ARTICLE II

AIMS

2.  The aims of this association shall be:  (A) to encourage deaf adults to play more and better golf; (B) to have an annual tournament for the membership in the states west of the Continental Divide; and (C) to provide the membership a forum for socialization, sharing ideas and activities to benefit the deaf community as a whole.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

3.   Membership is open to all deaf men and women in the United States and Canada.  The minimum age shall be 17.  (HOLD) (Referred to Law Committee)

ARTICLE IV

ENTRY FEES AND DUES

4.   The annual dues shall be $15.00 for all members, payable with the entry fee before the deadline stated from the host of the annual tournament.

5.   The entry fee shall include: membership fee, registration fee, course fees, entertainment fee (traditionally the FWGAD banquet), prize fees, a program book, and, where mandatory, cart fees.

6.   Non-golfers who wish to watch or socialize and all golfers during the annual tournament shall pay a registration fee of $5.00, all of which goes to the Host Committee.

7.   The President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Statistician shall pay the FWGAD Membership fee, tournament registration fee, and the prize fee for the annual tournament ($70).  Other costs: Green Fees/Carts will be paid for board members by The FWGAD to the Host Committee. The banquet and program book cost will be provided by the Host Committee.

8.   If members paid entry fees to participate in the annual tournament and find they cannot attend, a refund might be possible if the Host Committee is not bound by contractual agreements with the golf course or caterer.  All money will be refunded except for membership and registration fees.

9.   If any member withdraws or is disqualified during the tournament, he/she is ineligible to receive any prizes, except those that were given previously.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS (Executive Board) 

10. There shall be President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Statistician.  The duties of each officer shall be for a two-year term.  Elections for President shall be on even numbered years and Secretary-Treasurer and Statistician on odd numbered years.

11. Expenses for officers shall be reimbursed from the FWGAD treasury for meetings and other activities as deemed necessary.

ARTICLE VI

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

12. The President shall appoint a facilitator to presided at all general business meetings; appoint a Law Committee Chairman and committees; sign checks and vouchers; make decisions with approval of the Executive Board whenever necessary, shall work with Statistician to maintain the FWGAD Hall of Fame.

13. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep an up-to-date list of members; keep minutes of all meetings; collect dues and keep track of receipts and expenditures; make the annual financial report, audited by two members, at the annual meeting; shall be responsible to publishing the annual FWGAD newsletter with 30 days after the banquet.

14. The Statistician shall be responsible for maintaining all tournament records; shall be in charge of grouping foursomes of tournament play; shall be responsible for determining flights and prize money with the assistance of other officers and the Host Committee; shall be responsible for the official score keeping during the tournament; shall be responsible for maintaining the History of FWGAD; and shall work with the President to maintain the FWGAD Hall of Fame.

15. A general business meeting shall be held during the annual tournament.  The President when necessary shall call meetings of the Executive Board.  Voting by email by the Executive Board shall be permitted in urgent cases.

ARTICLE VII

MEETINGS

16. Amendments to the By-laws except for Article 10 shall be made by two-thirds vote of members at the annual meeting.  Proposed changes in the By-laws must be making in writing at least thirty days before the annual meeting.  All changes in the By-laws except for Article X take effect at the next tournament.  Members may propose changes in the By-laws for discussion at the annual meeting, but the proposals will be voted on at the next annual meeting.

17. The standing rules of the Annual Tournament will be listed in Article X.  Changes made in the standing rules shall become effective immediately.  Changes in Article X become effective by two-thirds vote of the members present at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE IX

ANNUAL TOURNAMENT HOST COMMITTEE

18. A club that wants to bid for the annual tournament must post hundred ($100 US) dollar cash deposit.  The deposit will be refunded after the
receipt of the financial statement as stated in section 24.  The deposit will be forfeited if the sponsoring club fails to meet any requirement stated under Article IX of the By-laws.

19. The bid for the tournament must be made two years in advance.  To win the bid, two or more members from the host region must be present with a confirmation letter from a headquarter hotel manager and a confirmation letter from a golf course director during the annual meeting.

20. The duties of the Host Committee are to arrange for the time and place; the amount of the entry fee; secure trophies (jackets) and cash prizes; and arrange for a program of events such as banquets, etc.  The entry fee must include the membership dues, prizes, and other costs.  Approval from the Executive Board must be secured for all of these arrangements.  Copies of all contracts shall be sent to the President and Secretary-Treasurer.

21. The Host Committee shall be responsible for sending out announcements and flyers advertising the tournament.  These shall be sent to all members, clubs for the deaf in the Far West, and any other organizations and individuals as deemed necessary.  Entry fees shall be sent to the Host Committee Chairman or Treasurer.

22. The Host Committee shall give the Secretary-Treasurer all membership dues, names, and addresses prior to the start of the tournament.

23. At the end of the tournament, the Host Committee Chairman shall make a financial report audited by two other members.  Any net profit shall be split 75-25 % between the host club and the FWGAD, respectively.  The report shall be made no later than 30 days after the conclusion of the tournament.

