Important Update – Player’s Liability Insurance

The note below was received from Golf Australia yesterday and was written by Damien de Bohun, GM – Club, Facilities and Places to Play. Members are strongly encouraged to review the note and read the Further Information & FAQs.

Following previous communications in December 2024 and July 2025, Golf Australia are pleased to announce the completion of a comprehensive due diligence process in relation to our Player’s Personal Liability Insurance Policy.

With the review complete and our existing policy with Sports Cover expiring on October 1, Golf Australia has appointed leading insurer HDI Global SE, Australia and DXC as the official insurer and claims handler for the Players Liability Insurance Policy, effective immediately from October 1, 2025. Importantly, this transition will ensure the current level of coverage for members will remain unchanged, while improving the claims process with the addition of a simple online claims form.

As announced in July, in conjunction with our broker Marsh, Golf Australia conducted a global insurance market review to identify leading providers that would meet the industry requirements for our Insurer and Claims Management partner, with a clear aim of enhancing the claims experience for any member requiring coverage under the policy. This process was critical to preserve the long-term viability of the policy ensuring we could continue to provide coverage to the 450,000 plus affiliated golf club members in the event of causing serious injury to a third party as per the original intent of the policy.

What this means for your Members

Policy Coverage: The existing policy terms will transfer to the new provider. As a reminder, the following outlines how the policy will continue to operate in practice:

• Personal Injury Claims – Typically, this is where an affiliated golf club member hits a golf ball that causes injury to another person. For these claims, no excess applies.
• Property Damage Claims – Typically, this is where an affiliated golf club member hits a golf ball that causes damage to a neighbouring property or motor vehicle.  For these claims, a $1,000 excess applies.
• Exclusions – The policy excludes any claim in connection with third party property damage to Golf Carts and Personal Electronic Devices. Typically, this is where an affiliated golf club member collides into another golf cart or causes damage to another person’s Electronic Device.  Please note, if a member collides into a person causing personal injury or other property while in a golf cart (e.g. Car), then this would be covered.

Claims Process: All claims will now be able to be submitted via this new digital form, allowing for a simplified process for both clubs and members, and faster response times to member claims with a professional dedicated claims team who understand the needs of our members.

Any claims which may be inadvertently submitted by a club to the old provider, Sportscover, after October 1 will be forwarded to the new provider.

Continuity of Cover: There will be no interruption to coverage for affiliated golf club members during this transition to the new provider.

Policy Period

Following the change in provider, the new Players Personal Liability policy will now be effective for the 12-month period from October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026.

All relevant policy documentation will be made available for clubs in the coming weeks.

Reminder on Policy Background 

Golf Australia has maintained an insurance policy for affiliated club members since 2009 as a core service to affiliated golf clubs and its members.  Negotiating as a collective, we can secure coverage at a far lower cost than would otherwise be available to individual clubs and/or players, whilst delivering quality coverage for the benefit of members.

Insurance has always been limited to club members and does not apply to non-members or green fee players.

The original purpose of the policy was to protect members from significant liability if they caused personal injury to another golfer or person. The policy was established following the legal action taken by an injured golfer because of an incident at the Magnetic Island Golf Club in 1994, and the subsequent court ruling in 2003.

Golf Australia’s Player Personal Liability Policy offers up to $20 million personal liability cover for protection against litigation from a third party for damage to property or personal injury that occurs while an eligible member is playing or practising golf.

We are confident this new partnership with a global provider will strengthen the protection and support available to all affiliated golf club members nationwide when they need it most.

Thank you for your cooperation during this transition. Further information on the Players Liability Policy is available below.

Damien de Bohun
GM – Club, Facilities and Places to Play
Golf Australia