The following explanation of a golf club is taken from the USGA Handicap
System manual:
A "golf club" is an
organization of at least ten individual members*
that operates under bylaws with committees (especially a handicap
committee) to supervise golf activities, provide peer review, and
maintain the integrity of the USGA Handicap System (see Club
Compliance Checklist, Section 8-2m and Decision 2/7). A golf club
must be licensed by the USGA to utilize the USGA Handicap System. A
club can obtain a license directly from the USGA or in conjunction
with 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. (See Appendix F.)
Members of a golf club must have a reasonable and regular
opportunity to play golf with each other. They must be able to
return scores personally, and these scores must be readily available
for inspection by others, including, but not limited to, fellow
members and the club's Handicap Committee.
Clarification of Term "Golf Club" Q: Membership in a golf organization is open to any
player living within a large geographic area. In general, the
members play at different golf facilities within the area, and do
not normally play golf with one another. Is this organization a golf
club within the meaning of the term in Section 2? A: No. Section 2 states that in order for an
organization to be considered a golf club, "members must have a
reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with each other."
Also, the members of a golf club who are issued a Handicap Index
must be from a small defined geographic area, for example: 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. (applies to Type 2 and Type 3 only)
(Revised)
One of the primary functions
of the LGA is the administration of the USGA Handicap System. The LGA is
bound by contract with the United States Golf Association to ensure that
all provisions of the USGA Handicap System are followed by our member
clubs.
CONDITIONS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERSHIP
1. Club/Association must pay for all golfing members. A Member is defined
as a person who pays annual dues to play golf as a member of that
Club/Association.
2. Member
Club/Association will be invoiced for the current year no later than the
second week of March based upon membership numbers provided the LGA by
the Club/Association. Fees are due upon receipt of the invoice.
3. Member
Club/Association will be invoiced in October for any additional members
joining club since March invoice (fees/dues are for any portion of the
year in which membership is current).
4.A Member
Club/Association who has not paid its annual dues by the Annual meeting
(mid-June) will no longer receive LGA services until payment is
received. Membership in the following year will require payment of the
outstanding invoice from the previous year.
LOUISIANA GOLF
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
A. 1)
Private/Semi-Private Club: A club (could be privately owned) that has
been formed by, and may, if a private facility, be restricted to members
who pay annual dues at that golf club; or
2) Golf
Club/Association at Public Course/Facility: A golf club/association that
has been formed at a public course/facility whose members pay annual
dues at the course/facility.
The minimum number of
members (for purposes of LGA dues) for a Category A member is 50.
B. Public/Resort Facility: A public course, resort course, or golf
training facility/operation that is open to the public, but which has no
Category A members.
C. 1) A
club whose 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
2) A club whose
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).**
The minimum number of
members (for purposes of LGA dues) for a Category C member is 30.
Accordingly, a checklist
entitled Requirements for Compliance with the USGA Handicap System
can be found below. A club must be able to answer "yes" to each question
before applying for membership within the LGA.
USGA HANDICAP SYSTEM COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST
If a golf club or golf association does not follow all
of the procedures of the USGA Handicap System, it is not permitted to
use any part of the System or refer to any handicap that it issues or
certifies as a "USGA handicap Index" or as a handicap authorized or approved
by the USGA.
In order to issue USGA approved Handicap Indexes your
golf club/association must:*
Meet the definition of a golf club.
Have a Handicap Committee composed mostly of members
and chaired by a member.
Have an official USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating
issued by an authorized golf association, such as the LGA.
Make it possible for players to record the correct
USGA Course Rating and USGA Slope Rating with each posted score from
every set of tees.
Require the posting of all scores made at home and
away.
Require the use of USGA procedures to adjust hole
scores before posting.
Require that consecutive nine-hole scores be combined
and posted for handicap purposes.
Insist that the Rules of Golf be followed.
Follow the revision schedule and posting season of
the authorized golf association having jurisdiction in the region (the
LGA).
Ensure that all acceptable scores are entered correctly.
Perform computations and adjustments in accordance
with the USGA Handicap Formula.
In a prominent place, post a list of members' USGA
Handicap Indexes and make current scoring records of all players from
each revision readily available for inspection by fellow members.
Reduce or increase Handicap Indexes of any player
whose handicap does not reflect his ability.
Obtain a new USGA Course Rating and USGA Slope Rating
from an authorized golf association when permanent changes have been
made to the golf course.
Include the letter "L" after local handicaps which
exceed the USGA maximum limits of 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women.
Set up the golf course to make a consistent level
of scoring possible.
*
Source: USGA Handicap System Manual
If you
are interested in forming a club, please give the LGA a call so that we
can best educate you on the process.
Call us
at 337-265-3938 or email us at lgagolf@lgagolf.org
