Golf League Bylaws Template (Copy, Paste and Edit)
Updated
Golf league bylaws are the written constitution of the league: who can be a member, who holds office, how money is handled, how decisions get made and how the document itself can change. Copy the template below, replace everything in [brackets], and have the members approve it at a preseason meeting.
Bylaws are not the same thing as the weekly rules. This guide covers when you need them, the full template as numbered Articles, a short section on money habits and a plain-language look at EINs and nonprofit status. It is built for the volunteer who got stuck being treasurer because they own a calculator.
Bylaws vs. rules: two documents, two jobs
| Bylaws | Rules | |
|---|---|---|
| Answers | Who runs the league and how | How we play on Tuesday night |
| Covers | Membership, officers, elections, dues and money, meetings, amendments, dissolution | Format, scoring, handicaps, pace of play, subs, rain-outs, ties, side games |
| Changes | Rarely. Needs a bigger vote | Each season, by a simple majority or the board |
| Length | 2 to 4 pages | 1 to 3 pages |
| Who reads it | Officers, new members, the bank, the host course | Every golfer, every week |
If you do not have a rules sheet yet, start with the golf league rules template. The bylaws below point to that document instead of repeating it, so you can change a rule in March without calling a vote on the constitution.
Does your league need bylaws?
Not always. A small group that pays greens fees at the pro shop and splits a few skins pots can run for years on a one-page rules sheet.
Write bylaws when any of these is true:
- You hold league money, in a league account or anyone's personal one.
- You have a board or committee. If more than one person makes decisions, write down how.
- Money carries over between seasons.
- You have 30 or more golfers. Past that size, a verbal "we usually do it this way" stops working.
- The course, a sponsor or a bank asks for paperwork.
New league? Read how to run a golf league first.
The bylaws template
Everything in [brackets] is a fill-in. Delete any article you do not need and renumber.
BYLAWS OF THE [LEAGUE NAME]
Adopted [date]. Last amended [date].
Article 1. Name and purpose
1.1 The name of this league is the [League Name] (the "League").
1.2 The League is a voluntary group of golfers organized to play regular [weekly / biweekly] golf at [course name] during a season of about [number] weeks, from [month] to [month].
1.3 The League is run for the enjoyment of its members. It is not organized to make a profit for any officer or member. [Optional: The League is an unincorporated association.]
Article 2. Membership and eligibility
2.1 Any golfer [age 18 and older / of any age with parent consent] who meets the requirements of the League's Rules, pays dues on time and agrees to follow these Bylaws and the Rules is eligible to be a member.
2.2 The League has a maximum of [number] members. When the roster is full, new applicants go on a waitlist in the order they applied.
2.3 Returning members have until [date] to re-enroll for the next season. After that date, open spots go to the waitlist.
2.4 Membership is for one season and renews each year. Membership does not carry over automatically.
2.5 Every member in good standing has one vote. Members who are behind on dues may play only if the Board allows it and may not vote until they pay.
Article 3. Officers and duties
3.1 The officers of the League are: President (also called Commissioner), Treasurer, Secretary and Handicap Chair. [One person may hold two offices, except that the Treasurer may not also be the President.]
3.2 President / Commissioner. Runs league night, sets pairings, makes rulings under the Rules, calls and runs meetings, and is the League's contact with the course. The President breaks a tie vote.
3.3 Treasurer. Collects dues and fees, pays the League's bills, keeps the ledger described in Article 6, reconciles the account each month in season, and gives the annual report. The Treasurer does not make payments to himself or herself or to a family member without approval from a second officer.
3.4 Secretary. Records the minutes of every meeting, keeps the current Bylaws and Rules, keeps the member roster and the standings, and sends notices.
3.5 Handicap Chair. Runs the handicap system under Article 7, posts handicaps by [day and time] each week and corrects errors.
3.6 Together, the officers form the Board. A majority of the Board may act between meetings on routine matters. The Board reports every action to the members at the next meeting.
3.7 An officer may be removed for cause by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting, after the officer has had a chance to respond.
Article 4. Elections and terms
4.1 Officers serve a term of [one season / one year / two years] and may serve [no more than three consecutive terms].
4.2 The Secretary sends a call for nominations at least [14] days before the election. Any member in good standing may nominate another member or self-nominate.
4.3 Officers are elected at the [postseason / annual] meeting by a majority of the members present and voting. Voting is by raised hand unless two members ask for a written ballot.
4.4 If an office becomes vacant, the Board appoints a member to fill it until the next election.
4.5 Outgoing officers hand over all records, passwords and League property to their successors within [14] days.
Article 5. Meetings and quorum
5.1 The League holds at least two member meetings a year: a preseason meeting (to approve the Rules, dues and schedule) and a postseason meeting (to hold elections, hear the annual report and review the year).
