Carolinas Golf Association

What Carolinas Golf Association does

The Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1909 and headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, serving amateur golfers across North Carolina and South Carolina as the second-largest golf association in the United States. It represents more than 700 member clubs (private, public, semi-private, and resort) and 240,000+ individual golfers, administering official USGA Handicap Indexes through the GHIN system, conducting 48 annual championships plus 150+ one-day events and USGA qualifiers, and delivering course rating, agronomy consultation, and Rules of Golf education to its member clubs.

The CGA's technology stack centers on the GHIN Mobile App (iOS/Android) for score posting, Handicap Index management, GPS features, and stat tracking, alongside the Golf Genius tournament management portal (cga.golfgenius.com) for championship registration, pairings, live scoring, and results. The association operates the Carolinas eClub for individual golfers without a home club, administers the Youth on Course program for juniors ages 6-18, and runs the Carolinas Golf Foundation (formed 1977) which has distributed more than $2 million over 40+ years to junior golf, scholarships, turfgrass research, adaptive golf, and women's programs. The CGA is an allied association of the USGA, granting it exclusive authority in the Carolinas to run U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, and U.S. Women's Amateur qualifying events.

Revenue is generated through recurring club membership dues, individual eClub subscriptions, tournament entry fees across the championship and one-day event calendar, auto-renewal billing processed via credit card on file, and charitable contributions to the Foundation. Day-to-day operations are led by a small professional staff (11-50 employees) under a volunteer Executive Committee, with marketing and member communications distributed across the carolinasgolf.org website, a quarterly Carolinas Golf Magazine, email newsletters, and active Instagram, Facebook, and X/Twitter channels. No AI/ML capabilities are disclosed, and financial figures are not publicly reported.

Name

Carolinas Golf Association

Legal name

Carolinas Golf Association

Website

https://carolinasgolf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Carolinas Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit founded in 1909 and the second-largest US amateur golf association, serving 700+ member clubs and 240,000+ individual golfers across North and South Carolina through USGA handicapping, 48 annual championships, course rating, and junior development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amateur Golf Association Services

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sport-Specific Amateur Leagues & Circuits (Non-Professional) (MPAKACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

Keywords

• Amateur golf administration
• Golf handicap services
• Golf tournament management
• Course rating services
• Junior golf programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Southern Pines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Club Membership Dues: Golf clubs (private, public, semi-private, resort) pay annual membership dues to join the CGA, receiving WHS handicapping services, course rating, tournament eligibility, and club services in return.
2. Individual Membership (Carolinas eClub): Individual golfers without a home club can join the Carolinas eClub for annual membership fees, receiving a USGA Handicap Index via GHIN, eligibility for select CGA tournaments, and member benefits and discounts.
3. Tournament Entry Fees: Fees collected from participants in CGA championships, one-day tournaments, USGA qualifiers, and other competitive events.
4. Auto-Renewal Membership: Annual membership renewals processed automatically via credit card on file, with members receiving advance notice of fee changes and cancellation options through the GHIN app or website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) administers amateur golf across North and South Carolina as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization. It delivers the official USGA Handicap Index through the GHIN/WHS system, conducts 48 annual championships and 5 team match competitions plus 150+ one-day events, provides USGA-standard course rating services, and supports member clubs, individual golfers, and junior golf development through programs such as Youth on Course.

