Golf Australia clears transgender grassroots pathway, tweaks elite rules

Golf Australia has created a more open pathway for transgender and gender diverse athletes to play club competitions while tightening the process to compete at the elite level.

A review of the gender policy established in 2016, which placed bans on any transgender female players who went through male puberty competing in elite women’s events, has resulted in changes which officials believe maintain golf as “inclusive for all”.

Key to the updates is a new application process for transgender athletes to compete in women’s and girls’ “scratch” events, which include amateur and professional events run by GA as well as pennant competitions.

Applications from transgender players to compete would have to be lodged six weeks in advance of any scratch competition and meet strict medical guidelines, including new testosterone levels that fall in line with international rules.

More crucially, however are new guidelines around golf handicaps which are considered the greatest measure of fairness, regardless of gender.

Under the new policy transgender and gender diverse players can play and compete in club competitions under either a men’s or women’s GA handicap based on their gender identity.

There will be no medical testing required or eligibility restrictions placed on them in competitions with application for any handicap changes kept confidential.

But those chosen gender handicaps will remain in place for four years for “sporting purposes”.  

It’s understood the changes could impact around 20 current players at clubs across Australia, while there have been no recent applications for transgender golfers to enter elite competitions.

But the changes have been made to create a clearer pathway for new participants with the number of people playing golf increasing exponentially in recent years and more than 500,000 people now members of clubs around Australia.

“We've taken a really sensible and clear position that's very aligned with what's happening internationally,” Golf Australia General Manager, Places to Play, Damien de Bohun, told Golf Australia magazine.

“In the world that we live in today, we want to make sure that we have taken on board feedback from a whole range of different groups.

“We've made sure that golf's more inclusive for people right across the board, however they identify.

“In terms of the game, it's really about fairness and making sure that that we are giving people the best opportunity to play in the fairest circumstances.

“We've been through a very carefully considered process that's been expert led and engaged with a whole range of different key stakeholders to get to the right place.

“In principle what we're saying is that in a grassroots context, we've been very, very focused on making sure that golf continues to become more accessible and that we make sure that golf clubs have clear advice on how different people who identify differently, come from different backgrounds can participate in handicap golf.

“It will align with what's happening internationally, but it also does flow in potentially to open championships at golf clubs and also other competitions like pennant competitions around the country.

“We acknowledge that for some transgender players, particularly those who compete at the elite amateur level, these eligibility criteria may be difficult and deeply personal. We do not take that lightly, and we are committed to supporting any player navigating their eligibility with care, respect and privacy.”

To enable smooth transition to the new rules, deal with complaints and solve all club issues with the policy, GA has established clear processes with online help providing answers to frequently asked questions as well as offering education sessions for club administrators.

While the policy is not binding on clubs, Golf Australia's National Integrity Manager, Brooke Irvine, said using it would enable all club officials to navigate any problems which might arise.

“It is a much easier process to follow now than what's currently in place and it gives a lot better guidance to clubs on what is and isn't allowed,” she told Golf Australia magazine.

She said clubs were seeking clarity amid emerging instances of gender questions and eligibility and this update provided that. But Irvine conceded there would still be problems that needed resolution and the changes should help.  

“There's a referral process so that if anyone has any concerns or wants to voice their concerns, the referral process is in place in the new policy,” she said.

“They can follow that process and voice those concerns straight to us at GA.”

The changes come into effect immediately, less than two years after GA changed its policy to bring Australian golf in line with the world’s leading bodies including the R&A which imposed the transgender ban for female players who went through male puberty.

Two golfers, both winners of professional tournaments, were banned from elite tours after the guidelines around transgender athletes were changed.

Scottish-born American Hailey Davidson was unable to compete in the USA, while Breanna Gill, a member of the WPGA for eight years who won her first tournament, the Australian Women’s Classic, at Bonville in April 2023 also lost her place on tour.

Both golfers failed to meet the eligibility requirements which now govern golfers around the world.

Prior to that the WPGA had welcomed transgender players as had all seven of the major international women’s golf tours.