and/or Golflink numbers expire. This isnt the case so its always best (and due process) to let us know if youve previously held one.

Australian Golf ID numbers do not expire — they are a unique identifier that stays with you for your lifetime as a golfer in Australia.

Key points

Under the new Golf Australia Connect system (launched early October 2025), your old Golf Link number became your Golf ID — and it remains unchanged forever, even if you change clubs.
A Golf ID is essentially permanent: once issued, it stays with you for life and doesn’t have a set expiry date.
If you stop being a member of a club or let your handicap lapse, your Golf ID still exists — it just might become inactive in terms of handicap tracking until you join a club again and reactivate your account.

So unlike some membership numbers that might expire after a period of inactivity, an Australian Golf ID does not expire — it stays yours permanently.

Does my handicap include insurance?

As a member of The Golfer Social Club, we pay an affiliation fee to Golf Australia. A significant portion of these fees covers Club Golfers for Personal Liability Insurance.

Golf Australia maintains a Player’s Personal Liability Insurance Policy for all members of affiliated golf clubs. This policy applies anywhere in Australia (or New Zealand, for affiliated clubs), not just at your “home” club.

Broadly, this policy covers the legal liability of your members to pay compensation for personal injury or property damage that occurs while playing, practising golf, attending a golf event, or being a player, guest, or spectator.

For more information, visit the below links:

Golf Australia Website- Players Personal Liability Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is my Duty of Care as a Golfer?

When playing or practicing at a golf facility, every individual has a responsibility to ensure they act in a way towards other individuals that does not put others in harm through your own actions. Some examples that you must follow are;

Ensuring greens, fairways and other target areas are clear before playing.
Calling “fore” as loud as you can when an errant shot is heading in the direction of others, or where others could be.
Taking note of weather conditions and allowing for the impact they may have on your shots
Ensure you adhere to all Local Rules including following instructional signage around the course
Taking care when driving golf carts, particularly in high traffic areas and carparks
Ensuring they are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs while playing.

How do I submit a claim under this Policy?

If an incident occurs while you’re playing or practising golf, it’s important to report the details directly to your Club. This ensures you’ll have access to the liability protection of the Policy if you’re found negligent. Your Club administrator will help with the claim submission, gathering details from both parties to assist the Insurer in determining the outcome.

When will I have to pay the excess?

You won’t be required to pay the excess directly to the Insurer while they’re assessing the claim. If the Insurer decides that your policy will cover a property damage claim against you, they’ll pay the settlement over the excess amount directly to the third party to efficiently close the matter. However, the third party may still need the excess amount to cover their damage value, which the club will manage. This is because the Insurer won’t share any personal information about our members with third parties.

What happens if I submit a claim and the damage value is less than the excess?

The policy has a $1,000 excess in place for each and every property damage claim. If a claim is submitted for damage under this value, the insurer will assess the claim and revert the submission back to the insured member advising that the claim will not be settled given the value is underneath the excess. The member or club will be responsible for the payment of any damage required to be rectified.

▪ What if I’m playing at a course other than my home club, does the policy still apply?

Yes, the Golf Australia Player’s Pers policy covers you while playing at any golf course or facility, not just your home club. This applies as long as you are a registered member of an affiliated club or facility, regardless of the course you are playing on in Australia or New Zealand.

▪ Am I covered by the policy if I injure myself?

The Golf Australia Player’s Liability policy does not cover injuries you cause to yourself or are caused to you. It only covers claims made by third parties, such as other players or spectators, for injuries or property damage you may accidentally cause while playing golf. For personal injury coverage, consider personal accident or health insurance.

Help Centre

Questions in Handicap