CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - NAME AND PURPOSE

The Seniors South Bay Golf Club (SSBGC) has been organized primarily for the benefit and enjoyment of retired and semi-retired persons. At its core, the Club has a group of Members who have the time and the inclination to play leisure as well as competitive golf during the "non-peak" use time of the many golf courses in and around the Southern California area.

           
ARTICLE I I - MEMBERSHIP

As an affiliate member of the Southern California Golf Association (SCGA), the Club welcomes and accepts applications from any person wishing to join a “senior” oriented golf club. Persons seeking membership must be at least 50 years of age at the time they apply. On a “limited membership” basis, the Club also accepts applications from individuals who do not meet the “senior” qualification age.

The Club presently has a membership cap of 75, but maintains an applicant waiting list for those persons wishing to become Members. These applications are honored on a first come, first served basis.

Memberships in the Club are for one calendar year, January 1 to December 31.

All Members in good standing shall have equal rights, and access to all Club activities and privileges.

Fees:

An initiation fee is charged to new Members.  This fee may change from year to year, but not within the same year.

A membership application renewal fee is charged each year to every Member. This fee includes the cost charged to the SSBGC by the SCGA for membership in their association. As with the initiation fee, this fee may change from year to year, but not within the same year.

Sanctions:

The Club, acting through its Officers, reserves the right to impose sanctions on any of its Members for conduct deemed to be uncivil or unsportsmanlike, while participating in a Club sponsored golfing event or function.  Such sanctions could include expulsion from the Club.

ARTICLE III - CLUB DIRECTORS

Election of:

In November of each year, the Club shall vote to elect five individuals from the General Membership to serve as Directors. It will be the responsibility of these Directors to operate the Cub in an efficient and business-like manner.

Only SSBGC Members in good standing will be allowed to run or vote in the Board of Directors election. 

Functions of:

Some, but not necessarily all of the functions of the Club Directors should include the overseeing of such activities as: Membership & Handicaps, Tournaments & Rules, Communications & Publishing, Budget & Accounting, Entertainment & Special Events.

Special Committees:

As deemed necessary, the Chairman of the Directors may appoint Special Committees to help accomplish specific Club projects or activities.  Any such committee will be headed by one of the sitting Club Directors.

Installation of:

The Club Directors “elect" will assume office and take over their assigned responsibilities on January 1 of the new year.

Chairman of the Directors:

The Office of Board Chairman will be filled from the ranks of those Members elected in November of each year to serve as the Club Directors.  That process will be left to the determination of the new Board following their installation.

The Board Chairman “elect” will assume office and take over the direction of the Board in January.

Duties of the Chairman:

       1. Preserves and enforces the Club’s Bylaws

       2. Insures assigned responsibilities of Club Directors are carried out

       3. Presides at General Membership and Board meetings

       4. Reviews Club operating budget and conducts audits

       5. Acts as Master of Ceremony at Club functions 

ARTICLE IV - HANDICAP SYSTEM

Governing Authority:

As a affiliate member of the SCGA, all Club Members will establish their player handicaps in accordance with the rules and procedures of the United States Golf Association (USGA) Handicap System. This system governs all major amateur competitions throughout the United States.

Posting of Scores:

The accurate and timely posting of scores is essential to the administration of the USGA Handicap System and required of all Club Members. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in Handicap Index adjustments.

Establishing Handicaps:

A Club Member is not considered to have an "established" handicap index until he has posted 20 scores on the computer generated GHIN handicap tracking system. A “provisional” handicap index can be established by posting as few as five scores. Until a "provisional" handicap index is assigned to a Member by GHIN, he will have his handicap calculated and assigned to him by the Club’s Membership and Handicap Director.

ARTICLE V - TOURNAMENTS

Monthly Tournaments:

The Club shall organize and conduct monthly tournaments. To the extent possible these tournaments shall be conducted at different golf courses and include a variety of formats. Selection of courses and teeing grounds shall be at the discretion of the Tournament Committee and based upon “playability” by the membership.

Tournament Participation:

Any Member in good standing may secure a starting time and participate in the Club tournaments by contacting the Tournament Director in a timely fashion and sending in his tournament fees. Due to starting time limitations imposed by some golf courses, it may not be possible to accommodate all Members requesting tournament “spots”. Therefore, “spots” will be reserved on a “first paid, first served basis.” 

Cancellations and No Shows:

Any Member who cancels his reservation in a Club tournament without giving a minimum of 72 hours prior notification (emergencies excepted), or who does not show up on tournament day may be fined $10 in addition to any charges the Club may incur at the golf course due to his non-participation.

Participation in subsequent Club tournaments may be denied to Members who fail to pay all fines levied against them for untimely cancellations and no shows.

Rules of Golf:

SSBGC Members will be expected to follow and adhere to the USGA Rules of Golf, and when applicable “local golf course rules”, whenever and wherever they play. This is especially important during Club Tournaments when competing for prizes. During Tournaments, failure to do so will result in the addition of penalty strokes and depending on the infraction, could result in disqualification.

Tournament Handicaps:

Members will compete in Club tournaments using “assigned” tournament handicaps. The maximum handicap allowed any player competing in a Club tournament is 36.

Tournament Flights:

The Club shall establish handicap flights and devise procedures for the selection of teams that ensure tournament play is fair and competitive.

Non-Member Players:

Members are allowed to invite guests to Club tournaments on a room available basis only. Non-member players will not be charged a prize fee and will not compete for tournament prizes.

Prizes:

As part of the Clubs monthly tournaments, competitions shall be organized and prizes presented to winners in each handicap flight.  In addition prizes may be awarded for team competitions or other exhibitions of golf skills, such as longest drive, low putts, or closest to the pin contest.

Club Championship:

A Club Championship Tournament shall be conducted during the “summer” months each year. This tournament will consist of a series of Match Play rounds to determine the Club's Individual Low Net Champion. Participation in this tournament is limited to “senior” Members in good standing who have an

established GHIN handicap prior to the first Championship round and who have satisfied all other qualification requirements. The rules governing this tournament shall be developed by a Special Committee headed by the Club Chairman and distributed to the Membership prior to the first round of the Championship.

A perpetual trophy shall be presented by the Club to the Low Net Champion at the end of the competition each year. 

S.C.G.A. Club Competitions:

In addition to the regularly scheduled SSBGC tournaments, the Club will support, encourage and help organize participation in the various SCGA competitions open to Affiliated Club Members.


ARTICLE VI - CLUB BYLAW CHANGES

Authority:

Changes to the Bylaws of the SSBGC can be authorized only by a majority of the voting Membership. Such a vote will occur following a formal written notification to the Members, and after a proper amount of time has been allowed to review the proposed changes.  


Revised and accepted by the Membership on 11/20/2017.