8/3/2019 Requirements to Be a Licensed Golf Association

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Minimum Requirements to be Licensed by the USGA in the United Statesas an Authorized Golf Association In Order to be Eligible to Utilize theUSGA Handicap Systemand/or the USGA Course Rating System

1.TheentitymustmeetallrequirementsidentiedbeloworatleastoneyearpriortothedateoitsrequestoraHandicap Systemlicenseand/oraCourse Rating SystemlicenseromtheUSGA.TheUSGAwillconsiderrequestsoratem-poraryconditionallicenseninemonthsateranentityhasmetallsuchrequirements.Atertheexpirationotheinitialoneyearperiodwheretheentityhasmetallotherequirementsidenti-edbelow,theentitymaybegrantedaulllicenseiitcontinues

tomeetallsuchrequirements,aswellasthoserequirementsestablishedinthelicenseagreementoeredbytheUSGA.

2.Theentitymusthaveatleast25memberclubsand/or1,500individualmembersinthestateand/orregionidentiedinitsrequesttotheUSGAtoberecognizedasanauthorizedgolassociation,andmustberecognizedasanex-emptorganizationunderSection501(c)otheInternalRevenueCode.Theindividualsmusteitherbemembersomemberclubsormembersotheentity.Morethan90%otheindividualmembersmustbeamateurgolers.

3.Theentitymustbealegalentity,withaconstitution,bylawsand/orarticlesoincorporation,andmustbetheactual

entitythatperormsallotherequirementsoanauthorizedgolassociation.Athirdparty,whetherornotitisarelatedentity,maynotullltherequirementsonbehalotheactualentity.

4.Theentitymusthaveanelectedgoverningbodycom-prisedoatleast90%amateurgolerswhoaremembersothememberclubsormembersotheentity.Employeesotheentitymayserveonthegoverningbodyex-ofcio,butemployeesmaynotconstituteamajorityothegoverningbody.

5.

Assetorthinrequirement2identiedabove,theen-

titymustberecognizedasanexemptorganization.ItheapplicationorexemptstatushasbeenledwiththeInternalRevenueServiceandispending,theentitymustprovideappro-priateevidenceotheapplicationinordertobeconsideredoratemporaryconditionallicense.TheentitymustalsoprovideanIRSDeterminationLetterasevidenceoitsexemptstatus.Anylicensegrantedshallbeconsideredatemporaryconditionallicenseuntiltheentityisofciallyrecognizedasanot-or-protentityhavingexemptstatusunderSection501(c)otheInternalRevenueCode.Itheentityailstoqualiyorexemptstatusasanot-or-protentitywithinareasonableperiodotimeaterseekingsuchstatus,orotherwiseailstomeetallotherequirementssetorthherein,theUSGAmayrevokeanyUSGAauthorizationortemporary

conditionallicensegrantedtotheentity.

6.Theentitymustconductitsbusinessromaspeciedlocationinthestateand/orregionidentiedinitswrittenrequesttotheUSGAtoberecognizedasanauthorizedgolas-sociation,andthespeciedlocationmustbepubliclyidentiableandannouncedtothepublic.Theentitymustsupportitsmem-bersandmemberclubsbybeingaccessibletothemviatelephoneand/ore-mailduringregularlydenedbusinesshours,andtheentityalsomusthaveanoperationalandactiveWebsite.

7.Fromitsphysicallocation,theentitymustbecapableoeectivelyservingmemberclubsandmemberswithinadenedcontiguousgeographicarea(excludingislands,e.g.Hawaii)inrelationtothestateand/orregionidentiedinitswrittenrequesttotheUSGAtoberecognizedasanauthorizedgolassociation.

8.TheentitymustagreetoimplementtheUSGA HandicapSystem and/ortheUSGACourse Rating Systemde-pendingonwhethertheentityhasbeenlicensedtoimplementoneorbothSystems.

9.Theentitymust:(a)AgreetoimplementtheRulesoGol(includingtheRulesoAmateurStatus);

(b)AssisttheUSGAinapplyingtheRulesoAmateurStatusuponrequest,includingbutnotlimitedtoresearchinganddeterminingwhetherindividualsorentitiesarecomplyingwiththoseRules;

(c)Conductatleastveamateurcompetitionsannuallyoritsmembers,includingatleastonenetcompetitionthatrequirestheuseotheUSGAHandicapSystem;

(d)ParticipateineducationalseminarsoeredbytheUSGA,suchasRulesoGolWorkshops,CourseRatingCalibration

Seminarsand/orHandicapSystemSeminars;(e)CommunicateregularlywiththeUSGA,inparticulartheHandicapDepartmentandtheRegionalAairsDepartment.

10.TheentitymustdemonstratetothesatisactionotheUSGAthatthereisaneedinitsgeographicareawhichisnotbeingmetbyanotherauthorizedgolassociationinordertoqualiyoralicensetousetheUSGAHandicapSystemand/ortheUSGACourseRatingSystem.Theentitymustalsodem-onstratetothesatisactionotheUSGAawillingnesstocoop-eratewithothergolorganizationstopromotethegameogolandthebestinterestsothegame,andtosupportthepurposeandmissionotheUSGA.