NORTHEAST GEORGIA SENIOR MEN’S GOLF ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
Article 1. Name
The name of this association shall be the Northeast Georgia Senior Men’s Golf Association, hereafter referred to as NEGASMGA. This organization is a golf league and will have slightly different rules than most golfing associations.
Article 2. Purpose
The purpose of this Association shall be to promote and encourage golf, and its related social activities, for Senior Men who are members of NEGASMGA, and to provide an organized golf program for them.
Article 3. Membership
Any man who is 50 years of age (in the year joining) or older, is eligible to join. Members
will be asigned a handicap in accordance with Article 12B
Article 4. Officers
Each member Club can have four representatives on the Board of Directors. It is from these directors that the nominating committee shall propose candidates for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Article 5. Election of Officers
Prior to November 1st of each year, the outgoing President shall appoint a Nominating Committee. This Committee shall recommend a slate of Officers for the New Year, selected from those individuals described in Article 4 above.
Article 6. Powers of Officers and Directors
The Officers and Directors of NEGASMGA shall be the governing body of the Association. They shall have the power to establish and amend the Constitution and Bylaws and the Standing Rules; to establish and amend a budget; to authorize the inclusion of other clubs in the membership of NEGASMGA; and to otherwise transact the business of the Association.
Article 7. Advisory Board Members
In addition to those selected as Officers and Directors, the immediate four past Presidents of NEGASMGA shall be advisory members of the Board and, as such, shall be entitled to attend and participate in its meetings, but shall have no vote. The intent of this provision is to provide some continuity and assistance to the board.
Article 8. Meetings
Officers and Directors shall meet at the call of the President, and at least two times per year. Meetings will normally be held prior to a Tournament at the host member Club’s course.
Article 9. Officers and Directors…Vacancies
Should a vacancy occur in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the office of President for the remainder of the term. Should a vacancy occur in any other office, the President shall appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term. Should a vacancy occur among the Directors, it shall be filled by the member club of the vacating director.
Article 10. Officers and Directors…Duties
The President shall preside at meetings of the Board. He shall be the chief executive officer of the Association. The Vice President shall assist the President in his duties. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President. He shall be responsible for coordinating all tournaments, ensuring notices and summaries are timely issued and resolving any questions pertaining thereto. The Secretary shall be responsible for the official papers and correspondence of the Association, which will include a roster of officers and Board members as well as records of Board meetings. The Treasurer will be responsible for the safekeeping of all funds and be accountable for all expenditures. He will be prepared to present an accounting at any meeting of the Association.
Article 11. Dues and Tournament Fees
The amount of dues shall be decided upon from year to year by the Officers and Directors, and be payable by a date set by them. Tournament fees shall be flat fee per person per tournament and will include taxes and any gratuities, plus the cost of greens fees and cart needed for that tournament.
Article 12. Standing Rules
USGA rules shall govern play, unless modified by the tournament chairman. Any deviations shall be made known to all participants on the day of play.
1. NEGASMGA [LOCAL] RULES
We use the USGA rules EXCEPT IN THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:
a. We play the ball down except when, then its “lift clean and place through the green, within one club length”. This includes ALL areas except the teeing area and the putting green of the hole being played and all hazards on the course.
b. Any ball in a wooded area next to a fairway will be considered a RED LATERAL area., and the USGA rule apply.” “Any ball hit out of bounds will result in a 1 stroke penalty and the ball dropped 2 club lenghts from the point of entry.” The purpose of these exceptions is to expedite play.
c. Spike marks on the green may be repaired.
d. Divots repaired or open[no sand] will be considered ground under repair, drop within 1 club length.
e. Sand bunkers with with any condition that the majority of the players in the group agree that it is NOT considered a FAIR playable condition may rake the bunker and place the ball as near to the original location as possible without penalty.
2. Each tournament shall be a shotgun start. In the event of cancellation because of rain or course conditions, an alternate date for play at that particular course will be scheduled, if possible. The decision to cancel or not to cancel a tournament shall be made by the Tournament Chairman at the Club hosting the tournament, and will posted on the Website.
3. Unless designated otherwise, in stroke play you will keep the score of your opponent and he will score yours. In Match play, each will keep score and sign both. In order to qualify for prizes, scorecards must be completely filled out with gross scores and final net score or the final score in the match play signed by the scorer, and initialed by the other player in the group.
