Sterling Links Members Golf Association
By-Laws
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this association shall be the Sterling Links Members Golf Association.
PURPOSE
A. This Association shall be a non-profit voluntary organization whose aims are:
- To promote friendship and rapport through golf.
- To provide opportunities for meeting other members of the club.
- To promote the understanding of the etiquette and rules of golf.
- To advance knowledge and skill in golf.
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Association is organized exclusively for the enjoyment of its members, and
- To provide an authoritative body to govern and conduct Association competitions.
- To provide, through the Board of Directors of the Association, a means of expressing suggestions and concerns of the Association in matters of golf to the management of Sterling Links Golf Club.
MEETINGS
Section 1. The Association shall hold monthly meetings for the Membership on the second Saturday of each month at the conclusion of the Saturday competition, at a time prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The order of business at all meetings of the Association shall be as follows:
A. Call to order
B. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting
C. President’s report to the Association
D. Committee reports
E. Unfinished business
F. New business, and
G. Adjournment.
Section 3. The annual meeting of the club shall be held in January of each year, at a time and place to be fixed by vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Special meetings of the club may be called by a majority vote of the Board of Directors or upon submission to the President or Secretary, of a written request of ten members, said request to state the object of the special meeting.
Section 5. Notice of the time and place of all meetings, whether annual, general or special shall be given to the complete membership in such manner as the Board of Directors shall decide.
Section 6. Six board members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the club.
ARTICLE II
COURSE FOR OPERATIONS
Section 1. The Association shall carry on its regular operations at only one golf course, that being the Sterling Links Golf Course.
Section 2. The members association may carry on special events at other golf courses as approved by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership shall be open to all members of Sterling Links Golf Club who have paid their annual Members Association dues.
Section 2. Acceptance of membership in the Association shall bind each member to abide by the Association’s Bylaws, Rules of the United States Golf Association (USGA), and local course rules.
Section 3. The SLMGA is a non-profit organization. Except for the expenditure of funds to cover the operating costs of the SLMGA, all income must be used for the benefit of the membership during the year in which it was realized.
Section 4. Each candidate for membership shall fill out a membership application as prescribed by the policies of Sterling Links Golf Club and the SLMGA.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 4. The make-up of the board shall be as follows:
(a) The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be elected at the annual meeting.
(b) Two at-large Directors who shall be elected at the annual meeting.
(c) The most immediate Past President of the club who is willing and able to serve.
(d) The course General Manager.
(e) Four at-large members who shall be appointed by the President and confirmed by a majority of the five elected members of the board, the most immediate Past President who is willing and able to serve, and the President.
- Rules/Handicap Chairman
- Tournament Chairman
- Special Events Chairman
- Social/Entertainment Chairman
Section 5. The newly elected and appointed members of the board shall assume office at the January meeting.
Section 6. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume that office. In the event of a vacancy in the offices of President and Vice President, or in the event the Vice President is unable to assume the Presidency, the board shall appoint a member of the club to assume the Presidency until the next annual meeting.
Section 7. In the event of a vacancy on the board, the President may, with the consent of a majority of the remaining members of the board, appoint a member of the club to fill said vacancy.
Section 8. The Board of Directors shall meet at the call of the President or any three members of the Board of Directors.
Section 9. Six members shall constitute a quorum of the board. If a meeting of the board is not feasible, the President may take action on behalf of the club after a majority phone vote of the board.
Section 10. The Board of Directors shall hear all complaints or disputes between members of the club. Any member of the board involved in any dispute shall be disqualified from this procedure.
Section 11. Any member of the board elected by the membership may be removed from office by a majority of the membership at a regularly scheduled or special meeting. An appointed member of the board may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the club and of the Board of Directors, and in general shall perform the duties incident to the office. He shall appoint the elected or appointed members of the board to chair the specific committees or carry out the specific jobs that are included in these by-laws or have been deemed necessary by the board. He is also authorized to appoint special committees as he or the Board of Directors may deem necessary or advisable to further the interests or purposes of the club. He shall report or cause to be reported to the membership all actions of the Board of Directors. The President may not chair a committee but shall serve as an ex officio member of all committees.
