WEST MICHIGAN AMATEUR GOLF ASSOCIATION
GOLF CLUB
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
Article I - NAME
The name of this golf club shall be West Michigan Amateur Golf Association.
Article II - PURPOSE
FIRST: To stimulate interest in golf in West Michigan by bringing together a group of golfers desirous of forming a golfing organization.
SECOND: To promote and foster among the members a closer bond and fraternity for their joint and mutual benefit, and to promote and conserve the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions.
THIRD: To encourage conformance to the USGA Rules of Golf by creating a representative authority.
FOURTH: To maintain a uniform system of handicapping as set forth in the USGA Handicap System and issue USGA Handicap Indexes to the members.
FIFTH: To provide an authoritative body to govern and conduct club competitions.
Article III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership shall be available to all (men/women) 18 years of age or older. There shall be a least 10 members with a maximum membership of (300).
Section 2. Memberships in the club are individual and non-transferable.
Section 3. Only golfers with a reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with fellow members and who can personally return scores for posting may be members and receive USGA Handicap Indexes from the club.
Section 4. Membership confers no voice in the operation of neither any golf courses, clubhouses nor any facilities of any courses.
Section 5. Membership confers no special privileges in connection with any golf course.
Section 6. Memberships in the club are for a calendar year only, with all memberships expiring on October 31st.
Section 7. The fiscal year for the club will be November 1st through October 31st.
Section 8. Each candidate for membership shall be approved by the Board of Directors and shall maintain membership for the existing year. The Board of Directors shall act on behalf of membership applications once per month. The Board of Directors may confer honorary memberships upon those whom they feel have contributed to the advancement of golf. The unanimous affirmative vote of the Board shall be required to approve such action.
Section 9. Members shall strive to elevate the game of golf by remaining a member in good standing. Member in good standing status is obtained by adhering to club guidelines AND guidelines for obtaining and maintaining a certified USGA Handicap Index. In the event that any member of the club shall commit any act which reflects discredit or disrepute thereon or shall refuse or neglect to comply with the rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors or the duly appointed officers, such member shall be subject to suspension or expulsion after (ten days) written notice and the right to be heard. A written request for a hearing may be submitted to the Board of Directors no later than 30 days in advance. That member will have an opportunity to establish they are indeed a member in good standing by presenting his/her case before the Board. Approval for continued membership shall be by a vote of two-thirds of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will respond to all official hearings in writing no later than 30 days from the date of the hearing. As this is a voluntary association all Board decisions are final and not eligible for protest or review.
Section 10. The annual meeting of the West Michigan Amateur Golf Association shall be held on the third Wednesday in the month of October. The Board of Directors shall provide for the holding of such other meetings as may be deemed necessary or desirable and they shall call special meetings upon written petition signed by not less than thirty percent of the membership.
Section 11. A legal quorum at any meeting shall be twenty members present in person or by proxy. Each active member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote.
Section 12. All membership fees and dues shall be established by the Board of Directors from time to time in such amounts as they deem to be adequate to operate and maintain the club. Members shall be liable for dues until their written resignation has been received and accepted. All monies collected shall accrue to the benefit of the membership.
Article IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of five members in good standing of the West Michigan Amateur Golf Association and they shall exercise all powers of management of the club not specifically excepted by these By-Laws. The Board of Directors shall include the General Manager as nominated by the Chairman with approval of two-thirds of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. At least five weeks prior to the Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of five members of the organization. At least four weeks prior to the Annual Meeting, this committee shall submit to the Board and shall post upon the club bulletin board a list of nominees to fill any vacancies for the term of office beginning on the day of the meeting. Names of other members in good standing may be nominated by petition signed by a least ten members and submitted to the Board at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting. At least one week prior to the Annual Meeting, a list of all candidates nominated shall be mailed to each member at their last known address and a copy of such list shall be posted on the club bulletin board.
Section 3. Voting shall be written ballot and those names receiving the greatest number of votes cast shall be dec1ared to be elected. The Board shall appoint a committee of three judges who are not members of the Board or candidates for election to supervise the election.
Section 4. The Board of Directors shall meet at such times and places as they may select and a majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.
Section 5. In the case of any vacancy through death, resignation, disqualification or other cause, the remaining directors, even though less than a quorum, may elect a successor by majority vote to hold office for the unexpired term of the director whose place shall be vacant, and until the election of his successor.
Article V - OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Section 1. Within ten days after the annual meeting and election, the Board of Directors shall meet and elect the officers.
Section 2. The officers shall consist of president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, and their duties shall be such as their titles would indicate or such as may be assigned to them respectively from time to time.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall authorize and define the powers and duties of all committees. Chairmen and members of all committees shall be appointed by the president, and the president shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.
Section 4. The following committees shall be appointed each year, with such other committees as the president may deem necessary or advisable:
Tournament Committee to arrange and schedule with the management of any golf course as necessary, and conduct all intra-club and inter-club competitions.
Handicap Committee composed primarily of members with the responsibility to establish a fair and proper system of handicaps in accordance with procedures set forth in the USGA Handicap System Manual.
Membership Committee to investigate and act upon membership issues and to recommend appropriate action to the Board of Directors.
Social Committee to arrange social entertainment features and events for special occasions.
Article VI - AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have the power to repeal or amend any of these By-Laws provided that such action shall not be effective until approved by a majority vote of the members of West Michigan Amateur Golf Association at a meeting held in accordance with the provisions contained herein.