4. The use of distance-measuring devices is approved by our group in accordance with
the USGA Decision 14-3/0.5.
5. Each tournament chairman shall, in the description of the days format, clearly describe a departure from accepted USGA rules…e.g. “preferred lies” etc. Any violation not expressly waived by the tournament chairman shall disqualify the offender from that hole.
6. The minimum number of points required in any tournament shall be 5.
Article 12B Handicaps and scoring disputes
1. Scoring disputes should be brought to the tournament chairman’s attention before scorecards are signed. When considered applicable, the host club’s golf pro will also be consulted. The Tournament Chairman’s decision will be final.
2. Handicaps used for play in NEGASMGA will be the indexes solely earned during play at a NEGASMGA tournament. The best 8 out of the last 12 plays and the USGA formula are used to calculate your index.
3. New players joining the group will not participate in flight competition until they have participated in four NEGASMGA tournaments. However, their scores will be eligible for the year-in payout within their respective annual bracket.
4. Until a new member has completed four NEGASMGA events, his index may be adjusted by the Handicap Committee in order to match the member's handicap index with his current level of play. Any appeals concerning this process shall be made to the Handicap Committee. The Committee is listed under "Officer's and Committee's"
5.
Brackets and tee boxes may not be changed after 6 events unless there is special circumstances surounding the request and approved by the Handicap Committee.
Article 13. “No Shows” Assessments
Any member of the Association who signs up for a tournament and does not cancel with the Host Club Pro Shop at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled tee time will be charged the amount for that tournament. Under certain conditions and circumstances, reasons for cancellation or not being able to play on the morning of the tournament may be accepted by the host club chairman and his committee. If a penalty assessment is determined necessary by the host club chairman the absent member’s club’s tournament chairman shall be responsible for the collection of the sum. The host club shall be entitled to retain the “no show” assessment.
Article 14 – Tournament Awards for League Play
There is no "team" playing therefore every event is individual, either Medal or Match play.
The Flights and Brackets are very different and are explained below.
Brackets are selected at the beginning of the year or when you join and they remain
the same for the entire year. They are identified with color and a letter for our use.
Brackets and tee boxes may not be changed after 6 events unless there is special
circumstances surounding the request and approved by the Handicap Committee.
Flights are established for every event and you may be in a different flight each week.
Flights are determined by the total number of players ranked by the lowest index
to the highest index for each event. There will be multiple flights at each event.
All ties in either Match or Medal play will be decided by score card playoff.
1st - Net score for the entire match, if tied
2nd- Net score for the nine containing the #1 handicap hole,if tied
3rd - Net score for the nine remaining holes, if tied
Starting at # 1 handicap hole back toward the #18 handicap hole
Metal or Stroke events use the Stableford method of scoring. Only Gross Scores
are recorded and corresponding points are posted based on the gross score by hole.
The points given are:
Double Eagle =5
Eagle =4
Birdie =3
Par =2
Bogey =1
Double Bogey =0 Pick up and move on. Post the score you would have made.
Event Prizes are given for 1st, 2nd; 3rd and 4th places.
Points for the Brackets are as follows:
1st place = 50 points; 2nd place = 40 points; 3rd place = 30 points
4th place =20; Appearance =10 pts
Match play the points will be awarded as follows:
Winner of the match = 50 points
Loser of the match = 20 points
The winner takes the event prize..
Close Ups = 20points
Hole in one = 50 points
Article 15, Tournament Prizes – Wagering
Wagering-Gambling will be optional as per the USGA rules
To enter this portion of the tournament, a separate fee will be paid by a member and the tournament prizes will be awarded to winners following each tournament. Basic tournament prizes will be in the form of NEGASMGA Treasury cash prize or gift certificates for merchandise in the Pro Shop of the host club.
NEGASMGA Treasury cash prize or Pro Shop certificates shall be distributed in the same manner at each club as follows:
The total amount received for that tournament will be split evenly into the number of flights and distributed as follows:
The MATCH PLAY pay out will be based on the total monies received[less the close-ups] divided by the total winners for the tournament.
Exceptions to this method of distribution may be approved on a case by case basis by the Board of Directors.
Dated: 12/15/11