Club Bylaws
All members Must live or work within 50 miles of the club's main location.
Member locations will be reviewed using reports provided by GolfNet on a monthly basis. If your location is beyond the 50 mile radius, you will be removed from the club.
All members Must have their full first and last names along with a valid zip code entered with their membership. Failure to comply will result in being removed from the club automatically.
All members MUST use GolfNet to post their scores using the hole by hole method so proper ESC can be applied.
All members MUST read and comply with the following USGA guidelines for a TYPE 3 Golf Club:
Section 2 of the USGA Handicap System defines a golf club as follows:
A "golf club" is an organization of at least ten individual members that operates under bylaws with committees (including a Handicap Committee) to supervise golf activities, provide peer review, and maintain the integrity of the USGA Handicap System (see Compliance Checklist, Section 8-2m; Decision 2/7). A golf club must be licensed by the USGA to utilize the USGA Handicap System. A club can obtain a license agreement directly from the USGA or through its membership in an authorized golf association that is already licensed by the USGA and that has jurisdiction in the geographic area that includes the principal location of the golf club.
Each golf club must determine its type. A golf club is one of three (3) types:
1. It is located at a single specific golf course with a valid USGA Course Rating and USGA Slope Rating where a majority of the club's events are played and the club's scoring records reside; or
2. Its members are affiliated or known to one another via a business, fraternal, ethnic or social organization. The majority of the club members had an affiliation prior to organizing the club; or
3. The members had no prior affiliation and a majority of the recruiting and sign-up of the membership is done by solicitation to the general public (e.g., Internet, newspaper).
Decision 2/7. Clarification of Compliance/License Issues for Golf Club Categories Described in the Golf Club Definition
"Principal Location" (applies to types 2 and 3 only)
The principal location of a golf club shall be the physical address in the city or town which the club first identified in its application for a license to utilize the USGA Handicap System. So long as the golf club is in existence, the principal location shall not be changed without the prior written consent of the authorized golf association of which the golf club is a member, or if the club is not a member of a golf association, of the USGA. Members of a golf club who are issued a Handicap Index must be from a small defined geographic area, i.e., the residence or business address of each member of the golf club must generally be within approximately a 50 mile radius of the principal location of the golf club.
"Identification" (applies to type 3 only)
Each individual must provide proof of identification and residence to the golf club in order to be a member of the Club.
"Playing Requirements and Club Size" (applies to type 3 only)
The USGA will consider the playing requirement met if each member returns at least three scores played with other club members during the season, and at least one of those rounds is played in a club sponsored event. Anyone not meeting this minimum requirement should be dropped from the handicap rolls.
A golf club's size is limited: If membership in a club exceeds the number of available tee times offered in club sponsored events, the playing requirements cannot be met. For example, if a club has 200 members and conducts only eight organized events with a maximum of 15 players each, not all members will have played in a club sponsored event.
"Group Cohesion/Activities" (applies to all types)
In order to be able to utilize the USGA Handicap System, the golf club must have group cohesion. Group activities should go beyond playing in tournaments. There should be a group orientation policy and other functions, such as group meetings, award banquets and the like.
"Contact Information" (applies to all types)
Contact information for each member of the golf club must be made readily available to all members. ( NEW )
Proof of membership means you must provide a complete first and last name along with a correct 5 digit zip code with your GolfNet membership.
The club sponsored event can be a club tournament or you can play in one of the GolfNet V-tours which will be listed on the club's home page.
These bi-laws must be accepted and followed by all members of the golf club or you will be removed. The member list will be reviewed at the end of each year and members not in compliance will be removed from the club.