A. Dues: The total to sign up for the club is $150.00 split $120.00 to annual dues and $30.00 for a "no-show" fund (see “F” for additional information).

B. Schedule: Club play is from April to early October - Saturday only.

C. Starting Time: Scheduled for early morning as practical and available from the course.

D. * Play/No Play Decision: Members must advise the Scheduling Director of their intention to play or not to play before Noon on Tuesday prior to the Saturday of play. The course is called early Wednesday A.M. with our final count. Advanced notification of play/no play decision via phone/voice mail is recommended and encouraged (vacations, travel, etc.).

E. Slow Play: The Club does not tolerate Slow Play. We are usually the first groups on the course and set the pace of play for the day (See Appendix I). The pace of play is best determined by looking ahead at the group in front of you. Pace of play is never concerned about the group behind you – not being pushed! If you or members within your group find yourself a hole behind, it is strongly suggested that you quickly pick up the ball and move on to the next hole. Record a “DNF” or “X” score for that hole. The Board of Directors will terminate club membership if repeated slow play complaints are received from fellow members or from course marshals/management.

F. No Show Policy: We receive starting times 6 months in advance and have a very reliable reputation with the courses we play. No shows result in lost revenue to the course and represent a negative reflection for the Club. The Early Bird Golf Club has established a "no-show escrow fund" to which each individual member contributes $30.00. The escrow funds are returned to the club members at season’s end and adjusted to reflect all "no show" violations throughout the season.

The following “no show” fine procedure is used when 50% or more of the scheduled players arrive at the course and play golf:

• 1^st violation: $5
• 2^nd violation: $10
• 3^rd violation: >$15
• 4^th violation +:$15, thereafter
• If a player has three (3) violations, the member is automatically reclassified to a “NO” player (only scheduled to play when calling in).
• If your escrow account balance is depleted, an additional $30 must be paid to the Club Treasurer to continue play.
• If the course requires a "guaranteed payment" for no shows, the Club will make payment and the no show person will be required to reimburse the Club for the full amount paid to the course.
• The Early Bird Golf Club member will be responsible for all guest(s) no show violations ($5 per violation) and Club reimbursements for any course no show guaranteed payments.
• The Board of Directors may terminate club membership if significant abuse of the no show policy is encountered.

G. *Guests: You are welcome to invite guests - subject to starting time availability. Member will play with the invited guest. If a guest is invited on banquet day and wants to participate, the guest will be asked to pay for the banquet cost. The same guest can only play a maximum of five times in a season without paying for membership in the EBGC.

H. Handicap: Handicap for Club play is established using the World Handicap System (WHS) and thus is always in 100% compliance with USGA Handicap Guidelines and Requirements. All course play is entered into the WHS. The pre-season play (non-WHS posting) is usually through mid-April. Ne member Handicap and Index (non-established WHS index) is determined after the first three (3) rounds of posting season play.

I. Flight Assignment: The Club player will be assigned into one flight at the beginning of the season according to their USGA Index. The Club Handicap Director determines/assigns the flights each year (varies depending upon the index distribution of members). New members will be placed into a flight when they establish their USGA Index. Changes in flight assignment shall only take place once throughout the season (end of June). Flight change review and flight changes are the responsibility of the Club Handicap Director.

J. Weekly points are awarded to the players in each flight. Properly completed score information must be provided to the Club Handicap Director (scorecard or email) following play to qualify for points. The player must have an established USGA Handicap and Index to receive points. Up to four places will be awarded for Low Net within a given flight each week (1^st – 7 points, 2^nd – 5 points, 3^rd – 3 points, 4^th – 1 point). In addition, up to two places will be awarded for Low Putts within a given flight each week (1^st – 2 points, 2^nd -1 point). In case of ties, points for respective places will be shared. A player can win Low Net points & Low Putt points. No points will be awarded for more than the number of places listed above (except for ties). Points will be awarded in whole number increments (no fractions). Points will transfer for members having had a flight assignment change (end of June). Club awards will be given each season, as deemed appropriate by the Club Officers. It is the intent of the Club to award the top 3-5 players in each of the flights having the highest point total.

Should less than 51% of the scheduled league players fail to complete 18 holes of play in a given week, NO POINTS will be awarded, nor will any “dings” for No Shows be assessed.

K. Net Double Bogey relaces Equitable Stroke Control under the new WHS. The maximum hole score for handicap purposes will be limited to Net Double Bogey (Par + 2 + any handicap strokes you receive). Thus, the need to post scores hole-by-hole under the new WHS.

L. Electronic Scorecards: E-scorecards will be sent out each week in advance of play to be used to report scores should the Club Handicap Director not be available to collect scorecards. Physical scorecards will be collected at the course by the Club Hadicap Director while he/she is present. All scorecards not collected at the course must be reported via the e-scorecard as soon as possible following play in order to facilitate reporting of results. In addition, an electronic picture of the completed scorecard sent to the Handicap Director is also acceptable. Any scores not reported by the end of Saturday will not be eiligble for points.