Section 2. The Vice President. In the absence or inability of the President to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of that office, or assume that office as necessary.
Section 3. The Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the records of all meetings of the club and of the Board of Directors. He shall give and serve all notices of meetings. He shall be responsible for, and have charge of, all correspondence, files, records and papers of the club. He shall serve as the Membership Chairman and be responsible to perform all duties incident to the office or required by the association with which the club is affiliated.
Section 4. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate accounts of all moneys received, and shall deposit the same in the name of the club in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disperse all moneys under the direction of the Board of Directors. He shall have the authority to receive and to give receipt for all moneys due and payable to the club from any source whatever, and to endorse on behalf of the club all checks, drafts, notes, warrants and orders, and to give full discharge for same. He, and the President or Vice President jointly, shall sign all checks, drafts, notes, warrants and orders for payment of club funds. He shall present at each monthly meeting of the club, a written report of the financial affairs of the club from the previous month, and shall make such report available whenever requested by the Board of Directors. He shall prepare an annual report to be audited as may be directed by the Board of Directors. He shall perform all duties incident to the office.
Section 5. Compensation: The Board of Directors shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Association for any actual expenses incurred in the conduct of their duties and approved by a majority of the Board.
ARTICLE VI
INITIATION FEES AND DUES
Section 1. There shall be an initiation fee, to be set by the Board of Directors and approved by a vote of the membership that shall be paid by all new members, as well as all members who fail to renew their membership by the deadline established by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. All paid members shall be in good standing to vote at any meeting.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall set the deadline by which membership renewals must be paid. Members whose dues are not paid by this deadline will not be added to the rolls for the upcoming year. These members may rejoin only by applying for new membership, and paying the annual dues and initiation fee.
Section 4. Dues, deadlines, reinstatements and delinquency assessments shall be based upon requirements of the association with which the club is affiliated. All active members shall receive a statement of dues for the upcoming year at least thirty days prior to the deadline for payment, in a manner prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Use of Association Funds and Dues:
A. The dues of the Association shall be set annually by a two-thirds vote of the Board.
B. Association funds may be expended for any legal purpose approved by a majority vote of the Board including but not limited to:
1. Social activities for Association Members;
2. Purchase of awards for Association Members and for awarding to others at Association sponsored functions;
3. Purchase of equipment and/or amenities. However, if the intent of the ‘Board is that the club shall assume ownership and responsibility for such amenities and/or equipment, then the purchase thereof shall be subject to approval by the Club;
4. Printing and mailing expenses including, return postage, incurred in the normal course of the Association’s business, including printing and mailing of ballots for election of Directors or in connection with proposed Bylaw changes;
5. Income from dues shall be expended for the benefit of the Sterling Links Members Golf Association.
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. The club's operating year shall be the calendar year.
ARTICLE VIII
OBLIGATIONS AND DISCIPLINE
Section 1. The acceptance of membership in the club shall bind each member to uphold all the provisions of these by-laws and other rules of the club, and to accept and enforce all rules and decisions of the Board of Directors, officers and committee chairmen acting within their jurisdiction.
Section 2. Members may be subject to suspension or expulsion for conduct unbecoming to the game of golf, the good name of the club, or the proper functioning of the club.
Section 3. Member complaints and grievances shall be held in strictest confidence, submitted in writing, signed and dated by the complainant, and addressed to the attention of the President, SLGA.
Section 4. Any infractions of the SLMGA Bylaws shall be reported to the President, SLMGA, who will determine whether or not an investigation of the charge is warranted. If an investigation is deemed to be warranted, the President shall appoint a Board member or members to carry out the investigation and to report the findings to the Board at its next regular meeting. The Board shall determine the appropriate action to be taken, if any, to the complainant.
