How do I get a Handicap Index in South Africa?

1. Join a golf club affiliated to GolfRSA (through its provincial union). Under the World Handicap System you must be a member of an affiliated club to hold a Handicap Index. Professionals can get one too.
2. Choose a home club. If you live permanently in South Africa, your home club must be in South Africa, and only a Handicap Index issued through HNA is valid for competitions here.
3. Submit scores totalling at least 54 holes (any mix of 9- and 18-hole rounds) in acceptable rounds. Until you have an index, each hole is capped at par + 5.
4. Your initial index is calculated from those scores. The maximum Handicap Index is 54.0, although a competition can set a lower limit for entry.

The Handicap Committee can adjust a new player's initial index if there is other evidence of their ability, for example a skilled player returning to the game.

Sources: Rules of Handicapping (2024), Rules 1.4, 3.1a, 4.5, 5.2a and 5.3; GolfRSA Rules of Handicapping 2024 club training (Rule 1.4b/1).