Constitution and By-Laws

Constitution and By-Laws
Revised and Approved, Annual Meeting July 29, 2010,
Revised and Approved, Annual Meeting July 31, 2014,
Revised and Approved, Annual Meeting July 28, 2016,
Revised and Approved, Annual Meeting, July 18, 2019
Revised and Approved at Board of Governor's Meetings: Fall September 8, 2022, and Spring Meeting April 27, 2023

Article I

Section 1. The name of this organization is, and shall continue to be, The Twin Cities Senior Golf League
Section 2. This organization shall be unincorporated
Section 3. The headquarters and mailing address of this organization shall be the address of the Secretary when and as such officer is duly elected from time to time

Article II

Section 1. Membership in this organization is determined by the following criteria:
(a) (a) Member clubs must be regularly organized private Country and/or Golf Clubs, operating in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and shall be entitled to affiliation with the League as an affiliated club by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Governors.
(b) The affiliated clubs of the Twin Cities Senior Golf League as of the 2023 season are:

Bearpath Golf & Country Club

Brackett's Crossing Country Club

Edina Country Club

Golden Valley Country Club

Hazeltine National Golf Club

Medina Golf & Country Club

Mendakota Country Club

Midland Hills Country Club

Minneapolis Golf Club

Minnesota Valley Country Club

North Oaks Golf Club

Oak Ridge Country Club

Olympic Hills Golf Club

Southview Country Club

Stillwater Country Club

Town and Country Club

Windsong Farm Golf Club

(c) Any amateur golfing member in good standing of an affiliated club who has reached the age of fifty years is eligible for regular individual membership in the League. Any such member is entitled to participate in tournament play as a team member for the affiliated club to which he belongs, when he is recommended by his club’s Team Captain with the consent and approval of the President and Secretary. Members are subject at all times to such rules and regulations as may, from time to time, be adopted by the Board of Governors in the best interest of the League.

(d) New member clubs may be approved by the Board of Governors at any regularly scheduled or special meeting after receipt by the Secretary and President of the League of a properly executed request from an applicant club, which includes the signatures of the applicant club’s current President, General Manager, and Golf Professional acknowledging the responsibilities of League membership along with their club’s payment of the current initiation fee, as determined by the Board of Governors. Once approved by two-thirds vote of the Board of Governors, the new member club will be included in the tournament rotation as scheduled by the League for the upcoming year.

Section 2. Each Team Captain shall ensure that a fee, as determined by the Board of Governors, is paid to the Treasurer for each player scheduled to play as a member of a team in any regularly scheduled League tournament. The amount of the fee may be increased or decreased at any time by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Governors.

Section 3. On or before April first of each year each affiliated club shall appoint one of its eligible members as its League representative and Team Captain and such representative so appointed by the affiliated club shall be a qualified member of the Board of Governors.

Article III

Section 1. The officers of the League shall be a President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Scoring Official and Chief Tournament Play Official, who shall be regular members of the League and elected at the Annual Membership Meeting of the League. An individual may hold more than one position as approved by the Board of Governors. However, the positions of the President, First Vice President, or Second Vice President must be held by different individuals. The offices of Chief Scoring Official and Chief Tournament Play Official shall have such duties as determined by the Board of Governors. Additional officials may be identified by the Board of Governors.

Section 2. Control of the operations and activities of this organization shall be vested in a Board of Governors consisting of one duly appointed Team Captain from each affiliated club, together with the acting officers of the League and the immediate Past-President. Each of the above shall have the right to vote. The President shall be chairman and the Secretary shall be Secretary of the Board of Governors. In the event of the incapacity of a Team Captain, the club he represented shall promptly appoint his successor and in the event of the incapacity of any officers, the Board of Governors shall have the right to elect a successor to fill the unexpired term of each officer or officers. A quorum at any meeting of the Board of Governors shall consist of not less than a majority of all the members thereof and a majority of such quorum shall constitute a League vote to decide any question that may properly come before the meeting.

Section 3. Three business meetings shall take place each year for the purpose of furthering League objectives. These are:

a) (a) The Spring Meeting of the Board of Governors shall be held prior to the opening day of play at a time and place to be determined by the President.
b) The Annual Membership Meeting of the League’s entire membership shall be held during the evening of the next to last day of play at the host club that day. If there is a cancellation of the play on the next to last day, the Annual Membership Meeting will be held on the last day of play.
c) The Fall Meeting of the Board of Governors will be held at a time and place to be determined by the President.

Section 4. At the Spring Meeting, the Board of Governors shall (a) consider and determine the final playing schedule; (b) fees for participation; (c) other plans for the current season, and (d) consider changes in the Constitution and By-Laws and acted on by the Board of Governors following the procedures as set out in Article III, Section 7 below. A general discussion of League affairs will take place for the purpose of improving and strengthening the League.

Section 5. At the Annual Membership Meeting, the agenda shall be as follows: (a) officers will be elected for the following year; (b) prizes will be awarded for the current year; (c) minutes of the previous Annual Membership Meeting will be read; and (d) the Treasurer’s report will be given, followed by the Auditor’s report. General policy questions, if any, will be discussed by the full membership. Suggested expenditures, if any, shall be recommended for consideration by the Board of Governors.

