Membership

TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP

There are three categories of membership:

1. FULL MEMBER

An Full Member is a golf club which possesses a golf course of not less than nine holes.  It is represented in the Governing Council and is eligible to vote at all meetings and be eligible for appointment to the Executive Board.

2. ASSOCIATE MEMBER

An Associate Member is any registered club or organization that does not possess a golf course, has at least 100 individual members and carries out regular golfing activities and provides peer review among its members.

It shall not be represented on the Governing Council and shall not be eligible to vote at any meeting of the Association or be eligible for appointment to the Executive Board.

3. AFFILIATE MEMBER

An Affiliate Member is any body, society, organization or commercial entity registered or incorporated in Singapore which are committed to furthering the interest of the sport of golf.

An Affiliate Member shall not be represented on the Governing Council and shall not be eligible to vote at any meeting of the Association or be eligible for appointment to the Executive Board.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

The current annual subscription is as follows:

• Full Member – $10,000 per 9 holes
• Associate Member – $10,000
  In addition, an annual Centralised Handicapping System levy (CHS) fee of $30, $20 and $10 per adult, senior and junior member, respectively, is also payable for the members of Associate Members.
• Affiliate Member – $500

MEMBERS

There are eleven Full Members in the SGA. They are, in alphabetical order:

• Changi Golf Club
• Keppel Club
• Laguna National Golf Resort Club
• Orchid Country Club
• National Service Resort & Country Club
• Seletar Country Club
• Sembawang Country Club
• Sentosa Golf Club
• Singapore Island Country Club
• Tanah Merah Country Club
• Warren Golf & Country Club

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

• Compass Club
• Golf Allianze
• Golfer.Sg Club
• Keppel Club Sime Golfers 
• Nextee
• Society of Singapore Golfers
• SingaGolf
• Singapore Senior Golfers Society
• Singapore Ladies Golf Association

AFFILIATE MEMBERS

• Asian Tour
• The Singapore Professional Golfers’ Association
• Champions Golf
• Golf Referees Association of Singapore
• Olympique Gaulois

FULL MEMBERS’ OFFICE BEARERS

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Procedure

All clubs/organisations wishing to join SGA as an Associate Member shall supply in writing to the Honorary Secretary full particulars of their club/organisation together with the completed  SGA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM. These include the following:

Full details of club/organisation:

i. Type of club, ie, members’ or proprietary club;

ii. Club Objectives;

iii. List of main appointment holders;

iv. Total number of members (a minimum of 100 members needed); and

v. The different types of membership.

vi. A certified true copy of the Club’s/Organisation’s Constitution and Bye-laws and the rules governing membership.

vii. A certified true copy of the Certificate of registration.

Details of the steps that the club intends to take to enable or ensure that its members have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with each other and the Club’s Handicap Sub-Committee Chairman and members should also be given.

Subscription Fee

If accepted as an Associate Member, it shall pay an annual subscription fee of S$10,000 per annum. Subscription fee shall be payable in advance not later than 31st January of each year. A club which becomes an Associate Member after January will pay a proportionate amount of the annual subscription.

In addition, an annual Centralised Handicapping System (CHS) levy fee of $30, $20 and $10 per adult, senior and junior member, respectively, is also payable.

Licence to use the USGA Handicap System

An SGA Associate Member will be authorised to compute, certify and/or issue a USGA Handicap Index for its members in accordance with the procedures set forth in the USGA Handicap System manual.

The licence is valid for a year and will be renewed subject to the club being a current and fully paid Associate Member of the SGA.

The conditions of the use of the licence are subject to the Associate Member agreeing to:

Ensure that each Handicap Index computed, certified and/or issued under the terms of this license will be done according to the requirements established by the USGA Handicap System, as set forth in the USGA Handicap System manual and the SGA Handicap Policy Manual.

Ensure that its staff or a member of its Handicap Committee is conversant with the USGA Handicap System.

Attend any training that SGA may conduct on the USGA Handicap System.

Revise and post members’ Handicap Index on the 1st day of the month and submit the data to SGA for uploading to the National Handicap Book.

Ensure strict compliance with the procedures shown in Annex A – USGA Handicap System Compliance Checklist for Associate Members.

Submit to any audit checks that SGA may carry out as shown in Annex B – USGA Handicap System Audit Check on Associate Members.

ANNEX A – USGA Handicap System Compliance Checklist for Associate Members

In order to ensure that all SGA Associate Members are complying with the USGA Handicap System, the following procedures must be adhered to. All Associate Members must:

Have a Handicap Committee composed mostly of members and chaired by a member. (See Section 8-1of USGA Handicap System Manual).

Require the posting of all scores made at home and away. (Section 5-1).

Require the use of USGA procedures to adjust hole scores before posting. (Section 4)

Require that nine-hole scores be posted. (Section 5-2c and 5-2d)

Insist that the principles of The Rules of Golf be followed. (Section 5-1d)

Ensure that all acceptable scores are entered correctly. (Section 5 – 2)

Perform computations and adjustments in accordance with the USGA Handicap Formula. (Sections 8-4 and 10)

Make current scoring records and a Handicap Index listing of all members readily available for inspection by others. (Section 6-3)

Reduce or increase the Handicap Index of any player whose handicap does not reflect the player’s potential ability. (Section 8-4c)

Include the letter “L” after local handicaps which exceed the USGA maximum limits of 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women. (Section 3-4)

Utilize the current USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating of golf courses that their members play on. (Section 14)

Have a representative from the club participate in a USGA Handicap Seminar (when conducted by the SGA) including passing a test exhibiting knowledge about the system.

ANNEX B – USGA Handicap System Audit Checks for Associate Members

In order to ensure that all SGA Associate Members are compliant with the USGA Handicap System, SGA will carry out periodic checks on its members. Such checks will focus on the following:

How many members are receiving a USGA Handicap Index from your club?

Does your club provide a Handicap Index to anyone who is not a member of the club, for example, an employee or others? If the answer is ‘Yes’, please provide details.

Does your club have a Handicap Committee composed mostly of members and chaired by a member? Please provide the name and address of your Handicap Chairman for the current year.

Does your club provide reasonable and regular opportunities for members to play golf with one another? Please provide examples of how this is accomplished and attach a copy of your club tournament schedule.

Does your club ensure that all acceptable scores are entered correctly?

Does your club require the posting of all scores made at home and away?

Does your club make current scoring records and a USGA Handicap Index list available for inspection by others? Please provide examples of how this is accomplished at your club.

Has your club reduced or increased the Handicap Index of any player whose handicap does not reflect the player’s potential ability. Please provide examples of any such adjustments over the past year.