ARTICLE IX
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. All elected officers will be nominated At the December monthly meeting with the elections to be held at the January annual meeting.
Section 2. Any member in good standing may be nominated to run for office.
Section 3. All elected officers term of office is one year.
Section 4. Elections shall be supervised by the Rules Committee.
Section 5. Voting shall be by written ballot and those persons receiving a simple majority of votes will be deemed elected.
Section 6. In the case of a tie the election will be decided by a majority of the seven previously elected board members.
Section 7. Proxies: On any matter requiring a vote of the Association members, any Association member entitled to vote may cast a vote without attending the meeting in question by following the procedure set forth herein. The Association member desiring to vote by proxy must file a written statement, by mail or by electronic mail, with the Secretary of the Association prior to the meeting, specifying the issue on which the Association member intends to vote, and stating that the Association member votes for or against same. Any vote cast in this manner shall have the same force and effect as if the Association member had appeared at the meeting and cast the vote in person.
Section 8. Ratification of Association Actions: All actions of the Association shall be subject to approval and ratification by the Club. Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
ARTICLE X
RULES OF GOLF AND AMATEUR STATUS
Section 1. All golf tournaments conducted by the club shall be in accordance with the rules and decisions of the governing body for golf in the United States, USGA.
Section 2. The club, in dealing with questions involving amateur status of a member shall be guided by the rulings of the USGA.
ARTICLE XI
COMMITTEES
Section 1. The board shall establish such standing committees as are deemed necessary for the smooth operation of the club. Each member of the board shall be a member of each standing committee. Any member of the club can be appointed to a standing or special committee by the President, or by the chairman of that committee with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The Tournament Committee shall take entries for and conduct all tournaments scheduled at Sterling Links Golf Club.
Section 3. The Handicap Committee shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of handicaps for active members of the club, and shall be the contact group with other organizations in all matters pertaining to handicapping.
Section 4. The Entertainment Committee shall be responsible for, and manage entertainment at club functions and shall be responsible for arranging and conducting approved functions away from Sterling Links Golf Course.
Section 5. The Rules Committee shall arrange for the proper marshaling of club tournaments, shall be arbiter in all disputes arising from play, and with the Tournament Committee, shall formulate any necessary local rules, in harmony with the policies of the governing body for golf in the United States, USGA.
Section 6. The Special Events Committee shall be responsible for, and manage, any and all special events at club functions.
Section 7. The Greens Committee shall work closely with the President and other members of the Golf and Greens Committee to communicate issues that need to be communicated to and from management and the general membership. For instance, this committee may communicate one or two issues a year that need attention to raise the awareness of the membership (raking bunkers, fixing ball marks, sanding divots, cart-path only situations, etc.)
ARTICLE XII
HANDICAP SYSTEM
Section 1. The handicap system of the club shall be the handicap system of the association with which the club is affiliated.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments to these by-laws may be made at any meeting of the club by a two thirds vote of the members present and voting. Notice of the vote on the proposed amendment(s) shall be given at the meeting immediately preceding the meeting at which the vote is to be taken, and shall be noted in any publications of the club.
Section 2. The Bylaws may be amended at any time by approval of the membership. Proposed amendments shall be presented to the membership no less than two weeks before the vote is to be taken. The proposed amendment may be decided either by a majority voice vote of the membership present and voting at a general Association meeting, or by written ballots. Call for type of vote shall be determined after call for vote of said amendment.
Section 3. The proposed amendment(s) shall be made available (e-mail or written handout) to the membership in a manner prescribed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XIV
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 1. The by-laws shall be constructed in accordance with the laws of the state of Georgia.
Section 2. The by-laws shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the members, directors, officers, committee members and agents of the Association.
Section 3. In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the Association shall, after necessary expenses thereof are paid, be expended in the form of a social event for the members then in good standing or to a charity qualifying under the standards of the US Internal Revenue Code, such distribution at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
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