CONSTITUTION OF THE UPPER PENINSULA GOLF ASSOCIATION

Download a PDF copy of the Constitution and By-Laws

Revised October 26, 2019

Article I

Section 1. The name of the organization shall be the “Upper Peninsula Golf Association,” hereafter referred to as the U.P.G.A.

Article II

Section 1. The objective of the association is the encouragement and promotion of amateur and professional golf in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the bordering regions in the state of Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada. In the best interest and true spirit of the game, the association will do the following:

Arrange, supervise, conduct, and control the U.P.G.A. championship tournaments, the Upper Peninsula Junior Boys and Girls Tournament, and any other regional tournaments and activities.

Section 2. Cooperate with and encourage the Upper Peninsula Ladies Golf Association.

Section 3. Act as an authoritative body, with its executive committee as a court of reference in arbitration of controversies or questions that pertain or relate to tournaments held by the U.P.G.A. or held by members of the U.P.G.A.

Section 4. Schedule dates for the U.P.G.A. tournaments, with due consideration for the ladies golf association, and insure that member club tournaments are not in conflict with sanctioned U.P.G.A tournaments.

Article III – Membership

Section 1. Any golf club in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the bordering regions in the state of Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada shall be eligible for membership by election.

Section 2. Application for membership shall be made to the Secretary/Treasurer of the U.P.G.A. Documentation should include a list of officers of the club, a score card showing all holes, a course rating and slope rating if available, membership dues and green fees.

Section 3. Any eligible club may be selected for membership by a two-thirds vote of those present at any meeting of the U.P.G.A.

Article IV- Meetings

Section 1: The Annual Meeting of the U.P.G.A. shall be held during the month of October. The meeting shall be located so as not to cause undo travel for members. One member, selected by their respective club, shall constitute representation at any meeting.

Section 2: Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be mailed by the U.P.G.A. Secretary/Treasurer to each member club at least (10) days prior to the date of the meeting.

Section 3: Special meetings of the U.P.G.A. may be called by any member of the executive committee upon written request of at least three member clubs. Such requests, and the subject thereof, shall be sent to the Secretary/Treasurer for consideration. Notice of said meetings shall be sent by the Secretary/Treasurer at least (10) days prior to the date of the meeting. One duly authorized member from each member club shall constitute representation.

Section 4: At all meetings of the U.P.G.A., a quorum shall consist of those present that represent member clubs.

Article V – Executive Committee

Section 1: The Executive Committee will include the Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President and President.

Section 2: The President and Vice President shall be elected by the membership and shall serve terms of (three/four ) years. The terms of these two offices shall be staggered so both positions do not become vacant simultaneously. Duties will include, but not be limited to promotion, advertising, policy, vision etc.

Section 3: The Secretary/Treasurer shall preside at all meetings of the U.P.G.A., shall have general charge and supervision over all business of the U.P.G.A. and shall be a member of all committees. He/she shall record the minutes of all meetings and shall issue notices of all meetings as required. Other duties include, but are not limited to, keeping accurate records of membership, correspondence and papers of the association, as well as, a full and accurate accounting of all finances.

Section 4: The vice-president shall, in the absent of the president, carry out the duties belonging to the president.

Section 5: The Executive Committee shall meet on an “as needed” basis.

Article VI – Obligations

Section 1: Any club accepting membership in the U.P.G.A. shall abide by its Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 2: Any club refusing or neglecting a strict and honorable compliance with the Constitution or decisions of the U.P.G.A. shall be liable for suspension or expulsion by a two-thirds vote of the executive committee. Any club that is under consideration for suspension or expulsion may appeal the decision at the Annual Meeting. No club however, shall be deprived of any privileges without due notice, or until an opportunity for its defense has been heard.

Section 3: Annual dues are required for membership in the U.P.G.A. and shall be $125.00 for all clubs. All dues are to be paid to the Secretary/Treasurer in U.S. dollars only and are due by May 1st. Each club will receive a dues invoice after January 1st.

Section 4: The Secretary/Treasurer shall be paid a yearly fee of $1,000.00. He/she shall be reimbursed for any and all expenses incurred while conducting U.P.G.A. business.

Article VII – Amendments to the Constitution

Section 1: Amendments to this constitution may be made at any meeting of the U.P.G.A. by a two-thirds vote of those present.

Section 2: Amendments to the Constitution recommended by the executive committee must be approved at the next annual meeting of the U.P.G.A. All clubs must have written notice of such amendments at least ten (10) days prior to the Annual Meeting.

