You no longer have to be a club member to get a golf handicap
INITIATIVE: Golfers who are not club members can now get a handicap, says Golf Ireland
GOLF IRELAND has introduced a new initiative aimed at giving 'independent' golfers in Ireland - those who are not members of a club - access to an official golf handicap.
For the first time, non-club members in Ireland can subscribe to iGolf and gain a Handicap Index under the World Handicap System (WHS), for an annual subscription fee of €65 in the Republic and £55 in the north.
The governing body recommends iGolf as an easy-to-use, digital system that enables golfers to track their performance, view their playing record, and maintain a Handicap Index.
The subscription also provides access to the Golf Ireland handicapping app, giving subscribers a streamlined experience which is subject to the same handicapping rules as club members under the R&A/USGA regulations.
Golf Ireland says iGolf is part of their drive to broaden the reach of the game. While the scheme is exclusive to golfers who are not currently or recently (within the past three years) members of an affiliated golf club, it offers a pathway for independent players to enjoy the benefits of regular play with an official handicap. Similar schemes launched in other countries—including New Zealand (2018), England, Scotland, and Wales (2021) - have seen significant success in encouraging increased participation and ultimately transitioning many independent golfers into club membership.
Explained Jane Joyce, Golf Ireland's chair of the independent golfer working group: “Our objective with iGolf and a range of other Golf Ireland initiatives is clear: to protect club membership, while fostering broader participation across diverse golfer demographics and facilitating, as appropriate, a seamless transition to club membership.”
*For more information and to subscribe to iGolf, visit www.golfireland.ie/igolf.*
