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There are three steps required for a first-time handicap to be activated - application, payment & 54 holes of scorecards.

Our standard process is to wait until all three steps are completed before activating the golfer’s entity on GOLF Link. Some people want their GOLF Link number before they have submitted cards – in these cases the handicap will come up as ‘Unallocated’ on GOLF Link until 54 holes of scores are entered on the golfer’s playing history.

If you want your GOLF Link number before you have submitted your scorecards, just let us know and we can activate your GOLF Link number straight away.

A GA Handicap is the Golf Australia Handicap that is assigned to a golfer. This handicap is then referenced against The Slope Rating of a set of tees on a golf course to calculate the Daily Handicap that a golfer plays from in a competition.

Handicaps are calculated in accordance with the Australian Handicapping & Course Rating Systems based on scores of each golfer provided for initial handicap calculation and then scores in competition play thereafter. You can read more on the Golf Australia website about how Australian Handicaps are calculated. In simple terms, official GA Handicaps are calculated as follows:

•   Take the best 8 differentials from the most recent 20 scores
•   Divide that number by 8
•   Multiply that number by 0.93

·   If a golfer has less than 20 scores, the number of scores used is less

The signatures on the cards attest that the score is true and correct and that the round was played to the rules of golf.

Cards need to be signed by someone involved in Australian golf so a club pro, a club member, a golfer with an official Australian handicap.

It depends how long ago your last handicap was active.

• If you have held a handicap previously, we will make you a Home Club Member with The Golfer Social Golf Club using your previous GOLF Link number and you will retain all your previous playing history on GOLF Link.
• If your last handicap had been active recently (within 12 months), you will not need to submit scorecards.
• If you are getting a handicap for the first time or your handicap has been inactive for more than 12 months, Golfer Social Club requires that you submit three or more signed scorecards.

Yes. The handicapping rules require that you inform a new club if you have ever held an official handicap at another club.

When you join a new club and you wish it to be your Home Club where you maintain your handicap, you are required to submit your most recent GOLF Link number.

Many people are surprised with how low their initial GA Handicap is. There are a few reasons for this:

• The system is calibrated for the handicap to sit at the low end of what a golfer is capable of - it is intended that a player only plays to or beats their handicap when they play well.
• Many golfers without an official handicap believe the handicap represents the scoring average but this is not the case. Statistically, an Australian golfer plays better than their handicap only once in every eight rounds.
• Initial handicap calculations are made from the adjusted hole scores from the best of the three submitted rounds with reference to the Scratch Rating of the course and multiplied by .93.
• The GA Handicap is referenced to the Slope Rating of a Course to generate the Daily Handicap that a golfer plays from in a competition. The formula is GA H/cap x Slope Rating / 113. Hence, on a course with a slope rating of 130, a player with a GA Handicap of 15.8 will play from a Daily Handicap of 18.

Yes, to enter a competition, all you need is your GOLF Link number.

The day we activate your handicap, we will email you your new GOLF link number. When you play in a competition, simply tell the club your GOLF Link number and they will be able to verify your handicap with that. After playing in a club competition, the club will enter your score on GOLF Link and the system will update your handicap automatically.

·    Your name & signature
·    The score for each hole
·    The date of the game
·    The marker's signature
·    The marker’s Golf Link Number
·    The name of the course
·    The tees you played from
·    The Scratch Rating or DSR

Yes. The handicapping rules require that you inform a new club if you have ever held an official handicap at another club.

When you join a new club and you wish it to be your Home Club where you maintain your handicap, you are required to submit your most recent GOLFLink number.