Bylaws

Johns Hopkins University

Applied Physics Laboratory

Golf League

Article I

Name

Section 1 – Name

The League shall be known as the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Golf League, and shall continue until dissolved by a two-thirds vote of the Employee Members as defined in Article II, Section 2, below.

Article II

PURPOSE, Membership, Organization, and Dues

Section 1 – Purpose

The purpose for the establishment of the JHU/APL Golf League is to improve company loyalty, teamwork and enhance the physical fitness of the JHU/APL staff by creating recreational opportunities through the organized and communal play of the game of golf.

Section 2 – Membership

All employees of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) (as defined by the APL Policies and Procedures) are eligible to be a “Employee Member” of the Golf League.   All non-employees (including, but not limited to JHU/APL retirees, leased workers, Credit Union employees, family and friends) are eligible to be a “Visitor Member” of the League.  Each team’s captain must be either an Employee Member  or JHU/APL Retiree. Membership in the Golf League begins with the payment of annual dues of $40.00 and remains in effect for the duration of the “golf season” in which those dues apply.  Membership entitles an individual to participate in all Golf League sponsored events and activities.

Section 3 – Organization

The Golf League shall be a mixed, handicapped league.  The League shall be composed of teams with a minimum of two (2) players per team.  Each team will designate a Captain and all players on a team will be afforded an equal opportunity to participate.  The formation of teams will take place through an annual registration process.  After the registration process is complete, teams will be formed into flights and assigned to a golf course.  These course assignments will be based on team requests at registration, course availability, and the requirement that there be at least 6 teams per flight per course. 

Section 4 – Dues

Golf League membership for the up-coming golf season requires the payment of annual dues to the Treasurer prior to the first scheduled match of the season.  The Executive Committee, prior to the start of the registration process, will establish the dues amount.  Members who have not paid dues prior to the League’s first scheduled match or first scheduled tournament of the new season are delinquent in dues and automatically suspended from participation in the League.  Dues are to be used for general operating expenses.  These expenses consist principally of underwriting the annual awards and banquet and off setting the cost of sponsoring League tournaments.  Once a member participates in a league event or activity, the member’s dues payment will not be refunded.  A dues refund will be made to a member prior to league participation upon the member’s submittal of a written resignation to the League President.

Article III

Officers and Duties

Section 1 – Officers

The League officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Handicapper.  The League officers shall preside at the will of the Employee Members as defined in Article II, Section 2.  The League officers will assume their power and duties prior to the start of the registration period for each season.  The League officers shall be exempt from the payment of regular dues.

Section 2 – President

The President must be an APL employee and shall act as the chief supervising officer of the League, appoint the necessary committees, serve as The Chairperson of the Executive and Planning Committee, and serve as a member on other committees as indicated in Article V.

Section 3 – Vice President

The Vice President must be an APL employee and shall have such powers and duties as usually pertain to such office and assume the duties of the President in the President’s absence. By rule the Vice President is responsible for running the tournament for determining the annual APL Golf League Team Champion.

Section 4 – Treasurer

the Treasurer must be an APL employee and shall keep the minutes of League meetings, prepare League correspondence, receive all League funds, and deposit such funds in a repository approved by the Executive Committee.  The Treasurer shall pay out funds only with authorization from the League President, and at the end of each season, prepare a financial statement for review by the Executive Committee.

Section 5 – Handicapper

The Handicapper shall compute and keep current the handicap scores for all League members.  The handicapper will in addition verify the handicaps as recorded by the Flight Secretaries during flight play and compute or verify the handicaps for participants in League sponsored tournaments. 

ARTICLE IV

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1 – Elections

Prior to the start of the season, the President shall poll the team captains for the purpose of nominating officers for the coming year.  The entire body of Employee Members, as defined in Article II, Section 2, shall then be given the opportunity to vote for the nominees.  Nominees receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected to office.  If a slate of nominees does not result from the polling of the team captains, the Executive Committee will meet and nominate a slate of officers to be voted upon by the Employee Members of the League.

Section – Vacancies

Should any League office become vacant prior to or during the season, the vacancy shall be filled by Presidential appointment.  In the event that the vacancy is for the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the office of President.

ARTICLE V

COMMITTEES AND DUTIES

Section 1 – Selection of Committees

The President shall appoint all Committees listed below.

Section 2 – Planning Committee

The Planning Committee shall commence their duties at the start of each calendar year and will consist of the League officers named in Article III, Section 1, the most recent past President, one Flight Secretary, and one Employee Member from the membership at-large.  The Committee will be responsible for planning the overall operation of League play.  The duties of the Committee will include:  (1) canvassing and coordinating the choices of golf courses; (2) making the necessary arrangements with the various golf courses when required; (3) assigning flights to golf courses, and then teams to flights; (4) obtaining a Flight Secretary for each flight in the League; (5) posting information on the Golf League web site; and (6) planning and organizing special events with the exception of functions listed as the responsibility of another committee.