5.2 The President or any [three] members may call a special meeting. Notice, with the topics to be discussed, goes to all members at least [7] days ahead by [email / text / posted notice].
5.3 A quorum is [one quarter of the members in good standing, but not fewer than ten members] [or: a majority of members in good standing, for leagues under 20].
5.4 Unless these Bylaws say otherwise, a question is decided by a majority of the members present and voting. Meetings may be held in person, by video, or by online vote, if every member gets notice and a fair chance to vote.
5.5 The Secretary records the minutes and sends them to members within [14] days.
Article 6. Dues, finances and the annual report
6.1 The members set dues at the preseason meeting. Dues for the [year] season are $[amount] per member, due by [date]. Weekly greens fees and side-game money are paid separately and are not part of dues.
6.2 The League keeps its money in a separate account titled [account name], at [bank or credit union]. League money is never held in a personal account or mixed with personal funds.
6.3 Two-person rule. Every payment of more than $[amount] needs the approval of two officers, and no officer may approve a payment made to himself or herself. Online banking access is limited to the Treasurer and one other officer named by the Board. [Option: checks need two signatures.]
6.4 Records. The Treasurer keeps a ledger with one line for every payment received and every payment made, with the date, the amount, the person and the purpose. Receipts are kept for [three] years. (For scale, the IRS's social clubs page says an exempt club keeps records of income sources for at least three years.)
6.5 Review. At the end of each season, a member who is not the Treasurer compares the ledger to the bank statements and signs a note saying whether they match.
6.6 Annual report. At the postseason meeting the Treasurer reports opening balance, money in, money out and ending balance, and gives any member who asks a copy of the ledger.
6.7 Refunds. A member who withdraws gets a refund according to the League's refund policy in the Rules. Unpaid dues are handled under Section 2.5.
6.8 League funds may be spent only on League purposes: prizes, trophies, supplies, the banquet or party, software or website costs, insurance, and a reasonable reserve of $[amount] to start the next season.
6.9 Nobody is paid by the League for service as an officer. [Option: the Board may vote a small stipend to the Treasurer or Commissioner, reported in the annual report.]
Article 7. Handicap committee
7.1 The Handicap Chair and [two] other members appointed by the Board form the Handicap Committee.
7.2 The Committee keeps and applies the handicap method written in the League's Rules. It does not change the method without a member vote under Article 10.
7.3 Handicaps used for league play are league handicaps, calculated from league scores under the Rules. [Option: Members may also be required to provide an official handicap index from a golf association.]
7.4 If a golfer's handicap looks wrong, the Committee reviews it. The Committee may adjust a handicap for cause, for example for a documented injury, and records the reason in the minutes.
7.5 The Committee's decisions can be appealed under Article 8.
Article 8. Discipline and appeals
8.1 Members are expected to follow the Rules, play by the Rules of Golf as modified by the League, and treat other members, staff and the course with respect.
8.2 The President may give a warning for a first violation. For repeated or serious violations, the Board may impose a penalty: loss of prize eligibility, suspension for [number] weeks or removal from the League.
8.3 Before the Board imposes a suspension or removal, it tells the member in writing what the complaint is and gives the member a chance to respond, in person or in writing, within [7] days.
8.4 A member may appeal a Board decision by writing to the Secretary within [7] days. An appeal panel of [three] members who are not on the Board and not involved in the dispute hears the appeal. Its decision is final for the season.
8.5 A member removed for cause is refunded [unused dues on a prorated basis / no dues].
Article 9. Rules
9.1 The Rules (format, scoring, subs, rain-outs, ties and side games) are a separate document, approved by the members at the preseason meeting.
9.2 If the Rules conflict with these Bylaws, the Bylaws control.
9.3 The Board may make small changes to the Rules during the season to deal with an unforeseen problem. Any change must be posted within [48] hours and is reviewed at the next meeting.
Article 10. Amendments
10.1 These Bylaws may be amended by a vote of two thirds of the members present and voting at a meeting where a quorum is present.
10.2 Notice of the proposed amendment, with the exact new wording, goes to all members at least [14] days before the vote.
10.3 An amendment takes effect on the date it passes unless it says otherwise. The Secretary records the date of the change at the top of this document.
Article 11. Dissolution
11.1 The League may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of all members in good standing, at a meeting called for that purpose with at least [14] days' notice.
11.2 After the League pays its bills, the Treasurer will distribute the remaining money by [refunding members in proportion to what each paid in during the last season / giving it to [named charity or program] / another method the members vote on].
11.3 A second officer must observe and sign off on the final distribution. The Treasurer closes the League's bank account and gives the final ledger to the Secretary, who keeps it for [three] years.
Adopted by vote of the members on [date]. Signed: [Secretary name], Secretary.