M. Date of Posting: Scores need to be posted (hole-by-hole) on the same day as played to be eligible for adjustment for extreme weather conditions. Under the new WHS, scores may be adjusted for handicap purposes if play is impacted by playing conditions, but only scores posted by midnight of the day played will be considered for adjustment.

N. Winter /Summer Rules: The Club will play summer rules throughout the posting season.

O. Putting: USGA Rules will apply.

P. Lost Ball: USGA Rules will apply.

Q. Out of Bounds: USGA Rules will apply.

R. USGA Rules: USGA Rules of Play will apply.

Membership:

Club Membership will be based on the following guidelines:

Club Membership of 70 people. This maximum is needed to ensure that the Club size is maintained at a reasonable level. We try to have enough members and the proper play/no play decision balance to meet our planned available starting times each week (starting times are planned 6 - 10 months in advance). If the Club is too large, the courses may not have enough early morning available starting times to ensure that they do not overlap with membership schedules.

Membership will be determined using the following selection order:

1st - Past "Early Bird Club Members" from the previous year with receipt of application and payment to the Club Treasurer on or prior-to the member cut-off date. Past Club Members having an established index must have played at least 5 Early Bird Golf rounds (previous year) to continue as a member in the Club for the year. The 5 round requirement is in place to ensure the Club is in compliance with USGA handicap peer review.

2nd - New Membership Requests (payment received date preference).

Available Starting Times:

With the growing popularity of the "Early Birds" and the Club's intent to play the better Rochester public courses, situations may arise throughout the year in which invited guests and possibly members ("no" or "late play"), may not be able to play. We plan a select number of players with the course 6 - 10 months in advance to ensure a tee-time on Saturday. When we exceed our limit and all options are exhausted, e.g., additional or earlier tee-times, we must decrease our number of players at the course. We expect that his action will occur very infrequently throughout the year.

Awards are given for several “highest point total” positions in each of the flights.

* Tournament

An annual tournament shall be played on two Saturdays over the course of the season. To qualify for tournament prizes, a member must have played at least 3 Early Bird rounds during the season and must have an established WHS Index. Awards shall be given for Low Net in each of the flights. The tie breaker rules will be (1) lowest back 9 score (2) lowest front 9 score (3) lowest last 3 holes (4) lowest last 2 holes

Points

Points will be awarded for the two tournament weeks.

Prizes and awards other than those described may be given as deemed appropriate by the club officers. Members must be at the banquet to be eligible for door prizes.

Positions

The Board of Directors and Officers are elected positions by the club members. At the final banquet, an election ballot will be given to each member present to vote. Candidates will be taken (in advance) on a voluntary request from all current members of good standing. The Club positions are:

• Board of Directors (2-3)
• Banquet Director (1)
• Scheduling Director (1)
• Treasurer (1)
• Handicap Director (1)

Board of Directors (non-paying position)

Duties are to organize & manage the Club. They set up meetings with the Officers to:

• Establish the charter and rules
• Vote on club recommendations/changes

Banquet Director (non-paying position)

Duties are to set up and organize any banquet/party for the club. This typically includes the scramble picnic and the final banquet at the end of the season.

Scheduling Director (paid position)

Duties are to schedule play at area courses, determine weekly club schedule and organize tournament play. This includes:

• Create and maintain the club play/no play roster log.
• Prepare introduction letter, application and rules document.
• Prepare the overall club schedule, weekly tee-times, fax schedule to courses, record tee-off schedule for club members throughout the season.
• Collect weekly play/no play decisions from members.
• Work with the Club Handicap Director and Treasurer to determine no show violations.

Handicap Director (paid position)

Duties are to collect, enter, maintain, and adjust handicap averages for each member via GHIN System. This includes:

• Collecting, auditing, posting and adjusting all club adjusted scores
• Determine flights/assignment and new member review.
• Publish players' score, points, and handicaps, for the members playing the prior week.
• Assign and track weekly points earned.
• Work with the Club Scheduling Director and Treasurer to determine no show violations.

Treasurer (non-paying position)

Duties are to collect and monitor all financial matters for the Club, including:

• Collecting dues, escrow and no-show fines.
• Maintain official list of paid members.
• Pay all bills and guaranteed no show payments.
• Prepare a year-end financial report.
• Work with the Club Scheduling and Handicap Directors to determine no show violations.

SLOW PLAY

Our Early Bird Golf Club prides itself in teeing off at the first available tee-time. The pace of play that we maintain establishes the pace of play for the entire day at the course. We must be conscious of "slow and make every effort to "speed up play" whenever slow play situations arise. This may, at times, require Club Member's or Course Management to bring slow play concerns to the attention of the Board. We anticipate that this will occur infrequently throughout the season and that it will always be done in a proper and courteous manner and appreciatively received. The pace of play is only determined by looking ahead at the group in front of you. It is never concerned about the group behind you – not being pushed!