Golf Australia, the National Governing Body for golf in Australia, has announced important changes to the Insurance Policy covering golfers for Personal Liability/damages, starting March 1, 2025.

The policy, which covers all club golfers who have an official Handicap (including golfers who have a handicap with the Social Golf Australia Golf Club), offers up to $20 million in personal liability cover for protection regarding certain damages which may occur while playing golf.

According to GA, the March 2025 changes will now exclude damage to Golf Carts and electronic devices (phones, rangefinders, etc). In addition, there will be changes to the excess required when filing a claim.

Here is the email sent to golfers from Golf Australia:

We are writing to inform you of important changes to your Player’s Personal Liability Insurance Policy offered by Golf Australia, which is a key benefit as part of your membership of an affiliated golf club.

Golf Australia has maintained this policy on behalf of club members since 2009 and in the past 5 years alone, has paid out $3.4 million in claims to protect our members. The original purpose of the policy was to protect members from liability if they caused personal injury to another golfer/person.  The policy was established following the legal action taken by an injured golfer because of an incident at the Magnetic Island Golf Club in 1994 and subsequent court ruling in 2003.

Golf Australia’s Player Personal Liability Policy offers up to $20 million personal liability cover for protection against litigation from a third party for damage to property or personal injury that occurs while an eligible member is playing or practicing golf.

In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult and expensive to source this insurance on your behalf.  As the popularity of golf has grown, we have seen an increase in the number of reported incidents. Golf Australia remains committed to finding solutions that will provide Players Personal Liability Policy to Australian affiliated golfers.

In recent months, Golf Australia has reviewed several options in respect of this policy.  In doing so Golf Australia’s primary objective has been to maintain protection for members in the event of serious personal injury, with changes to take effect from March 1, 2025, to ensure the policy remains affordable and sustainable

What is changing?  

Exclusions: Specific exclusions have been added for any claim, loss, damage, liability or costs and expenses incurred directly or indirectly in connection with third party property damage to:

• golf carts; and
• personal electronic devices include phone, iPad, watch, rangefinder or anything similar.

Excess: There are now three categories of insurance claim:

• Personal injury claims – NO excess will be payable
• Property damage where a golfer is found to have followed all expected duty of care, local rules and the Rules of Golf – NO excess payable
• Property damage where golfer is found to have acted in a negligent manner and caused damage to a third-party property - $1,000 excess is payable

What does the policy cover?

The policy covers the legal liability that an eligible member of an affiliated club may incur while playing or practicing golf. It provides coverage for up to $20 million of liability for any one incident.  This includes accidental injury or damage you may cause to someone else or their property for which you were found to have caused, subject to the Exclusions of the Policy, some of which are outlined below.

This coverage is provided automatically to individual club members although members are under no obligation to engage this insurance policy in the event of an incident.

What is not covered by this policy?

While this is not exhaustive, this policy does not cover:

• Any third-party damage or personal injury caused by non-member (ie. green fee player);
• A member's own equipment for damage or loss;
• A member's own personal injuries sustained on a golf course
• Any damage that you cause to a cart that you own, hire or borrow; and
• Actions that deliberately cause damage or injury and are determined to be wilful conduct.

As a reminder to all golfers, it's important to always notify the club of any damage incurred while playing golf - notably to any property/houses along the course. In some cases, the club/course may have separate coverage, but can only file a claim if the golfer has reported the incident.