By-Laws
Of
THE UPPER PENINSULA GOLF ASSOCIATION

Article I – Annual Meeting

Section 1: The agenda for the Annual Meeting shall include, but not be limited to the following:

Roll call (sign in )
Additions or deletions to the agenda
Reading of the minutes
Finance report
Report of Upper Peninsula Senior Championships
Report of Upper Peninsula Championship Tournament
Report of officers and committees
Election of officers
Election of new members
Unfinished business
Old business
New business

Article II – Golfing Privileges

Section 1: Any individual of a member club in good standing in the U.P.G.A. may play at any other club in the U.P.G.A. A club may limit the number of times a player from another club can enjoy golfing privileges at a reduced rate, but not set the limitations below two (2) times in any one (1) golfing season. Green fees for U.P.G.A. members must reflect a discount of at least 25%.

Article III – Rules

Section 1: The U.S.G.A. Rules Of Golf shall be observed by all clubs. Local rules must conform to U.S.G.A. guidelines established in the current Rules of Golf and the Decisions on the Rules of Golf published by the United States Golf Association.

Article IV – The U.P.G.A. Shall Sponsor An Annual Championship Tournament

Section 1: Open to all male members of clubs in good standing in the U.P.G.A.

Section 2: The tournament format will be 72 holes of medal play.

Section 3: The sites and dates for subsequent tournaments shall be open for discussion at the Annual Meeting.

Section 4: The host club will be responsible for running the tournament according to practices established by the U.P.G.A. which include, but are not limited to, registration, format, prizes, banquet, finances and the like.

Section 5: The host club of the U.P.G.A. championship tournament shall appoint a tournament chairman, who will report to the executive committee during the year of the tournament.

Section 6: The Annual Championship Tournament shall be held during the second week of August and played on four (4) consecutive days. The host club will determine the starting day of the tournament.

Section 7: The host club(s) shall have the course(s) available for practice rounds.

Section 8: In addition to medal play, a team championship shall be awarded. Member clubs shall submit to the host club a list of five (5) players per team. Clubs can enter more than one (1) team. However no player can play on more than one (1) team. The 72-hole scores of the five (5) golfers are totaled. The association shall furnish the team trophy/plaque.

Section 9: The hosting club shall select a person, living or deceased, to be honored at the tournament banquet. The U.P.G.A. shall furnish a gift for the honoree and pay the meal cost for the honoree and one guest to attend the banquet.

Section 10: All honorees playing in subsequent U.P.G.A. Annual Championship Tournaments shall have their entry fee paid by the U.P.G.A.

Section 11: Junior golfers who have high school eligibility remaining, are encouraged to participate, but will not be eligible for prizes.

Article V – The U.P.G.A. Shall Sponsor An Annual Senior Championship Tournament

Section 1: Open to all male members of clubs in good standing in the U.P.G.A.

Section 2: Participants must be at least fifty (50) years of age.

Section 3: The tournament format will be 36 holes of medal play.

Section 4: The Senior Championship Tournament shall be held during the third (3rd) week of June and played on Monday and Tuesday of that week.

Section 5: The sites and dates for subsequent Senior Championship Tournaments shall be open for discussion at the Annual Meeting.

Section 6: The host club will be responsible for running the tournament according to practices established by the U.P.G.A.

Section 7: The hosting club shall have the course available for practice rounds prior to the start of the tournament.

Section 8: In addition to medal play, a team championship shall be awarded. Member clubs shall submit to the host club a list of five (5) players per team. Clubs can enter more than one (1) team. However no player can play on more than one (1) team. The 36-hole scores of the five (5) golfers are totaled. The association shall furnish the team trophy/plaque.

Article VI – U.P.G.A. Junior Golf Tour

Section 1: The U.P.G.A. shall sponsor a Junior Golf Tournament Tour, open to any player eighteen (18) years of age or younger.

Section 2: The sites and dates shall be selected by committee and posted on the U.P.G.A. web site in a timely manner.

Section 3: The Junior Golf Tour shall conclude with the U.P.G.A. Junior Finals Tournament. Participants must have competed in at least two (2) Junior Golf Tour tournaments during that season, and be a member of a U.P.G.A. member club to be eligible for the Finals Tournament.

Section 4: The club hosting the Finals Tournament shall appoint a tournament committee, who will, with the assistance of the Executive Committee, be responsible for running the tournament according to practices established by the U.P.G.A.

Article VII – Amendments to the By-laws

Section 1: Amendments to these by-laws may be made at any meeting of the U.P.G.A. by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present.

Section 2: Amendments to these by-laws recommended by the Executive Committee must be approved at the next Annual Meeting of the U.P.G.A. All clubs must have written notice of such amendments made by the Executive Committee at least ten (10) days prior to the Annual Meeting.