🏌️‍♂️ RUBEN’S WEEKLY TGC UPDATE

The Golf Collective
November 10, 2025

Ready to get started? Join us today and let’s hit the course together sometime! Whether you’re looking to get an official handicap for the first time or wanting to improve your existing one, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Golf is a game for everyone, and with a handicap, you can fairly compete against one another, regardless of skill level.

So come on, let’s play golf and enjoy the beautiful courses Australia has to offer!

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🏌️‍♂️ RUBEN’S WEEKLY TGC UPDATE

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As at 10th November 2025

Hey legends,
Big week just gone, and things are really heating up as we close in on the end of the season. Here’s what’s been happening (and what’s coming up).

🏆 TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP – THE FINAL RUN HOME

Yesterday’s Hamersley Red Tee Challenge shook things up again. The Spartans have made a move on the Royals after a solid all-round showing — with Captain Jimmy Walters proving clutch, draining a birdie late to lock in another top-3 finish and some huge team points.

Here’s where things now stand:

🐾 Panthers: 8841 — guaranteed Minor Premiers! 💪
⚔️ Spartans: 7779
👑 Royals: 7459
🐍 Vipers: 6188

There are only two rounds left and 550 points still up for grabs.
If the Royals are going to knock off the Spartans for second place, they’ll likely need a top-3 lockout at either Wembley or The Cut.

So yeah… it’s getting spicy.

👉 Check out the full standings post here: Facebook Post

⛳ WEMBLEY INDIVIDUAL STABLEFORD – THIS FRIDAY (WAITLISTED)

This Friday’s round at Wembley is completely full, and the waitlist is already buzzing. If you’re registered but can’t make it, please jump on the site, hit Edit Registration, and cancel your spot so someone else can jump in.

💳 Platinum Members: payments will come out automatically within 48 hours.

Now, a heads-up — Wembley is notoriously slow. We’re teeing off at 12pm, which means it’ll be packed. Expect a minimum five-hour round. There’s no way around it, so bring snacks, patience, and good energy.

🌊 THE CUT INDIVIDUAL STABLEFORD – THIS SUNDAY (WAITLISTED)

Same deal here — full field, waitlist active.
The Cut is hosting an Open Day on the same date, so the place will be buzzing. Please represent TGC well — collared shirts, tidy appearance, and the usual TGC respect for the course and staff.

🏁 LINKS KENNEDY BAY – TWO BALL AMBROSE & TEAMS FINAL

Sunday 23rd November – our Teams Championship Grand Final and Two Ball Ambrose.

We’ve got 16 spots reserved for the Valor Squads of the top two teams. Once The Cut wraps up this weekend and the finals line-up is confirmed, some of those reserved spots will open.

📋 Tip: Get on the waitlist now. A few Valor players are already pre-registered, which means a handful of spots will free up soon after the weekend.

👧 JUNIOR EVENT – THIS SATURDAY @ LAKE CLAREMONT

The forecast looks perfect for our Junior Event this weekend.
It’s a great intro event for kids of all ages — easy course, short layout, and a lot of fun. Register on the site if you haven’t already and come make a day of it.

🚙 TWD 4X4 CUP RACE FINAL – GOSNELLS, SUNDAY 30TH NOVEMBER

This is the big one — the grand finale of the season.
Only three spots left, and that’s it. No extras coming.
If you’ve been waiting to lock your place, now’s your last chance.

⚙️ GA CONNECT UPDATE – STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS

Not much joy here, unfortunately. While Golf Australia and DotGolf have patched a few bugs (mostly by deleting data, not fixing it), we’re still dealing with a bunch of ongoing issues:

Wrong course IDs that stop rounds from syncing
“No Score Not Approved” errors still floating around
9-hole rounds not showing correctly
Daily handicaps calculating wrong

This is nationwide, not just us, and some clubs are worse off than others. I’ve been pushing for answers daily, but it’s slow going.

🎙️ Tune into tomorrow’s podcast — I’ll break it down in plain English and explain exactly what’s going on behind the scenes.

🎄 OFF-SEASON IS COMING

December and January are our quiet months for a reason — gives you time to enjoy life beyond golf (yes, it exists 😅), and gives us time to prep for a massive 2026.

We’ll use the break to test new systems, refresh our processes, and make next season even smoother.

📅 2026 SEASON – OUR BIGGEST YET

The 2026 calendar is nearly locked in and… it’s a monster.
Here’s what’s confirmed so far:
✅ 62 events (yep, one every week!)
✅ Major Series returning with an added twist and reward
✅ New courses, new formats, Southern Swing, Kalgoorlie, Rottnest, and even mini-golf events

Full dates drop mid-December. It’s going to be our best year yet.

💯 THE 100 CLUB – DRAW NIGHT ANNOUNCED!

📍 Last Slice – Saturday 13th December
🎟️ First draw: 6:00pm sharp

It’s one of the biggest nights on the TGC calendar — big cash prizes, raffles, awards, and a huge night to wrap up the season.

