Our transparent framework for evaluating which historic golf clubs qualify for The Centenary network.
The Centenary is built around quality and trust. Not every golf club that is 100 years old automatically qualifies for the network — and that is by design. Our members expect to play at clubs that share the same standards, heritage, and reputation that their own club stands for.
The Provenance Index is how we make that assessment. It combines four independent factors into a single score. Clubs that reach the required threshold are eligible to join The Centenary. Those that do not are welcomed into our Heritage Database — a curated record of the world's oldest clubs — with access to other products like Circles and the Centenary Verified Badge.
Each factor reflects a different dimension of a club's standing. Together they build a complete picture.
We consult two independent world golf course rankings. Clubs that appear in these rankings are recognised internationally as outstanding examples of the game. The higher the ranking, the more heavily it contributes to the score. Clubs ranked in the global top 10 score significantly higher than those ranked in the top 100.
A club may not be globally famous but could be the finest in its country or continent. We therefore also look at regional rankings. For countries with a large number of historic clubs — such as the United Kingdom, the United States, or Australia — we use a national ranking. For countries with fewer historic clubs, we use a continental benchmark instead.
The older a club, the more it has contributed to the history and culture of golf. A club founded in 1850 carries a fundamentally different legacy than one founded in 1920. Age is therefore a factor in its own right, independent of any ranking. Clubs founded before the late 19th century receive a meaningful heritage bonus.
A small number of clubs worldwide hold a Royal designation, granted by a reigning monarch. This is an independent mark of distinction that reflects the club's place in the cultural and historical fabric of the game. Royal clubs receive a fixed bonus regardless of their ranking positions.
We do not publish the exact point values assigned to each factor. This is a deliberate choice — we want clubs to be evaluated on their genuine standing, not on how to optimise for a formula.
What we can say is that the threshold is intentionally meaningful. A club that appears in no ranking anywhere in the world, holds no Royal designation, and was founded after 1910 is unlikely to qualify. A club with a strong regional reputation, founded in the 19th century, very likely will.
Every club page on our website clearly shows whether a club currently qualifies. Rankings are updated periodically, which means a club's status can change over time.
Rankings are updated periodically as new editions of world and regional lists are published. A club's score can improve over time.
Every club in our database has its own page that clearly states whether it currently qualifies for The Centenary network.
If you believe your club has been incorrectly assessed, we welcome the conversation. Reach out directly and we will review it together.
We rely exclusively on established, independent ranking publications. The Centenary does not influence or commission any of the rankings we consult.
We review and update rankings periodically, typically when major world and regional ranking publications release new editions. A club that does not currently qualify may do so in a future update as rankings change. We recommend checking your club's page occasionally or reaching out to us directly if you believe a recent ranking change is not yet reflected.
We do not publish individual scores publicly, but we are happy to share an assessment with club managers or secretaries upon request. If you want to understand exactly how your club is currently evaluated, get in touch and we will walk you through it personally.
We are currently building towards 25 founding clubs for our spring pilot launch. If your club qualifies and you are interested in being among the founding members, visit our for clubs page or reach out to us directly. Founding membership comes with a fixed introductory fee and a say in how The Centenary develops.
Find your club on the map and check its current Provenance Index status.