HOW IT WORKS
How to Get Your Golf Handicap
Four steps. Sign up, play a few rounds, and you've got an official handicap to your name.
Get An Official
Golf Handicap
A flexible way to get an official handicap.
Use code BGL99 to get your handicap for just $99.
Thanks to Our Mates
Why Every Golfer Should Get a Handicap
A golf handicap lets you have a fair game against anyone, whether your mate's been playing for 20 years or 20 minutes. It helps your game make more sense as you play different courses, makes comps and social formats like Stableford way more fun, and gives you a real number to track your progress. You don't need to be good to get one, and it's open to every golfer.
Every BGL player needs an official Golf Australia handicap between 10 and 36 to enter the league. The easiest way to get one is through Golf Australia Club, and BGL players can use code BGL99 to get their handicap for just $99.
OUR PARTNER
Golf Australia Club
A simple, flexible way to get an official handicap, backed by Golf Australia. Use code BGL99 to get yours for just $99. Cancel anytime.
Official GA Handicap
Full access to GA App
$20M liability insurance
Unlimited score submissions
Recognised worldwide
Personal Golf ID
THE LOWDOWN
Flexible Membership, Your Way
Golf Australia Club is a standalone subscription that gives you an official handicap in a simple, flexible way.
Track your scores, measure progress and stay connected to the game, whether you're playing socially, improving your game or chasing your next golfing goal.
BGL players can use code BGL99 at checkout to get their GA Club subscription for just $99.
Play Your Way
GA Club is a standalone subscription, so you can track your handicap and play the way that suits you. Whether that's at your local club, a social round with mates, or a new course on holiday.
Everything Lives in the App
Score your rounds, submit scores, and track your handicap all from the Golf Australia app. Straight from your phone, wherever you're playing.
$20M Liability Insurance
Every GA Club member gets personal liability insurance at any Golf Australia-affiliated course. So when your tee shot finds someone's windshield, you're covered.
Recognised Worldwide
Your GA handicap is part of the World Handicap System. It works at over 150 countries worth of courses. Holiday golf, sorted.
Cancel Anytime
Simple month-to-month membership. Cancel whenever suits you. Though once you see your handicap moving, you probably won't want to.
Everyone's Welcome
GA Club is for anyone who plays golf. Doesn't matter if you're a weekend hacker or you've been playing for decades. If you hit a ball, you're in.
Sign Up With Code BGL99
Get your official handicap for just $99
1
Sign Up to GA Club
Head to golf.com.au and create a Golf Australia Club account. Use code BGL99 at checkout to get your handicap for just $99. You'll get a Golf ID straight away, which is your permanent number in the system.
2
Download the GA App
Grab the Golf Australia app from the App Store or Google Play. This is where you'll score your rounds, submit scores, and track your handicap once it's live.
3
Play 54 Holes
You need three rounds of 18 holes, six rounds of 9, or any combo that adds up to 54. Play at any course in Australia. A playing partner needs to verify and sign your score after each round.
4
Get Your Handicap
Scores get processed overnight. Once all 54 holes are in, your first official GA handicap shows up in the app. Nice work.
THE GOOD STUFF
Why Get a Golf Handicap?
Your handicap levels the playing field, helps you track your game, and makes every round with your mates more interesting.
Know Your Real Level
Are you actually getting better or just telling yourself you are? Your handicap tells the truth, even when your mates won't.
Play Fair With Anyone
A handicap levels the playing field. A 28-handicapper can have a genuine match against a 12. That's the whole point of the system.
Join Leagues Like BGL
Every BGL player needs a GA handicap between 10 and 36. Get yours sorted and you can enter the Battler Golf League with your mate.
Comps Actually Make Sense
Stableford, match play, Ambrose, they all rely on handicaps. Without one, you're limited to casual play. With one, you can enter any comp and play these formats the way they're designed.
Settle It For Good
No more 'I reckon I play off about 18.' Your handicap sits in the system, verified by your actual rounds. Your mates can check it any time.
Book Any Course or Comp
A lot of courses and comps require a handicap to book or enter. Having one keeps you in the mix when the group chat fires up.
GOT QUESTIONS?
Handicap FAQs
How much does it cost to get a golf handicap in Australia?
Through Golf Australia Club, BGL players can use code BGL99 to get their handicap for just $99. That covers an official GA handicap, the GA app, personal liability insurance, and unlimited score submissions. No joining fees, no hidden costs. If you're already a member of a traditional golf club, your handicap is usually included in your club membership.
Do I need to join a golf club to get a handicap?
Golf Australia Club is a standalone subscription that sits alongside however you already play. You can play wherever you like, submit scores through the app, and your handicap updates automatically. It works whether you're a club member, a social golfer, or somewhere in between.
How long does it take to get a handicap?
You need to play 54 holes. That's three rounds of 18 or six rounds of 9. Play at any course. A playing partner verifies your score after each round, and you submit it through the GA app. Scores get processed overnight, and once all 54 holes are done, your first official handicap shows up in the app. Most people knock it out in a few weeks.
What is the World Handicap System?
The World Handicap System (WHS) is the global standard that connects handicap systems across the world. It means your Australian GA handicap is recognised at any course in over 150 countries. The system uses course ratings and slope ratings to adjust your handicap to the difficulty of each course you play. A round at your local public course and a round at a championship track are both accounted for fairly.
What happened to GolfLink?
GolfLink was Australia's handicap system for over 25 years. It was replaced by Golf Australia CONNECT in October 2025. Your old GolfLink number has been converted to a permanent Golf ID that stays with you for life, even if you switch clubs. Everything now runs through the Golf Australia app and golf.com.au. If you had a GolfLink account, your handicap history has been carried across to the new system.
Can I use my Australian handicap overseas?
Yes. Your GA handicap is part of the World Handicap System, which is recognised in over 150 countries. When you play overseas, the system adjusts your playing handicap to the course using local course and slope ratings. It works the same way at a links course in Scotland as it does at your home track in Melbourne.
Do I need a handicap to play in BGL?
You bet. Every BGL player must have an official Golf Australia handicap between 10 and 36. Below 10? Too good for us. Above 36? You're capped at 36. Your handicap gets checked before each match and it's how we work out team strokes for our Ambrose format. Getting one through Golf Australia Club takes just a few weeks and a handful of rounds.
What's the maximum handicap you can have?
Under the World Handicap System, the highest you can go is 54.0 for both men and women. In BGL, we take handicaps from 10 to 36. If yours is above 36, get yourself a GA Club subscription and start chipping away at it. Once you're at 36 or below, you're in. Everyone starts somewhere.