The GAO offers its member clubs a variety of programs and services.

How Your GAO/RCGA Membership Supports Amateur Golf

-Support for Handicapping/Course Rating/Measuring Activities. The GAO Rates over 100 member courses every year! 

-Support for Junior Golf Development Programs including introducing golf at the grass roots level through junior Information seminars, and   camps and the CN Future Links program.

-Contributions to Turf Research (Environmental Research) 

-Support to the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame; helping recognize the game, its tradition and identify those who   have left an indelible mark on the game.

-Support for the Canadian Golf Museum; helping preserve the history of the game.

-Support for the administration of the Rules of Golf and Etiquette

-Support for Scholarship Programs and to help Ontario and Canadian golfers achieve further education and develop their game to a higher   level. The GAO has awarded over $200,000 in the last ten years.

-Support for Player Development Programs. To help develop and support our elite golfers in the Province and country, to take their game   to the highest level. Some examples include; Mike Weir, David Moreland IV and Matt Hill.

-Conducting Provincial Championships, and supporting Provincial Players in National and International Championships

-Included with membership dues is the RCGA's publication Golf Canada.

-Seminars on topics such as Scholarships to U.S. Universities and Rules seminars for Member Clubs.

Course Rating & Measuring 

The GAO rates member club courses in accordance with the USGA/RCGA Course and Slope Rating System. The GAO has several course rating teams across the province comprising some 100 volunteers. Over 100 member club courses are rated annually, which generally runs from early May to late October. The GAO is available to rate courses for both men and women. Precise course and slope ratings are provided for each set of tees at member clubs so that all members can enjoy the benefits of an accurate and equitable handicap Factor. 

The GAO accurately measures member club courses through the use of an electronic laser device which measures to within 1/100th of a foot accuracy. Precise course measurements are essential for accurate course and slope ratings. 

The GAO is available to laser distances from tee to green, sprinkler heads, or to locate the precise location of fairway yardage markers. GAO Fairway Markers are available to indicate the exact yardage to the centre of the green (i.e. 100 yards - Red, 150 yards - White, 200 yards - Blue). GAO Tee/Yardage Markers are also available to indicate the point from which each hole was measured.