Why is it necessary for a child to be a member of the golf federation before attending a golf camp?
Many parents may find it strange that most golf camps require participants to be members of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, but the reality is that obtaining this license is a mandatory requirement for anyone who wishes to play on a golf course, whether for competition or for personal enjoyment.
Therefore, joining the federation is the first step anyone must take to play golf on public courses safely and with peace of mind.
Although at first glance this may seem like a rather unique requirement not found in other sports, upon closer consideration, the logic behind this process becomes clear.
Golf is a sport that uses hard clubs and balls that can be quite dangerous and cause damage to facilities and people if their trajectories are not properly controlled. Thanks to this RFEG license, all players are covered by liability insurance against potential accidents that may occur while playing golf.
Furthermore, the high cost of maintaining golf courses and facilities makes it necessary for all players who take to the course to have a basic understanding of the sport, including how to respect the course and how to move around it without causing damage.
That is why less experienced players, before entering a golf course, should practice their shots on courses where there is no danger to other players and where no damage can be caused to the course.
How do you obtain an RFEG license?
There are several ways to join the federation, depending on whether the player is a member of a golf club or not. If the player belongs to a club, they may submit the duly completed license application form directly to the club, and the club will forward the application to the Federation.
Players who do not belong to a club may submit this form to the Golf Federation of their autonomous community. This form can be downloaded from the Federation’s website and must be submitted in person or via email to the Federation’s offices along with a valid ID and the bank account number where the annual fee is to be charged.
Once the application has been processed, within 10 days the RFEG will mail the player a federation card bearing the player’s name, license number, and the club or region to which they belong.
How much does the RFEG license cost, and how long is it valid?
Joining the RFEG has an annual cost that varies depending on the player’s category and the autonomous community. In most communities, the prices are as follows:
- Benjamín, Alevín, and Infantil (up to age 14): €15.90
- Cadete (ages 15–16): €23.30
- Junior (17–21): €31.90
For players 21 and older, the fee varies depending on whether they have a handicap (€74.60), do not have a handicap (€63.90), or are professionals (€74.60). Additionally, players wishing to join federations in regions such as Catalonia, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Community, and Castile-La Mancha must pay an additional fee to their regional federations, which is approximately €10 for the Junior category and €18 for higher categories.
This license is valid for one calendar year (January through December) and is automatically renewed at the beginning of the year after the fee is debited from the bank account. Furthermore, the RFEG license covers the player’s participation on both Spanish courses and any courses abroad.
Can the license be obtained at any time of the year?
Licensing applications are accepted year-round, so it is possible to obtain one quickly and easily at any time of the season.