🎟️ Tickets: $50 (includes entry + number)
You must be present to win!
👉 Grab yours here

📘 RULE OF THE WEEK – Teeing Off Outside the Box

This one catches golfers out more often than you’d think.

Every hole has a teeing area — the space between the two tee markers, and up to two club lengths behind them. You can tee up anywhere inside that area, but not in front of it.

If any part of your ball is outside that area (for example, the ball is teed up just ahead of the markers), you’re technically playing from outside the teeing area — and the penalties depend on the format:

🏆 Match Play:
There’s no automatic penalty, but your opponent has the right to cancel your shot and make you replay it from the correct area.
(If they don’t say anything before you hit again, the shot stands.)
⛳ Stroke Play:
It’s a two-stroke penalty, and you must replay the shot from inside the teeing area before starting the next hole.
If you don’t correct it, you’ll be disqualified from the round.

💡 Pro Tip:
When you tee up, always take a quick step back and check that your ball is behind the front edge of the tee markers. You can line it up with the markers visually or even use your driver as a quick reference — it’s an easy way to avoid an awkward (and costly) mistake before the round even gets going.

🔧 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – TWD 4X4

A huge shoutout to TWD 4×4, proud sponsor of the TWD Cup Race Series and big supporters of TGC.

These guys live and breathe custom 4×4 builds — suspension, lift kits, bull bars, touring setups, performance tuning, accessories, and the lot. If you’re planning your next off-road upgrade, they’re your crew.

💥 TGC Members get 10% OFF all TWD 4×4 gear and services.
👉 www.twd4x4.com.au

That’s it for this week’s wrap-up.
Two massive events this weekend and a Teams title fight that’s shaping up to be an absolute ripper. See you out there — and good luck to everyone chasing points over the next fortnight!

– Ruben
Managing Director, The Golf Collective

Golf is a game of skill, strategy, and precision. For players of different abilities, competing fairly can be a challenge without a standardized system. That’s where the golf handicap comes in, ensuring a level playing field for all golfers, from beginners to professionals. In this guide, we’ll dive into why having a handicap is beneficial and answer essential questions like what should my handicap be, how long does it take to get a handicap, and more.

What is a Golf Handicap?

A golf handicap is a numerical measure that represents a golfer’s potential skill level. It helps players of different abilities compete fairly, by adjusting the number of strokes a golfer is allowed to take. In essence, the lower the handicap, the better the player.

For example, if Golfer A has a handicap of 5 and Golfer B has a handicap of 15, Golfer B will receive additional strokes to even out the competition, making it fair for both players.

Encourages Goal-Setting and Personal Challenges

For many golfers, lowering their handicap is a key goal. This system encourages players to focus on improving specific areas of their game and set personal goals. As you see your handicap drop, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that drives you to keep practising and improving your skills.

Facilitates Tournament Participation

Many tournaments require participants to have an official handicap. Without one, you might miss out on a wide range of opportunities to compete in organised events at local clubs, amateur competitions, or even larger tournaments. Having a handicap ensures you’re eligible for these events and that you can compete fairly.

Supports Strategic Course Management

Knowing your handicap also allows you to make smarter decisions on the course. Players with higher handicaps might focus on playing conservatively, while lower handicap golfers can take more risks. By integrating your handicap into your strategy, you’ll improve your overall performance and learn to manage the course more effectively.

What Should My Handicap Be?

One of the most common questions new golfers ask is, what should my handicap be? For beginners, it’s typical to start with a high handicap, such as 20-36 for men or 20-40 for women. As you gain experience and improve, your handicap will decrease.

For an average golfer, handicaps usually range between 10-20. Experienced players often have handicaps under 10, and professionals typically play with a handicap close to zero or even in the “plus” range. The goal is to keep improving your game and lowering your handicap over time.

What Are Professional’s Handicaps?

How Long Does It Take to Get a Handicap?

A common query from new players is, how long does it take to get a handicap? Getting an official handicap typically requires submitting scores from 3 to 5 rounds of golf. These scores are used to calculate your handicap based on your performance and the difficulty of the courses you’ve played.

Once you’ve established a handicap, it will be updated as you play more rounds and submit additional scores. It’s essential to keep tracking your scores regularly to maintain an accurate handicap.

At The Golf Collective to establish a handicap, you’ll need to complete 54 holes. You can achieve this by playing three 18-hole rounds, six 9-hole rounds, or a combination of both. Ensure your scores are verified by a playing partner and submitted according to our straightforward guidelines. Be sure to keep your scorecard for each round.

How The Golf Collective Can Benefit You

You can submit all of the rounds you play, not just at your ‘home course’. You can play at any course recognized for handicapping, and your scores will still be valid. Our system allows you to enjoy golf wherever you choose while ensuring your handicap stays accurate and up to date.

Unlike clubs that rely on manual scorecards, our mobile scoring system offers a convenient, paperless solution for submitting your scores. This allows for quicker handicap updates and provides a more streamlined, modern golfing experience.

At The Golf Collective, you can enjoy a social round anytime, anywhere, and still have it count toward your handicap. Our flexible system lets you play on your schedule while keeping your handicap accurate and up to date.