Section 6. On or before fifteen days prior to the Annual Membership Meeting, the President shall appoint a nominating committee of three members of the League (no two members to be from any affiliated club), which shall consider, recommend and nominate at the annual meeting, persons particularly fitted and qualified for the office of President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Scoring Official and Chief Tournament Play Official. Nominations may also be made from the floor by members present at such meeting.

Section 7. The Constitution and By-Laws of the League as amended will control the organization of the League and how it is to be operated by the Board of Governors. The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended, repealed or altered in whole or in part by the approval of three-fourths of all of the Board of Governors present at any regular two consecutive meetings (Spring/Fall Meeting or Fall/Spring Meeting), provided such proposed amendment or changes are submitted to the League Secretary not less than thirty days prior to the Spring Meeting and the Fall Meeting at which the votes will occur. A member of the Board of Governors may cast their vote in person, in writing, or by e-mail.

Section 8. At the Fall Meeting, the agenda shall be as follows: (a) consider and approve preliminary plans for the next season’s schedule; (b) consider and approve next season’s host club schedule; (c) consider financial questions; and (d) consider and approve any Constitution and By-Laws changes following the procedures as set out in Article III, Section 7 below. Any other matters may come before the meeting as deemed appropriate by the President.

By-Laws

Article I

Section 1. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the League, and in such capacity shall be entitled to exercise the usual prerogatives of the office in directing the affairs of the League and promoting its influence and activities. The President or Secretary shall have the right to call special meetings of the Board of Governors. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board. In the absence of the President, the First Vice President shall serve as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the President and the First Vice President, the Second Vice President will serve as chairman. The President shall have the right to appoint, subject to review by the Board of Governors, such committees as he may deem necessary for the promotion and development of the League’s activities. The President shall exercise the rights ordinarily enjoyed by the President of an organization of this character.

Section 2. The First Vice President, in the absence of the President, shall preside at meetings. In the event of the incapacity of the President, the Vice President shall act as President and carry out his duties upon request of the Board of Governors to do so consistent with the provisions of Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution of this League.

Section 3. The Second Vice President shall act as the President in the event of the absence or incapacity of both the President and the First Vice President.

Section 4. The Secretary shall keep a record of all business transacted at annual meetings and meetings of the Board of Governors. The records of these meetings are to be recorded in the proper form for future reference by the Board of Governors and members of the organization. The Secretary shall have charge of the preparation and presentation of the playing schedule for all League Tournaments and the scoring in connection with them.

Section 5. The Treasurer shall receive and be responsible for the recording and safekeeping of all fees and receipts collected from all sources and the Treasurer shall be charged with the proper distributing of League funds in payment of ordinary expenses. In paying such ordinary expenses the Treasurer shall have the approval of the President and Secretary. The Treasurer shall prepare and present a detailed report of all receipts and expenditures for consideration and approval of the Board of Governors. The Treasurer, with the cooperation and assistance of the Secretary, shall have the authority to purchase and pay for such prizes, trophies and articles of like character as the President and Secretary consider necessary and proper to carry on the program of the League. The Treasurer will also make payment from League funds for other items upon request of the Board of Governors. In no event shall the Treasurer obligate the League for indebtedness in excess of cash available the above notwithstanding.

Section 6. By vote of the members at the Annual Membership Meeting, the League may confer special honors upon any officer or member who has rendered meritorious service in connection with League activities.

Article II

Section 1. The Board of Governors shall determine how many “play days” or tournaments will be held each year on the courses of the affiliated clubs. The schedule for the season setting forth the times and places for play shall be prepared, presented and approved at either the Fall Meeting or Spring Meeting of the Board of Governors held at some convenient place and date before the opening of League play.

Section 2. Tournament play will be divided into six positions, with the players of each team playing in the position indicated by their club USGA Indexes. Each affiliated club should provide a team of six eligible players arranged in order of ability as indicated by their USGA Index. If the Team Captain finds it necessary to make a substitution in his proposed lineup, that substitute must, if practical, be placed on the team according to his USGA Index. Each player plays against all other players in his position. In the event a captain cannot submit a weekly playing roster that fields a full team of 6 players, those who are on the roster shall play in the highest roster spots that are unfilled. There shall be no empty spots between players on that team for that day, i.e. the first position to go unfilled shall be #6. In the event of a last minute cancellation of a player (no show), the balance of the teams lineup may play as originally scheduled at the option of the Team Captain.

Section 3. USGA Golf Rules govern play at all times, except as modified by the Local Rules of the host club and Local Rules added by a majority vote of the Board of Governors.

Article III

Section 1. The Chief Tournament Play Official or person designated by the Board of Governors shall have charge of all arrangements and details in connection with tournament play. The Chief Tournament Play Official shall have the right to select a committee of members to assist him in his work. The Chief Tournament Play Official shall arrange for the cooperation of professionals at the various clubs and such clerical assistance as may be necessary to properly and promptly handle operations of the League. The Treasurer is authorized to promptly pay the cost of such operations upon receipt of itemized vouchers properly certified by the Secretary and approved by the President.

Article IV

Section 1. A majority of the Board of Governors may at any meeting censor the actions of any one individual member. Before this is done, the offending member’s action must be first discussed with the team captain of the offending member. A majority of the Board of Governors may also censor any team for their action or conduct in the same manner.
Section 2. By a three-fourths vote of the Board of Governors, an offending individual or team can be removed from membership in the League.
Section 3. It will be the Secretary’s duty to see that every courtesy is given to the host club and their staff at all times.