Starting a Type 2 Club is a great option for groups of golfers who enjoy playing together and want to join the TGA.
There are probably a lot of die-hard golfers out there who, at one point in time, have thought about how great it would be to start their own club. Maybe they even took it a step further and picked out the perfect location, sketched out a logo, decided on the A-list architect to design the course, and compiled an initial list of who would be invited to join. It’s wonderful to think about, but then the whole thing comes crashing down when it becomes clear that it would take years and a cargo ship full of cash to pull off.
But what if we told you the TGA has a way to turn that dream of forming your own club into a reality? Not only is it doable, but it’s much easier to get started than you might think. Even better, it comes with all the perks and benefits of being a member club of the TGA. It’s called a Type 2 Club, or a Club Without Real Estate, and is specifically designed for groups of golfers who know each other and enjoy playing together.
Many years ago, the USGA® established the clubs without real estate category because they have the same mission as the green-grass facilities, and that is to serve the game and all the people who play and love golf. And that’s certainly true for Type 2 TGA Member Clubs as well. There are currently close to 100 Type 2 Member Clubs in big cities and small towns across the state that provide their members with many enjoyable experiences on and off the course.
“Starting your own club is both quick and easy, and we’re here to help you at every step along the way whenever you need it,” said Mary Harrison, TGA Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership. “We have all kinds of Type 2 Member Clubs, in terms of size and scope, but what they all have in common is they enjoy the game and the camaraderie of being with their friends, as well as the ability to put on fair competitions, which they gain by receiving a Handicap Index®. They have been a really important part of the game in Texas because they encourage more people to get out and play golf and have fun doing so.”
Getting Started
If you are part of a group of golfers who enjoy playing together, you can start your own Type 2 Club and take advantage of the wide range of exclusive TGA benefits and services, just one of which is an official Handicap Index for each member. Whether you regularly tee it up at several courses around town or like to travel and take the game on the road to play outlying courses, this membership will enhance the group’s enjoyment of the game.
All Type 2 Member Clubs receive cutting-edge tournament software from the TGA that can help groups efficiently run personalized season-long leagues, individual events, team events, or any number of unique tournament formats. And because members must follow the Rules of Handicapping™ and maintain their Handicap Index, it provides for equity and fairness to club competitions. In addition, the TGA is aways ready to help clubs with handicapping issues, questions, and ongoing education and training.
Steps and Requirements
To start and continue a Type 2 Club, there are basic criteria set forth by the USGA Handicap Committee Guide that must be met, which are listed below. The TGA can help guide you through the process and provide the information and resources you need to meet the requirements for starting your own club.
To establish a Type 2 Club, a group must:
· Have at least 10 active individual members who live in relatively close proximity to one another (100 miles) and have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with each other
· Sign a two-year TGA membership agreement to provide handicaps to members using the GHIN® handicapping service
· Provide a copy of existing club by-laws (TGA can provide a template/guide if needed) and player roster with email addresses
· Designate a Handicap Chairperson
· Participate in an educational session on the Rules of Handicapping and complete the World Handicap System™ Seminar and Online Handicap Certification test
Starting your own Type 2 Club might not be exactly the same as having that fantasy golf course paradise to call your own, but it still will have all the important elements that make the game so pleasurable, like getting together to play golf with people you enjoy being around, staging fair member competitions, socializing before and after the round and, most importantly, having fun. Plus, each group member has access to all the terrific benefits that come with joining the TGA, including opportunities to play in recreational and competitive events, savings and discounts on apparel, equipment, accessories, travel, and much more. And you can use that cool-looking logo for your new club, too.
If you would like more information on starting your own club, please contact Mary Harrison by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.