Section 3 – Executive Committee

The Executive Committee will consist of the League officers named in Article III, Section 1, the chairperson from each committee, the most recent past President, one Flight Secretary, and one Employee Member from the membership at-large.  The duties of the Executive Committee shall be to administer the League, manage the budget, and conduct operations in accordance with the bylaws and the plans developed by the Planning Committee.  The Committee shall take action on disputes or complaints referred to it by team captains and/or Flight Secretaries.  The Executive Committee shall pre-approve any recommendations of the Rules Committee, Tournament Committee, and Awards and Banquet Committee if they are to be presented to the League membership.

Section 4 – Rules Committee

The Rules Committee shall consist of at least three members whose duties shall be to interpret, apply, and revise local and U. S. Golf Association rules to suit League play and to settle all disputes regarding rules of play.  The Rules Committee shall submit their recommendations for variations to the USGA Rules of Golf to the Executive Committee for approval.

Section 5 – Tournament Committee

The Tournament Committee shall consist of members who shall plan, arrange, and administer special tournaments or outings.  These plans and arrangements will include selecting the course, the format of play, the date, the prizes, the player fee, and the level of League subsidy.  The Tournament Committee shall submit their planned tournament schedule and budget to the Executive Committee for approval.

Section 6 – Awards and Banquet Committee

The Awards and Banquet Committee shall consist of members who shall identify and recommend achievements in League play for which awards are to be given.  Upon approval of the plans and budgets by the Executive Committee, the Awards and Banquet Committee will select and obtain the trophies for presentation.  Additionally, the Awards and Banquet Committee shall plan the date, time, place, activities, and budget for the annual banquet and submit these to the Executive Committee for approval.

Section 7 – Publicity Committee

The Publicity Committee shall consist of one (1) member to distribute League information to the APL News and the APL Recreation News Letter.

Section 8 – Flight Secretaries

One Flight Secretary for each flight in the League will be appointed by the Planning Committee and will have the following duties:

a. To submit official match scores into the League’s scoring and handicapping system administered and supervised by the League Handicapper

b. To administer the flight in a way that ensures fair and honest play and in adherence to the following League and flight rules:

1. Defaulting, postponing, forfeiting, or voiding scheduled matches.

2. The use of substitutes.

3. The recording of scores.

4. The matching of scorecards.

c. Determining any special rules of golf that apply for the flight.  These special rules are those minor variations from the League rules which are desirable to speed up play or which apply to the playing conditions at a particular course.

Flight Secretaries are exempt from payment of the regular League dues.

ARTICLE VI

RULES OF PLAY

Section 1 – Conduct

Each member shall agree to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times and adhere to the rules of conduct and decorum outlined in the APL Standards of Ethics and Conduct.

Section 2 – Rules of Play

The rules governing play shall be those as published by the U. S. Golf Association except where amended by the League Rules Committee.

Section 3 – Scoring

The method of scoring in each flight will be the 11 point system, a combination of match and stroke play. 

ARTICLE VII

SUBSTITUTE GOLFERS

Section 1 – Substitutes

The League Handicapper shall maintain a roster of substitute golfers.  These players may substitute for a regular team member if said member is unable to participate.  Only one substitute shall be permitted per team per match.  Substitutes shall not be charged dues and may attend the annual banquet at a fee commensurate with what is charged to non-League members.  The substitute golfer’s score shall count only toward the points of the match (i.e. match and medal) but shall not be counted for individual awards.

ARTICLE VIII

AWARDS

Section 1 – Eligibility for Awards

To be eligible for an individual award, either a net award or gross award, the player must participate in at least 5 team matches.  For “new” golfers, since the first 3 rounds are used to determine which class the golfer is in, a total of 8 team matches must be played in order to be eligible for a net prize (only 5 matches are needed for a gross prize).

ARTICLE IX

ANNUAL MEETING

Section 1 – Meeting Attendance

A meeting/banquet and presentation of awards shall be held annually.

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

Section 1 – Amendments

Bylaws may be adopted or amended by a simple majority vote of the Employee Members of the League (as defined in Article II, Section 2), provided that notice of such proposed action shall have been given to the Employee Members of the League in advance of the voting.

Section 2 – Initiation of Proposals for Amendments

Proposals for amendments to the bylaws may be brought before the Employee Members for a vote either by action of the President or by petition to the President signed by at least 20 percent of the Employee Members.

Officers:

President:                    __________________________

Vice President:            __________________________

Treasurer:                    __________________________

Handicapper:               __________________________