USGA Member Club By-Laws

Club Membership Article I

SECTION 1: Classes of Members
The Association shall be composed of three classes of members, as follows:
(a) Member Clubs
(b) Member Courses
(c) Member Training Facilities

SECTION 2: Member Club
(a) Definition: Membership shall be open to any organized golf club in the United States. An organized club is a permanent club comprised of individual dues-paying members with committees appointed to organize golf activities. Such a club shall operate permanently at one course or shall nominate a golf course as its home course. A Member Club's position on a matter relating to the Association shall be determined by the entire membership.
(b) Privileges: Member Clubs shall be entitled to all privileges of the Association.
(c) Dues: Annual dues for a Member Club shall be in an amount fixed by the Executive Committee.

SECTION 3: Member Course
(a) Definition: Membership shall be open to any golf course in the United States which is not eligible as a Member Club.
(b) Privileges: A Member Course shall be entitled to all privileges of the Association except the right to vote at meetings of the Association.
(c) Dues: Annual dues for a Member Course shall be in an amount fixed by the Executive Committee.

SECTION 4: Member Training Facility
(a) Definition: Membership shall be open to all (outdoor) golf training facilities that provide instruction in playing golf, developing skills and knowledge of the rules and etiquette of the game.
(b) Privileges: A Member Training Facility shall be entitled to all privileges of the Association except the right to vote at meetings of the Association.
(c) Dues: Annual dues for a Member Training Facility shall be in an amount fixed by the Executive Committee.

SECTION 5: Application
Application for class of membership shall be made on forms provided by the Association and shall be accompanied by such information as the Association's Executive Committee may require. An applicant shall agree that its application is subject to approval or rejection at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Application shall be accompanied by the payment of dues for the current year.

SECTION 6: Membership
Upon approval of an application by an officer or employee of the Association appointed by the Executive Committee for the purpose, the applicant shall become a member of the Association subject to ratification by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 7: Payment of Dues
Annual dues for membership shall be payable on January 1. Dues shall not be pro-rated for any part of the year. However, dues for the current year shall be waived in the case of a new application effective after September 1 of such year, provided that dues for the next year accompany the application.

SECTION 8: Continuity of Membership
Membership shall be automatically continuous unless interrupted by written resignation or expulsion. Members shall be liable for all dues accruing to the date of such resignation or expulsion.

SECTION 9: Individual Members
In addition to the classes of memberships provided in Sections 1 through 7 of this Article I, individuals who pay prescribed annual amounts to the Association, called Associates prior to July 1, 1991, will be called Members but will have the same status as Associates had before that date. They will not have any of the rights or obligations of Member Clubs, Courses or Training Facilities provided in the other sections and Articles of these By-Laws for Members, but will receive the Newsletters and other material mailed to them by the Association and may be given such other perquisites as are determined from time to time by the Executive Director or his designee.

Club Membership Article II

Obligations and Discipline
The acceptance of membership in the Association by a golf club, golf course or golf training facility shall bind each Member of the club, course or training facility to uphold all the provisions of the Association's Certificate of Incorporation, and By-Laws and other rules and to accept and enforce all rules and decisions of the Executive Committee acting within its jurisdiction.

Any member failing in its obligations as above set forth (other than payment of dues) may be suspended or expelled by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Executive Committee or by a two-thirds vote of the Association, provided such Member shall have been given due notice of the charge or charges preferred against it and an opportunity to be heard in its own defense. A Member which has failed to pay its dues when due, has been given written notice of such nonpayment and fails to pay such dues within 60 days after such notice may be suspended from the privileges of membership by notice given by an officer or employee of the Association appointed by the Executive Committee for the purpose and may be expelled by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Executive Committee without further notice. Member Clubs which have been suspended for nonpayment of dues shall be denied representation at any meeting of the Association.

Any member suspended or expelled by vote of the Executive Committee may appeal from its decision to the delegates at an annual or special meeting of the Association.

All appeals from decisions of the Executive Committee under this Article shall be heard at the next regular or special meeting of the Association. If the appeal is decided in favor of the appellant and the decision of the Executive Committee is reversed, then the status of the Member or the eligibility of its individual members affected by such decision shall thereupon be restored.