Product overview

The Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) offers a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered on amateur golf administration in North and South Carolina. The core offering is the Carolinas eClub individual membership program, which provides an official USGA Handicap Index through the GHIN system, tournament eligibility, and member discounts. The GHIN Mobile App serves as the primary digital interface for score posting, Handicap Index viewing, GPS features, and stat tracking. CGA conducts 48 annual championships and over 150 One-Day tournaments managed through the Golf Genius tournament portal, with USGA qualifying events integrated into this system. Supporting services include course rating, agronomy consultation, Rules of Golf education, and the Youth on Course junior development program. The Carolinas Golf Foundation serves as the charitable arm supporting scholarships, junior golf initiatives, and turfgrass research. The Carolinas Golf Magazine provides editorial content to the membership base.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carolinas eClub Individual Membership Annual individual membership giving amateur golfers in NC and SC an official USGA Handicap Index through GHIN/WHS, eligibility for select CGA championships and USGA qualifiers, and member discounts and benefits.
• Club Membership Annual membership for golf clubs (private, public, semi-private, resort) in NC and SC providing WHS handicapping for members, USGA course rating services, tournament eligibility, agronomy consultation, and club support. 700+ clubs are members.
• Course Rating Services USGA-standard course rating and re-rating services for golf courses in NC and SC, including on-site club visits, Course Rating and Slope Rating determinations, and handicap committee education.
• Championships and Tournaments 48 annual championships and 5 team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors, plus over 150 one-day events and USGA championship qualifiers (U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women's Amateur), managed through the Golf Genius tournament portal.
• Agronomy Services Professional consultation and support for golf course maintenance and turfgrass management, provided to member golf clubs across the Carolinas.
• Youth on Course Program Junior golf access program that allows youth ages 6-18 to play rounds for $5 or less at participating Carolinas golf courses, supporting affordability and development.
• GHIN Mobile App Free mobile application for iOS and Android that enables quick score posting, Handicap Index viewing, GPS course mapping at participating courses, stat tracking, scoring history, and tournament registration access for CGA members.
• Rules of Golf Education Rules of Golf seminars, certification programs, training and certification of volunteer Rules Officials, and amateur status guidance for members and clubs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 48 championships and 5 team match competitions conducted annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United States Golf Association (USGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CGA is an allied golf association of the USGA, administering national championship qualifying events (U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women's Amateur) and conducting USGA-standard course rating for golf courses across NC and SC.
• GHIN (Golf Handicap Information Network)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe CGA administers the World Handicap System (WHS) through the GHIN service, providing official Handicap Index calculation and management for member golfers via the GHIN Mobile App and GHIN.com.
• Golf GeniuscoreTechnology or IntegrationGolf Genius provides tournament management software powering the CGA tournament portal (cga.golfgenius.com) for registration, pairings, scoring, and results across all CGA championships.
• Tarheel Youth Golf Association (TYGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for administering junior golf in North Carolina, including the TYGA North State High School Challenge and other NC junior events.
• South Carolina Junior Golf Association (SCJGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for administering junior golf in South Carolina, including tournament schedules and player development programs.
• South Carolina Golf Association (SCGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization for golf in South Carolina, working with the CGA on championships, handicapping, and member services.
• Women's South Carolina Golf Association (WSCGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization conducting USGA qualifiers on behalf of the CGA and promoting women's golf in South Carolina.
• Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe charitable arm of the CGA, formed in 1977 as a 501(c)(3) organization. Has distributed over $2 million to Carolinas golf programs and scholarships including junior golf, turfgrass research, adaptive golf, and women's development.
• Youth on CourseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program providing youth ages 6-18 access to golf at participating courses for $5 or less. The CGA supports this program for Carolinas junior golfers.
• Clemson UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarolinas Golf Foundation provides scholarships for turfgrass and golf management students at Clemson University.
• North Carolina State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarolinas Golf Foundation provides scholarships for turfgrass and golf management students at NC State University.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United States Golf Association (USGA): The national governing body of golf in the US, of which CGA is an allied association. USGA sets WHS handicapping rules, sanctions national championships, and ratifies state associations — directly comparable regulatory and event-administration function at the national level.
• PGA of America: National association for PGA professionals and the professional golf ecosystem. While focused on professional rather than amateur golf, it operates in the same governance and event-promotion space across overlapping geographies.

Direct peers

• South Carolina Golf Association (SCGA): Affiliate state-level amateur golf association working alongside CGA within South Carolina, conducting championships, handicapping, and member services. Direct peer due to overlapping jurisdiction and parallel product structure.
• Florida State Golf Association: One of the largest state amateur golf associations in the US, providing handicapping, championships, and member services to Florida clubs and golfers. Directly comparable scale, structure, and revenue model.
• Georgia State Golf Association: State-level amateur golf association providing handicap services, championships, and course rating in Georgia. Operates under USGA allied status with a near-identical product/membership model to CGA.
• Texas Golf Association: USGA-allied state amateur golf association administering handicaps, championships, and member services across Texas. Operates an equivalent membership-and-event business model.
• Southern California Golf Association: Large regional amateur golf association serving Southern California clubs with USGA handicap administration, championships, and rating services. Equivalent scale and operating structure.
• Virginia State Golf Association: USGA-allied state amateur golf association serving Virginia, administering WHS handicapping, championships, course rating, and junior golf programs — a near-identical operating model and target member base to CGA.
• New England Golf Association: Multi-state regional amateur golf association providing handicapping, championships, and member services across New England states. Directly comparable in multi-jurisdiction model and event portfolio.

Others

• Youth on Course: National non-profit program providing affordable junior golf access ($5 rounds) at participating courses. CGA is a regional delivery partner for Youth on Course — an ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CGAgolf1909
• Facebookfacebook.com/cgagolf1909
• Instagraminstagram.com/cgagolf1909

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carolinas Golf Association