Sub-Total: $0.00
Handicap FAQs
Golf Handicap FAQs
Below are some Australian Golf Handicap FAQ - the most frequently asked questions about getting handicaps with SGA. To see the answer, simply click the + button.
Of course, we are always available to answer any other questions you may have. Simply contact us, and a real-live person will answer your question straight away!
Applying for an SGA Handicap
SGA's prices for Official Australian Golf Handicaps are the lowest in Australia:
- $108 for the Standard Handicap Product, for 12 months.
- $128 for the Unlimited Handicap Product (unlimited CSS cards) for 12 months
- $68 for juniors (under 18) for 12 months.
This includes the cost of golf insurance as part of the Golf Australia affiliation fees. Handicaps with The SGA Golf Club are not pro-rata, so the golfer has a valid, active handicap for 12 months from the date of handicap activation.
You will get your new SGA Handicap and Golf ID (Formerly Golf Link number) within a few days (in most cases) from when you complete all the requirements for a handicap. However, we aim to complete activations within one working day when possible and we can try to accelerate activations upon application if the matter is urgent.
12 months from the date of activation, with the option to renew annually.
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 with Golf Australia. Some people want their number before they have submitted cards – in these cases, the handicap will come up as ‘Unallocated’ on the Golf Australia system until 54 holes of scores are entered on your playing history.
However, if you want your Golf ID (Formerly Golf Link number) before you've submitted your scorecards, just let us know and we can activate your number straight away.
Yes. As a member of The SGA Golf Club you have your own golf-specific personal insurance program (PIP) which includes public liability cover. For more information regarding this program and to view the full PIP disclosure statement, go to the Golf Australia Website.
Yes, golfers under 18 can access an official Australian golf handicap through The SGA Golf Club for $68.
If you've been given an SGA Gift card, and want to redeem it for a Handicap, then choose the "Pay by EFT" option during checkout. Then send an email to media@sgatour.com.au with your gift card number and we will apply the card balance to your order.
For other redemptions (merchandise, events, etc), please drop us an email at media@sgatour.com.au and we can help process it.
No. In July of 2025, Golf Australia announced that, with the transition to Golf Australia CONNECT, and the implementation of a GA App digital membership card, Golf Handicap Cards are no longer being issued. Instead, golfers can use their Golf ID as reference when playing in any events.
Transferring or Reactivating handicaps from other clubs
Absolutely. SGA is an Official Golf Australia handicap provider, so we are able to bring your handicap/playing history over to our system.
Yes. With the launch of Golf CONNECT (formerly Golf Link), a player's GOLF ID will stay with them for life. So when you transfer to another club (like SGA) your number, playing history, scores and handicap index will stay the same.
Can I reactivate an older handicap or Golf ID (Formerly Golf Link number) from my previous club, to SGA?
Expand
Yes. In most cases, we CAN reactivate your handicap, and transfer your playing history to SGA. If your handicap has been inactive for an extended period (or has been deleted from the Golf Australia CONNECT system etc), we may need to start you with a fresh handicap. When you apply, we will do our very best to help you out.
To transfer or reactivate a previous handicap to SGA, simply "Apply for a new SGA Handicap", and in the relevant box ("Have you previously held a handicap"), enter your previous/current Golf ID (Formerly Golf Link number) and details. We will look up your information in the Golf Australia CONNECT system and transfer everything over.
It depends how long ago your last handicap was active.
If you've held a handicap previously, we'll make you a Home Club Member with The SGA Golf Club. You will then retain all your previous playing history on Golf Australia CONNECT.
I've held a handicap at another club...am I obliged to submit my previous Golf ID (Formerly Golf Link number)?
Expand
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 ID (Formerly Golf Link number).
About Golf Australia Handicaps
An official golf handicap is a numerical figure assigned to a golfer that reflects their ability or relative ability, and allows golfers to compete on an equal footing with others. The lower the handicap, the better the player is relative to those with higher handicaps.
Golf Australia handicaps allow golfers of all abilities to be able to compete against one another. They are calculated and allotted in accordance with the Australian Handicapping, Slope Rating and Course Rating Systems as specified by Golf Australia, the peak national amateur governing body. The maximum playing handicap permitted in Australia is 54 for both men and women.
Handicaps are calculated in accordance with the World Handicapping System. They are based on scores of each golfer provided for initial handicap calculation, and then scores in competition play thereafter. In simple terms, a GA Handicap is calculated by averaging score data from the best 8 of a golfer’s most recent 20 rounds.
You can read more on the Golf Australia website: how Australian Handicaps are calculated.
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.
