Joining the CGA as an individual means you are joining a community of over 650 Member Clubs and 160,000 individuals in the Carolinas in support of the game of golf. Individuals join the CGA through a “Green Grass” CGA Member Club (search here) or a Carolinas eClub. A CGA eClub is an internet golf club for golfers who do not wish to join a traditional "green grass" club. Use the link below to join, or renew an eClub or scroll down for additional details on eClubs.

What is the cost to join a Carolinas eClub?

The current annual fee for membership in a Carolinas eClub is $39.95 per member.

What are the requirements for joining an eClub?

In order to qualify for e-Club membership you must be a resident of or own property in North or South Carolina.   When you apply for an e-Club membership you must use a valid North or South Carolina address or your application will be declined.

Your membership is good for one year from the date of your registration. As you approach your anniversary date, you will be sent email reminders with instructions on how to renew your membership.

Your membership application is processed online in real time. If all information entered on the registration form is correct and complete, your e-Club membership should be approved and active within just a couple of minutes. You will receive an email confirmation letting you know your GHIN number and how to use the GHIN system.

There is a separate program for players under age 19 called Youth on Course (YOC).  Please click here for further information.

Members who join a Carolinas eClub receive all of the same association benefits as other membership options. These include:

• A certified USGA GHIN™ Handicap Index™

• Entry into any association tournament or championship event for which the member is eligible

• Member Advantage program discounts

• One-Day tournaments (both gross and net divisions)

• Educational seminars and events

• Use of a smartphone app for posting and monitoring your scores and scoring history

• And many more …

When you register you have the option to sign up for Auto-Renew. If you select this option, on your anniversary date your membership will automatically renew to the same e-Club using the credit card you originally submitted for your membership.

Approximately 30 days and again at 15 days prior to your auto-renew date, we will contact you by email to remind you of your upcoming auto-renewal. You will have the option to a) update or change your credit card information, b) opt out of the auto-renewal program, or c) terminate your membership at the end of your membership year. If you do not do respond to any of these options your membership will be extended for another year and you will be charged the e-Club membership rate for that year.

This is a great option to ensure your membership in the association never lapses and you find yourself scrambling to re-activate your account just prior to a tournament signup or an important member-guest.

If you are a resident of North Carolina you will be a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA). If you are a resident of South Carolina, then in addition to the CGA membership, you also become a member of the South Carolina Golf Association (men & women) and the Women’s South Carolina Golf Association (women).

Per the USGA’s handicapping rules and policies, our e-Clubs are set up by geographic region. You will join the e-Club associated with the zip code of where you live or own property. Entering you zip code is the first step in the application process. You will be directed to the appropriate e-Club for you.

Not necessarily. You do, though, have to be an active member of the association and many times also have a valid GHIN™ handicap account .

If you are a member of the GHIN™ handicap roster at your own Carolinas club, golf course, or social/golf organization, then you are automatically a member of the association. So, you would not need to also join an eClub. Your association membership through your club makes you eligible for all association benefits.

You would only need to join an eClub if you were not already a GHIN™ handicap member at your club or golf course or through a member social/golf organization that belongs to our association.

If in doubt, please check with your club’s professional staff or the manager of your golf/social organization.

You can still join our e-Clubs and use your existing GHIN™ number. This way you get to keep your GHIN™ number and all of your scoring history intact and will not have to start over with the GHIN™ system.

During the application process, you will be asked to find your previous GHIN™ record so that you may join our e-Club with the same GHIN™ account.

Even if your previous GHIN™ account is inactive you can still use that account to join the e-Club. During the application process you will be able to find your old GHIN™ account; once the registration is approved your old GHIN™ account will then become “active” and you can begin to post scores and track your history.

The USGA Handicapping policy requires each golfer to maintain only one GHIN™ number per member. If you accidently ended up with two different GHIN™ numbers, please contact the Carolinas GHIN™ Support department for assistance. You can email us at GHINsupport@carolinasgolf.org or call us at (910) 687-4040 during business hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday thru Friday.

There are several answers to this question:

1. If you are getting a new GHIN™ number for the very first time, you will have to post a minimum of 54 holes of scores to your GHIN™ account in any combination of 18 hole and 9 hole rounds. Handicap revisions occur the day after you post a score. If you have at least 3 scores (54 holes) entered into your GHIN™ account, then on the next day you will have a Handicap Index™.

2. If you are reactivating or transferring an existing GHIN™ account from another club, then you will see a Handicap Index™ in your GHIN™ account immediately less any scores you may have posted on the day of transfer. Any scores posted on the day of transfer will not affect your Handicap Index™ until the following day.

3. If you reactivating a previously inactive GHIN™ account from the same Carolinas e-Club, your Handicap Index will be calculate as soon as you become active provided you have a minimum of 3 rounds (54 holes) of scores posted to your account prior to the day of activation. Any scores you post on the day of activation will not count towards your Handicap Index™ until the following day when the daily revision occurs for all golfers who posted scores the day before. If you have less than 3 scores (54 holes) posted you will not receive a Handicap index™ until you reach the 54 hole mark.

The World Handicap System™ is governed by the United States Golf Association (USGA™) and is administered in the Carolinas by the Carolinas Golf Association. You can learn more about handicapping at the USGA™ website: www.usga.org. Select the menu options: Playing and then The World Handicap System™.

Please contact us at GHINsupport@carolinasgolf.org as soon as possible. You generally have up to 30 days to change your mind and still receive a full refund. After that period of time, depending on circumstances, a refund may be prorated or may not be available at all.

If you need additional information or assistance, please email us at GHINsupport@carolinasgolf.org. You may also reach us by telephone during business hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday thru Friday, at (910) 687-4040.

Carolinas Golf Association  |  South Carolina Golf Association
Women's South Carolina Golf Association