Golf Glossary
Remote membership
In short
A remote membership (Fernmitgliedschaft) is a membership of a golf club or facility in the Deutscher Golf Verband for golfers who do not play there regularly. It usually brings a DGV card and handicap management. On other courses remote members play as guests and pay the green fee there.
What is a remote golf membership?
Traditionally golfers are members of the club where they play most often. That is the home club. It issues the DGV card, manages the handicap and grants playing rights on its own course. The remote membership is a slimmed-down version of this. It is aimed at anyone who wants to be officially part of the golf system but does not need or use a home course nearby.
The word Fern means distance. Remote members usually live further away from the facility and are therefore only there occasionally. Many providers therefore require a minimum distance between home and facility. As a rough guide, comparisons often mention values between about 100 and 200 kilometres, and each provider sets the exact figure. There are also providers without such a condition. Read the conditions before you sign.
Distance also shows on the DGV card itself. If a member lives no more than 70 kilometres from their golf facility, the DGV treats the membership as regional and the card carries a golden ‘R’. Remote members usually do not have this mark. Whether this matters for a facility's guest conditions is something that facility can tell you.
The difference from simply paying green fees matters. Anyone who only plays a course as a guest has no card and no handicap managed for them. The remote membership creates the conditions for your rounds to be recorded and for your handicap to match your playing strength over time. Fernmitglied means the person, Fernmitgliedschaft the model.
What does a remote membership offer?
The core of a remote membership is access to the golf system without a fixed tie to a home course. Typical building blocks are:
- DGV card: It proves your membership and playing rights. The card is only issued if the membership includes a right to use the course for at least twelve months.
- Handicap management: Your rounds can count for handicap purposes, so you earn and keep a handicap under the World Handicap System.
- Playing rights as a guest: With the card you can play at many affiliated facilities. There you pay the green fee, the fee for the round, each time.
- Tournament entry: Depending on the provider you can enter tournaments, including those that count for handicap.
What a remote membership normally does not include is a right to play all rounds on your own home course. Some providers combine the model with individual included rounds or benefits. These extras differ widely and belong in your comparison.
Remote membership compared with full membership
The biggest difference between the two models is the playing right. With a full membership you play your home course as often as you like without paying an additional green fee. In return many clubs charge a one-off admission fee, plus the annual membership fee. Some clubs also require you to buy shares. According to surveys of the German golf market, full membership is the most popular form of membership.
With a remote membership the fee is lower, but you pay for each round separately. Both models have pros and cons:
- If you play several times a week on the same course, full membership is usually the better choice.
- If you play only occasionally, travel a lot or want to try different courses, a remote membership is often the better fit.
Comparison sites give a rough rule of thumb at about 15 to 20 rounds a year. That is not a fixed rule, only a guide for the calculation you should make yourself.
Practical example: how to do the sums
Imagine two golfers. Both have passed the Platzreife.
The first lives in a big city, plays twelve rounds a year and likes to try new courses. She chooses a remote membership. Her costs consist of the annual fee and twelve green fees at different facilities. She needs no home course nearby and does not have to budget for an admission fee.
The second person lives right next to a golf club and plays about forty rounds a year, mostly on the same course. At that frequency the green fees add up. Here a full membership pays off, because the playing right lowers the price per round.
Do the sums yourself: the annual fee of the remote membership plus the green fee times the number of rounds, then compare it with the annual fee and admission fee of a club near you. The lower total points to the right model. Enter your planned rounds realistically, not the ones you wish to play.
What to check before you sign
Remote memberships differ in their conditions. Check these points in advance:
- Playing rights and card: Is a DGV card issued? That only happens if a right to use the course for at least twelve months are included.
- Minimum distance: Does the provider require a minimum distance between your home and the facility?
- Term and renewal: How long is the term, and does the contract renew automatically? When can you cancel?
- Admission fee: Is there a one-off fee or not?
- Guest rules: Some courses require guests to have a maximum handicap, a booking in advance or certain tee times. The card alone is not enough everywhere.
- Extras: Are there benefits on green fees, tournaments or training?
If you are just starting out, take the Platzreife first. Without a Platzreife even a membership is of little use at most courses, because the facilities require it as a prerequisite.
Differences: remote membership, second membership and guest player
Several terms sound similar but mean different things:
- Second membership: You are already a full member of one club and join a second, often at a reduced fee. You then have two playing rights.
- Remote membership: You have no home course nearby and use the membership mainly for the card, the handicap and guest rounds.
- Guest player: You pay the green fee for a round without being a member. Many public facilities allow this with a Platzreife, others require a card.
- Playing rights without club membership: At facilities run by an operator there are contractual playing rights under which you do not join a club.
If in doubt, take a quick look at the facility's website. It usually states which guests and which proofs are allowed. You will find more on the terms in the entry on golf membership and playing rights.
Try it at Golf Lounge
With Friend DGV, Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg offers a full DGV remote membership. It includes a DGV card and handicap management, without you having to join a traditional golf club. It builds on Friend status, an annual status valid for 365 days with benefits on the range, in the simulator, on the 6-hole and 9-hole courses and on the Putt Course. This way you combine an officially managed handicap with a facility in Hamburg-Moorfleet where you can practise and play.
Frequently asked questions
What is a remote golf membership?
A remote membership is a membership of a golf club or facility in the DGV for golfers without a regular home course. It usually brings a DGV card and handicap management. On other facilities you play as a guest and pay the green fee there each time.
Do I get a DGV card with a remote membership?
Usually yes, but only if the membership includes a right to use the course for at least twelve months. According to DGV guidance, remote members without such a right do not receive a card. Before you sign, check whether the provider expressly mentions a card and handicap management.
Is there a minimum distance for a remote membership?
Many providers require a minimum distance between home and facility, as a rough guide often between 100 and 200 kilometres. There are also models without this condition. Each provider sets its own rule, so read the conditions carefully before you decide. Providers may also change their terms over time.
Who is a remote membership right for?
It suits golfers who play only occasionally, travel a lot or want to try different courses. If you play several times a week on the same course, a full membership is usually better. Calculate the fee plus green fees for your planned rounds against the club near you.
Do I need the Platzreife for a remote membership?
The membership itself does not always require a Platzreife. When you play other facilities, however, most courses ask for the Platzreife as proof. If you are new to golf, take the Platzreife first and sign up for the membership afterwards. This also applies to providers of remote memberships.
As of: October 2026