© 2000 Scratch Players Group, all rights reserved
Name §1
The name of the entity is the Scratch Players ® Group hereinafter referred to as SPG.
The form of organization of this entity is as a California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation complying with section 501(c)(7), Title 26, of the United States Code and California Revenue and Taxation Code section 23701g.
The purpose of the SPG is to pursue the mutual interests of its scratch golfing members; is by, of and primarily for scratch players; and shall encompass the following mission statement:
It shall be the mission of the SPG: to hold the game of golf in high esteem; to enhance the information availability specific to the interests of scratch players, to conduct scratch golf tournaments; to respect the autonomy and purpose of other professional and nonprofit golf associations or unions; to enhance the ability of it's members to network, gather and otherwise communicate with one another; to facilitate a medium whereby members can contribute back to the game of golf; and to provide peer recognition of players worldwide who have exhibited an exemplary track record of golf performance.
Board - shall mean the Board of Directors of the SPG.
TH - shall mean a tournament handicap which is a Handicap Index ®, as computed via the current system established by the United States Golf Association (USGA), where a sufficient number of handicap differentials, as determined by the Board, utilized to calculate an individuals Handicap Index are derived from tournament scores and identified as such by a "T". A tournament handicap shall also mean a non-USGA tournament based handicap, or the like by whatever description, from anywhere in the world, as approved by the Board and disclosed on the SPG website, scratchplayers.org. [® - USGA mark]
website - shall hereinafter mean the SPG website, scratchplayers.org.
Intranet - shall mean the SPG intranet, accessible only by SPG members, via the website.
e-mail (or email) - shall mean electronic communications to and from a cyber address via the internet or the intranet.
IEM - shall mean an interactive electronic medium whereby only SPG members can communicate among themselves on a continuous and interactive basis via the website (commonly referred to as a "chat room").
applicable law - shall mean California law as prescribed in section 1 of Article XVII (Application of Law).
USA - shall mean the United States of America.
scratch player - shall mean an individual who is an accomplished golfer having achieved a skill level, in part derived from performance in tournament play, in the top five percent (5%) of all golfers worldwide.
media - shall mean voice, video and other communication tools if and as determined by the Board.
pro - full member of a national association of golf professionals or playing member of a professional golf tour
class A - Life, Regular and Senior members of the SPG
ED - Executive Director of the SPG
Life Member §1
Any scratch player who has been inducted into the SPG Hall of Fame, any member who has served on the Board of Directors of the SPG for 3 years, any Founding Director serving in such capacity until the year 2002, any dues exempt member, or other scratch player by the consent of eight (8) members of the Board, shall be a Life member (class A) should such individual choose to remain or become a member of the SPG. Life members have the same benefits, rights and obligations as Regular members, except that they are thereafter exempt from any TH or pro status requirement upon renewal of Life membership.
Regular Member §2
Any scratch player of the age of eighteen (18) or older, from anywhere in the world, shall become a regular member (class A) who has attained a TH of 3.9 (or non-USGA equivalent) or less, or pro status, as determined by the Board, if such individual has complied with section 1 of Article VI (Admission). Regular Members shall have benefits, rights, and obligations as set forth in these Bylaws.
Senior Member §3
Any scratch player of the age of fifty (50) or older, from anywhere in the world, shall become a Senior member (class A) who has attained a TH of 5.5 (or non-USGA equivalent) or less, or pro status, as determined by the Board, if such individual has complied with section 1 of Article VI (Admission). Senior members have the same benefits, rights and obligations as Regular members.
Junior Member §4
With the written consent of a parent or legal guardian, any scratch player under the age of eighteen (18), from anywhere in the world, shall become a Junior member (class B) who has attained a TH of 3.9 (or non-USGA equivalent) or less, if such individual has otherwise complied with section 1 of Article VI (Admission). Junior members shall be jointly and severally liable for dues, other obligations, and otherwise with their consenting parent or guardian until as otherwise provided in section 4 of Article VI (renewal), and shall have benefits, rights and other obligations as set forth in these Bylaws.
Associate Member §5
Any individual of the age of eighteen (18) or older, from anywhere in the world, shall become an Associate member (class C), as approved by the Board and website disclosed, who has attained a TH between 4.0 and 9.9 (or non-USGA equivalent), if such individual has complied with section 1 of Article VI (Admission). Associate members shall have benefits, rights and obligations as set forth in these Bylaws.
Charter Designation to Membership §6
A charter designation is attached to any SPG class A or B member with a membership number under 1000, which identifies such member as one of the first 999 SPG members, and other members who have served three (3) years on the Board and have been reissued a previously retired membership number under 1000, irrespective of any change in their membership class; no other retired membership numbers under 1000 may be reissued. Each member retains the membership number assigned to such member until and if their membership is terminated. The annual dues obligation is fixed for the lifetime of a member with a charter designation as the amount due upon renewal of such membership at such an amount as would previously have applied to such member's current membership class upon their admission to the SPG.
Membership Benefits and Privileges §7
The
benefits and privileges of membership in the SPG shall include:
(a) an intranet for electronic intra-membership communications,
accessible only by members, via the website;
(b) website links to golf associations / unions and to other websites,
or portions thereof, of interest to members;
(c) IEMs for SPG / Board meetings and otherwise, electronic bulletin
boards for SPG business and otherwise;
(d) golf course, tournament, equipment, and other search databases
specific to the interests of scratch players; and each member shall be
entitled to such, and other, benefits and privileges of SPG membership
as provided and disclosed on the website by Board approval, for each
membership class.
Membership Dues, Duties and Obligations §8
Each SPG member shall be liable for dues, perform duties, and be obligated otherwise as stipulated in these Bylaws and as otherwise provided and disclosed on the website by the Board for their membership class. Member duties shall include the understanding of, and compliance with, these Bylaws. It is each member's duty not to engage in activities or behavior detrimental to the interests or mission statement of the SPG as this would be deemed "unbecoming conduct" (Article XII, §1).
Membership Admission and Application §1
Membership in the SPG is effective for any individual applicant, at the highest qualified class available,