If your league is small, cut Article 7 and merge the Handicap Chair into the Commissioner.
Money hygiene that actually protects people
1. Use a separate league account. Ask your bank or credit union which type of account suits a club or league, and what paperwork it wants. Some banks ask for an EIN, which the IRS says you can request for banking purposes even without a federal tax need. Do not run the league through the treasurer's personal checking. If the treasurer moves, gets sick or dies, a personal account turns a bookkeeping job into a legal one. For how to collect the money in the first place, see how to collect golf league dues. For help setting the amount, see how much should golf league dues be.
2. Decide who can see the books. Make it an easy answer: any member can ask for the ledger and the year-end summary. Officers can see the account online. Only two people can move money.
3. Keep one ledger. One line per dollar in, one line per dollar out. If you track side-game pots too, keep them in their own columns so prize money does not blur into dues. A spreadsheet does the job if you are disciplined about it.
4. Reconcile at year end. Reconciling means proving that your ledger matches the bank.
Worked example: reconciling an invented 20-golfer league ($120 dues)
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Opening balance (carried over) | $310.00 |
| Dues: 20 members x $120 | $2,400.00 |
| Sponsor: hole sign | $250.00 |
| Total money in | $2,650.00 |
| Prizes | $1,200.00 |
| Banquet deposit | $640.00 |
| Scorecards and supplies | $85.50 |
| Trophies | $160.00 |
| Bank fees | $36.00 |
| Total money out | $2,121.50 |
| Ledger ending balance ($310.00 + $2,650.00 - $2,121.50) | $838.50 |
Now compare to the bank. The December statement says $988.50, but check #1051 for $150.00 (the banquet balance) has not cleared yet. So $988.50 - $150.00 = $838.50, which matches the ledger. If the numbers do not match, find out why before the annual meeting, not at it.
Have someone other than the treasurer do this check and sign the note, as Section 6.5 says.
Does a golf league need an EIN or nonprofit status?
This is general information drawn from the pages linked below, not legal or tax advice. Talk to an accountant or attorney who knows your state for your situation. Here is what the IRS and one state office say on their own pages as of October 2026. Rules vary by state, so treat Minnesota below as one example.
EIN. On its EIN page, the IRS says you need an employer identification number if you have employees or will need to pay employment, excise, or alcohol, tobacco and firearms taxes. The same page says that even without a federal need, you may still request one for banking or state tax purposes. The page lists tax-exempt organizations among the entities that need an EIN, but it does not specifically discuss unincorporated associations or clubs. So whether your bank will ask your league for one is a question for the bank, and whether your league needs one is a question for your accountant. The IRS says there is never a fee to get an EIN and warns about sites that charge for it. The Form SS-4 instructions add that U.S. applicants can apply for and receive an EIN free of charge on IRS.gov, and the online tool asks for the responsible party's SSN or ITIN, so pick the officer who will hold that role.
Tax-exempt status. If someone does want to look into it, the IRS page on applying for tax-exempt status says Form 1023 and Form 1023-EZ are for 501(c)(3) charitable, religious and educational organizations, and Form 1024 covers other organizations recognized under section 501(a). A weekly golf league is a recreation group, not a charity, so the answer for your league may be different from a junior golf fundraiser.
501(c)(7) social clubs. The IRS page on social clubs describes the 501(c)(7) category: clubs with personal contact among members, supported primarily by dues and assessments, with no net earnings going to private individuals. It says a social club may receive up to 35 percent of its gross receipts from nonmember sources, including investment income, and no more than 15 percent from nonmember use of its facilities, and it says clubs owe tax on unrelated business income. Sponsor money and guest fees count as nonmember money, which is why this matters to a league. Whether a weekly league wants or qualifies for this status is a question for a professional.
Form 990-N. If an organization does have tax-exempt status, the IRS's filing chart shows that organizations with gross receipts normally of $50,000 or less may file the Form 990-N e-Postcard. Larger ones file Form 990-EZ (gross receipts under $200,000 and total assets under $500,000) or Form 990. The IRS's e-Postcard page adds that the 990-N is due by the 15th day of the 5th month after the tax year ends, that there is no penalty for a late submission, and that an organization that fails to file for three consecutive years automatically loses its tax-exempt status. All of that applies only to organizations that already have exemption. Taxes on league income are a different question, and not one this guide can answer.
State rules. Registration is a state matter. The Minnesota Secretary of State's start a business page says that starting a new business or non-profit organization involves many important decisions, and points questions to its business services team. Other states have their own offices and their own rules for incorporating a nonprofit or treating a group as an unincorporated association, so check yours.
Decision table: do we need an EIN, a bank account or incorporation?