Golf Australia CONNECT (Formerly Golf Link) is Golf Australia’s computerised handicapping network. It is the centralised national handicapping system that manages all of Australia's official golf handicaps. Golf clubs create and process competitions and the system sends competition scores to the central server for handicap calculation. All data on the system is submitted by the clubs for Golf Australia CONNECT to process.
Once a competition is closed and processed, the Golf Australia CONNECT system automatically updates (and adjusts where necessary) the handicaps of the golfers in the competition.
Your club will have a record of your Golf Australia ID, if you cannot contact your club, please contact GOLF Link help at: https://golf.com.au/contact-us
Submitting cards for an official golf handicap
When I submit scorecards for initial handicap calculation, what details need to be on the cards?
Expand
- Your Name
- Date of the game
- Name of the course
- Stroke score for each hole
- Which tees you played from (i.e. Blue, White, Red, etc)
When marking your score for handicapping purposes, you need only to mark the stroke score of each hole on the score card, your total score for each nine, and your total score for the 18 holes. The Golf Australia Connect system will manage the rest.
Yes, a minimum of 54 holes are required for the initial handicap calculation and this can be made up of a combination of 9 and 18-hole cards.
9-hole rounds can also be submitted for the purposes of social scores, and will be added to your history.
With Golf Australia's recent transfer to the new GA Connect, a marker's signature is not required on a submitted card.
By submitting a card to SGA, you attest that that the score is true and correct and that the round was played to the rules of golf.
Playing golf with an SGA Handicap
When you play in an official competition, the club itself will enter your scores from the comp directly into Golf Australia CONNECT - and handicap adjustments are made within the system.
Social rounds, (i.e. Conforming Social Score, or CSS), CAN be submitted for handicapping purposes - Golf Australia is currently modifying the process for this, so we will update this page once we have clarity.
For now, you can upload your cards here
FYI, our SGA Open Events results are entered on Golf Australia CONNECT to count towards player’s handicaps. SGA golf events operated by Social Golf Australia are official competitions held every few weeks in all the mainland Australian capital cities.
To enter a competition, all you need is your Golf ID (Formerly Golf Link number).
The day we activate your handicap, we will email you your new Golf ID. When you play in a competition, simply tell the club your Golf ID, 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 Australia CONNECT and the system will update your handicap automatically.
Each golf club has nominated competition days, and you may be welcome to enter as a guest depending on the club's policy on accepting guests into their competitions. However, you will need to ask the golf club if their competition days are open to guests generally and to SGA Golf Club Members specifically. (See note here about some clubs in NSW and SGA)
To provide our Members with options for competition play, we've established regular 18-hole events as well as annual Major Events in each of the mainland capital cities. These are official competitions with results on Golf Australia CONNECT (formerly GOLF Link) held every few weeks at a range of great golf courses and clubs around Australia. For more information, see the links on the Play Golf page
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. However, 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.
- A 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 for Daily handicaps is ((GA Handicap x Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Scratch Rating minus Par)) x 0.93 x Consistency Factor* * Consistency Factor values: Women/Girls = 1.0483 | Men/Boys = 0.9986.
It is a very complicated system. However, there are plenty of resources available if you are interested in learn more about it. Visit Golf Australia for more.
When playing in a club competition, tell the club your Golf ID (Formerly Golf Link number) for registration in the competition. The visited club should enter your score into Golf Australia CONNECT through their system. Therefore, there is no need to send your card back to your home club. However, if the visited club is not on Golf Australia CONNECT, they should send your card to your home club.
I have noticed an incorrect score, missing score or unusual entry in my score history, what should I do?
Expand
Contact the club that ran the competition. Corrections or amendments to any errors to competition scores can only be made by the club that created and processed the competition.
The Golf Australia CONNECT website rejected my number, advising that it is Invalid, why is this?
Expand
The Golf Australia Golf ID you have entered was rejected because:
- Your club has advised Golf Australia CONNECT that your Membership Status is 'Invalid'. Therefore, If this is not correct, you should contact your Home Club to arrange for them to amend your details on Golf Australia CONNECT. OR...
- The number you have entered does not exist on the Golf Australia CONNECT database. Please check that the number is correct.
A score status on my Golf Australia CONNECT history shows No Score – Approved. What does it mean?
Expand
No Score – Approved is used as a Score Status if you have not returned a Score Card and this has been approved by the club. The status of Approved is decided by a club official upon understanding the circumstances that lead to the round being incomplete. Acceptable reasons include illness, bad weather or emergency. There is no adjustment to the handicap.
I have a score status on Golf Australia CONNECT that is No Score - Not Approved. What does it mean?
Expand
This is used as a Score Status if a player fails to complete a round or submit a score for handicapping purposes without reasonable justification.