🏌️‍♂️ Ruben’s Weekly Update

The Golf Collective
November 24, 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 Update

🏌️‍♂️Ruben’s Weekly Update

🔥 The 8v8 Valor Squad Battle – End of Season Finale

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Update: Golf Australia Connect Issues & What We’re Pushing to Fix

Monday, 24th November 2025

We’re officially into the final stretch of the season, and the next couple of weeks are going to be HUGE. Here’s everything you need to know 👇

🏆 TWD 4×4 Cup Race Final – This Sunday

The big one is finally here. This Sunday at Gosnells, we’ll be crowning the 2025 TWD 4×4 Cup Race Champion.

It’s a massive field, a double-points round, and the final chance for someone to etch their name into TGC history. Good luck to everyone teeing it up — it’s going to be unreal.

We’ve had a few cancellations, so there are still a couple of spots available if you want in!

⚔️ Teams Championship – Tie! Playoff Incoming

Well… we didn’t expect this.

After an intense weekend, the Teams Championship finished in a TIE.

We’re finalising the playoff format now, and it’ll run this Sunday at Gosnells alongside the Cup Race Final.

⏳ Official playoff format announcement will be posted to our socials within 24 hours.

Stay tuned — it’s going to be spicy.

💯 100 Club & Awards Night

Plenty of 100 Club numbers are still up for grabs — jump in before they disappear. The night will also double as our Awards Night, where we’ll hand out a heap of end-of-season awards and celebrate the year that was.

👉 Get your number here: shop.thegolfcollective.com.au

⛳ December / January Off-Season

Over the break, we encourage members to network, play together, and host each other at your home clubs. There are no official TGC events in December — though we may drop the odd pop-up social round.

If you’re chasing a game or want to put together a group:
💬 Post in the Members-Only Facebook Group.

We’ve got plenty of members at private courses — someone usually puts their hand up to host.

To keep the swing warm:

🌅 January Twilight Rounds

• Point Walter
• Hamersley

Perfect prep for our Season Opener on 1st February.

📅 2026 Schedule

We’re very close to finalising the full 2026 schedule and will release it in early–mid December.

62 events.
New formats.
New challenges.
More opportunities for members to play and compete.

It’s coming.

🕒 Member Feedback – Pace of Play

We need to address something openly. At recent events (Wembley, The Cut, Kennedy Bay), we saw gaps of 2–4 holes between some groups.

To be blunt:
👉 That’s not good enough.

Pace of play will always be a challenge in golf, but gaps like that aren’t acceptable — especially when we’ve raised this several times.

The lowest-handicap player in each group is responsible for making sure the group stays with the group ahead.

Please take it seriously. It affects every member’s experience and impacts our reputation. If courses start to view us as “that slow club”, we’ll only get the latest arvo tee times — no one wants that.

💬 A Quick Note on Culture, Banter & Mental Health

We’ve also seen a few heated conversations flare up lately. We’re all competitive — it’s part of the fun — but there’s no room for bullying-type comments or anything that crosses the line.

Banter is unreal when it’s:
• Fun
• Light-hearted
• In the right channels

Before posting something in our public spaces, take one second to ask yourself:

👉 “If this was about me, how would I feel reading it?”

If it’s harmless, send it.
If it could cut deeper than intended, maybe rethink it.

Everyone’s dealing with things you won’t see.

Let’s keep our community safe, supportive, and welcoming — that’s what TGC is built on. If you’re ever struggling, overwhelmed, or just need to reach out, you’re not alone here!

🔧 GA Connect

Most GA Connect issues appear to be fixed. There are still the odd niggles, but overall things are much more stable.

If you notice anything strange in your record:
📩 Let us know immediately.

The quicker we escalate things to GA, the quicker they get fixed. We’re not completely out of the woods yet, but things are heading the right way.

🚀 2026 – New Additions & Member Input Needed

Next year will bring several new additions designed to help members improve and stay competitively engaged. Over Christmas, we’ll be sending out a few short surveys. Please take the time to complete them — your feedback genuinely shapes how we build TGC for 2026 and beyond.

We’ve got ideas we’re excited about, but we want to make sure they’re aligned with what you want.

🍔 Sponsor Spotlight – BIG RIGZ BURGERS

This week’s sponsor spotlight goes to Big Rigz Burgers — serving up some of the biggest, juiciest, most ridiculous burgers in Perth.

📍 Address: Shop 3, 258 South Terrace, South Fremantle
🔥 Recommended: The Big Rigz Double Smash + loaded fries
💚 Proud supporter of TGC since 2023

They’ve backed us in a big way this season. If you’re nearby, swing in, grab a feed, and tell them you’re part of the club — it genuinely helps.

🤝 2026 Sponsorships Now Open

We’re locking in sponsors for next season and expanding what we offer. For 2026, we’re introducing media-driven sponsorship packages — including photo/video assets, short-form content, and on-course brand opportunities.

If you want:
• A customised package
• Something that fits your budget
• Or something completely bespoke

We’ll build a solution around what you’re chasing.

👉 thegolfcollective.com.au/sponsor

❤️ A Personal Note

This year has tested me in more ways than you’d ever see from the outside.

I won’t lie, there have been days I genuinely felt like closing the laptop and walking away for good.

But what stops me… is you.

The support you give me, our volunteers, and this club is the reason I keep going.

Every like, comment, message, share — it all matters. We see the analytics, sure — but nothing beats seeing our own members backing what we’re building.

We’ve had a challenging year and we’ve learned a lot.
2026 will bring big changes, and we’re doubling down on our goal:

👉 To build the best private online golfing community on the planet.

While others chase numbers, we’re focused on making sure our members feel supported, valued, and proud to be here.

Quality over quantity — always.

Thanks for being the heartbeat of TGC.

See you Sunday.

– 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.