Use this as a starting list of questions to bring to your bank and accountant. It is a planning aid, not an answer. Each row says what the cited page covers and what is left to a professional.
| If your league... | EIN | Separate bank account | Incorporation or exemption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is 12 golfers, pays the pro shop directly, holds no cash | Probably not needed for federal purposes. The IRS says you need one if you have employees or pay certain federal taxes | Not needed. Nothing to hold | No |
| Is 20 to 30 golfers and the treasurer holds dues all season | The IRS says you may still request one for banking purposes. Ask your bank | Yes. Article 6.2 | Ask an accountant. Most leagues stay informal |
| Takes sponsor money (hole signs, a banquet sponsor) | Ask your bank and accountant | Yes | Ask about the 35 percent nonmember rule if you ever look at 501(c)(7) |
| Pays someone for services (a paid scorer, a part-time employee) | The IRS lists employees as a reason to need an EIN | Yes | Talk to a professional before the first paycheck |
| Wants to be a registered nonprofit corporation in a state such as Minnesota | Needed for tax-exempt applications | Yes | The state registers corporations. Start with its secretary of state, then a professional |
Worked example: amending the bylaws at the annual meeting
An invented league: 31 members in good standing, bylaws as written above. A member proposes changing Section 6.3 so payments over $200 (instead of $500) need two officer approvals. This follows Article 10 (two thirds of members present and voting, quorum present, 14 days' notice) and Section 5.3 (quorum is one quarter of members, but not fewer than ten).
| Step | Date or count | Arithmetic |
|---|---|---|
| Annual meeting | Saturday, November 14, 2026 | |
| Last day to send notice with the exact new wording (10.2) | Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 14 days before November 14 |
| Quorum needed (5.3) | 10 members | 31 / 4 = 7.75, rounds up to 8, but the floor is 10 |
| Members present | 24 | 24 is at least 10, so quorum is met |
| Members who abstain | 2 | Abstentions are not "voting" |
| Members voting | 22 | 24 - 2 |
| Yes votes needed | 15 | 2/3 x 22 = 14.67, round up |
| Vote | 16 yes, 6 no | 16 is at least 15, so it passes (16 / 22 = 72.7%) |
Had all 24 present voted, 2/3 x 24 = 16 would be needed, and 16 yes would still pass. Had all 31 members voted, the bar would be 2/3 x 31 = 20.67, so 21 yes. Fewer people in the room means fewer votes needed, which is why the notice period matters. Record the count in the minutes and update the "Last amended" date.
If notice had gone out on November 3 (11 days ahead), the amendment would be invalid under 10.2 even with a 21-vote majority. Move it to a special meeting under Section 5.2 and send proper notice.
Common disputes and the clause that settles each one
| The argument | Who is usually right | Clause to point at |
|---|---|---|
| "Dave has not paid dues but is playing and wants to vote" | The Board may let him play. He cannot vote until he pays | 2.5 |
| "The Treasurer paid for the banquet deposit alone" | Anything over the threshold needs a second officer | 6.3 |
| "My handicap is wrong" | The Handicap Committee reviews it, then the appeals panel | 7.4, 8.4 |
| "We want to change the quorum" | Needs a two-thirds vote with 14 days' notice | 5.3, 10.1, 10.2 |
| "The rules sheet says one thing and the bylaws another" | The bylaws control | 9.2 |
| "Nobody will be the new Commissioner" | The Board appoints someone until the next election | 4.4 |
| "Can the Board kick out a member?" | Yes, for cause, after written notice and a chance to respond | 8.2, 8.3 |
| "The league is ending and there is $900 left" | The members' vote under the dissolution article decides | 11.2 |
| "Only 6 people came to the meeting" | No quorum means no binding vote | 5.3 |
How to adopt the bylaws
- Fill in the brackets with the Board. Keep the numbers realistic: a quorum you can reach, a threshold that matches your budget.
- Send the draft to all members at least 14 days before the preseason meeting, with a one-paragraph summary.
- Hold the vote at the meeting. Adoption by majority is fine for the first version. Record the vote in the minutes.
- Sign and date it. The Secretary signs the final version. Save a PDF with the date in the file name.
- Hand it out. Post it with the rules on the league's page and send it to every new member at sign-up. The sign-up form guide shows where to put a link.
- Review it once a year at the postseason meeting.
Common mistakes
- Writing rules into the bylaws. A tee-time grace period does not need a two-thirds vote. Keep it in the rules, such as the ones for rain-outs.
- Naming a treasurer with no check on them. The two-person rule exists to protect honest people.
- Skipping the dissolution article. It is the one people fight over when a league fades out with $900 in the account.
Gimme, a golf league app you can start free, keeps the handicap math and the pot ledger so the Handicap Chair and Treasurer have fewer spreadsheets to guard. You do not need it for anything above.