ARTICLE X

STANDING FWGAD TOURNAMENT

 RULES AND REGULATIONS

24. Administration of play during the annual tournament shall be under the jurisdiction of the Executive Board and two members of the Host Committee.  The Committee shall consult with the course professional when unsure about rules or procedures.  Any decision made by the committee shall be final.

25. The annual tournament shall be on a course, or courses, with an established yardage of at least 6,000 yards.

26. The annual tournament shall be held on weekdays during the second or third week of August.  The tournament shall be played in a 54-hole format.

27. There shall be 2 different sets of flights during the tournament:  The Type 1 Flights are those in which trophies will be distributed.  The Type 2 Flights is that in which cash prizes will be distributed.  No handicap system will be used during the tournament.

28. Type 1 Flights will depend on the number of entries and accumulated scores posted after the second round of the tournament.  The Committee, as named in Section 1 of Article X, will take into consideration factors such as equitable number of entries and competition among those grouped into flights.  Champions of each flight shall receive a trophy.  Awards for second or third place winners may be awarded by discretion of the host committee.

29. Type 2 Flights will be divided into 2 flights.  The first flight shall include the first 40% of those entered into the tournament and the second flight shall include the remaining 60% of the entries.  Prize distribution shall be divided 50%-50% between those two flights.  The Host Committee shall announce at the annual meeting prior to the tournament the total amount of prizes to be distributed.  Note: Amateurs wishing to preserve amateur status within the USGA rules should understand and take notice of those rules.

30. Income for cash prizes fifty ($50 US) dollars shall derive from entry fees for Type 2 flights as described.  The Host Committee may add to the total purse from its fund-raising activities or the Host Committee may designate other flights with income earned from such activities.  Permission to develop other flights must be obtained from the Executive Board.

     Seniors Division

a) There shall be a Seniors Division.  The FWGAD President shall appoint a Chairperson for the Seniors Division at least ninety (90)
days prior to the date of the tournament with intent to give the appointee time to get all necessary materials ready and choose assistants before the tournament.

  b) Golfers who want to participate in the Seniors Division must be 60 years old or older.  Seniors wishing to participate shall pay the full prize fee of the normal fee.  Prizes fees paid, as part of entry fees by seniors shall be distributed only to Seniors Division participants.

  c) By a total of golfers based on the last call of sign up for Seniors Division following the regular meeting on Monday night, the full cash prizes shall be allocated to the Chairperson of the Seniors Division.  The Chairperson shall be responsible for the cash prizes distribution.

  d) At any time, FWGAD shall not demand any eligible senior golfer to participate in the Seniors Division.

  e) After the second day of the golf tournament, based on the total scores, the senior golfers shall be placed in Flight A and the Flight B for the final competition.  If a total number of senior golfers are EVEN, both flights shall have the same number of golfers on both rosters.  If the number is ODD, add an extra golfer to the Flight A. (HOLD) (REFERRED TO LAW COMMITTEE)

   f) In case of a small number of senior golfers signed up, the Chairperson and his/her committee shall determine a number
    of flights.

31. If there is a tie between contestants for the overall Tournament Champion, a sudden death playoff shall commence as soon as possible.  The winner of the sudden death playoff shall win the prize to be awarded.   Ties for other flights will be broken by matched cards.  If there is a tie between contestants for cash awards, the cash prize shall be evenly split except for 1st and 2nd places in both flights.  No playoff will be necessary.

32. Each foursome will be responsible for checking and monitoring compliance with the rules.  If there is any question about the rules, play a provisional ball for that hole and bring it up with the Rules Committee.  The Rules Committee will decide which score to award you.  To quicken play “ready golf “is in effect, stroke the ball when you are ready.  Let “short” hitters hit first.  On the putting green, use continuous putting whenever possible.

33. FWGAD shall sponsor a putting contest.  FWGAD shall contribute $50.00 for this contest.  Any additional money is up to the Host Committee.  (HOLD) (REFFERED TO LAW COMMITTEE)

34. FWGAD shall award the champion of the annual tournament a blue blazer.

35. All rules and conditions of play will adhere to the USGA Rules Book with the following exceptions:

            Local Rules:  Look at the scorecard for local rules.

            Lost Balls and Out of Bounds: Whenever possible follow the stroke and distance rule (USGA Rule 27) except: when you arrive at the site you believe your ball landed and it is out of bounds and the foursome behind you is ready to play; instead of going back to replay the shot, drop a ball near where you believe the ball crossed the out of bounds boundary and add two (2) penalty strokes.  (This rule is used to save time.)

            Signing Incorrect Scorecards: If you sign a card with a score that is higher than you played, the score shall stand.  If you signed a card that is lower than you played, instead of disqualification, as is stipulated in the USGA Rules, a two-stroke penalty shall be added to the actual score.

            Course Playability:  Winter rules shall be in effect during FWGAD Tournaments.