Private clubs and "disciplinary" committees???

[K5thbeatle]

Was talking to a friend who was telling me about a guy that got suspended from their club by their membership committee which duals as a disciplinary committee.  He didn't know all the details but apparently it was a repeat offense something to do with hitting into a group ahead or something like that.  That's not important or my point but he went on to tell me that they have a committee that often settles such issues and even hand out reprimands to members who violate club rules as well as settling other disputes (???).

 

I guess my question and point of posting this here is for those that are members at private clubs to ask if such committees are the rule or is having such committees the exception at most clubs?

[klebs01]

12 minutes ago, K5thbeatle said:

Was talking to a friend who was telling me about a guy that got suspended from their club by their membership committee which duals as a disciplinary committee.  He didn't know all the details but apparently it was a repeat offense something to do with hitting into a group ahead or something like that.  That's not important or my point but he went on to tell me that they have a committee that often settles such issues and even hand out reprimands to members who violate club rules as well as settling other disputes (???).

 

I guess my question and point of posting this here is for those that are members at private clubs to ask if such committees are the rule or is having such committees the exception at most clubs?

Never heard of a specific committee, the board has handled issues everywhere I’ve been. It’s not common, but it’s sometimes necessary to handle situations that arise. 

[Abh159]

My club doesn’t necessarily have a “committee”, but there is a group of people (head pro, owner, head super, and membership director) involved when a disciplinary issue arises. 
 

Over the years the penalties have ranged from fines to loss of membership privileges. The main things that have caused members to get in trouble are probably what you would expect: constant slow play, abusing the guest policy, repeatedly not showing up for tee times, disrespecting the course like damaging greens or tee markers, and etc. 

[Bonneville85308]

Yes, my last club (member-owned equity club) had a disciplinary committee consisting of one board member and 4 regular members appointed by the board.  The club rule book laid out a disciplinary process based on the type of violation. For certain situations involving extreme violations (for example, loud, belligerent, drunk member sexually harassed the wait staff) and habitual minor offenders (like the 10th time someone complained and the staff told you that you need to tuck your shirt in on the golf course), the process dictated that the disciplinary committee would meet and make a decision on what the "punishment" would be. The "punishments" usually ranged from temporary suspension of clubhouse and/or golf privileges (for the untucked shirt guy) to immediate expulsion (for the drunk sexual harasser). Minor violations would be handled by club management and documented until they were repeated enough to rise to disciplinary committee intervention. The disciplinary committee only had to get involved with anything maybe a small handful of times per year on average.

[cristphoto]

We don't have a specific discipline committee but we do have a procedure for member issues.  I was involved in a case years ago when a member of my group accidently hit into a single ahead of us.  Purely accidental but the two involved parties had words after so we were all called before the "committee".  Our policy is basically one of escalated discipline.  First case is just a warning letter or meeting (depending on circumstances).  Second is a temporary suspension of the club. Third is expulsion.  

[jvincent]

Our disciplinary actions usually start with a letter/warning from the GM.

 

Serious stuff will get escalated to the board.

[ChipNRun]

These committees are the rule in most private clubs. Clubs have by-laws and rules and members are expected to abide by them. And in the litigious USA, you better have clear-cut due process  procedures for citing and sanctioning violators.

 

I knew an executive who was a member at one of the Big Four clubs in St. Louis area.

 

On a hot summer day (~100* F), he ran afoul the Greens Committee for playing golf with his shirt tail hanging out. Rules said that golfers must tuck in shirt tails, can't have hat bills facing backwards, no cargo shorts, etc. He was put on six months probation, with any further dress code violations resulting in his suspension from the club.

 

As far as hitting into other members repeatedly, this is a safety and liability issue. It could get really testy in parts of USA where members carry a pistol in their golf bag. Could be materially much more critical than a floppy shirt tail.

 

I have encountered private country clubs as a caddie, a bartender, a guest and a tournament volunteer. Most of the club member have good manners, but there's always the minority that thinks club membership allows them to be rude and pushy.

[mmack067]

On 11/28/2021 at 4:38 PM, jvincent said:

Our disciplinary actions usually start with a letter/warning from the GM.

 

Serious stuff will get escalated to the board.

Can confirm we also have a sub committee for disciplinary actions. Don't ask how I know JV 🤣

[jvincent]

1 hour ago, mmack067 said:

Can confirm we also have a sub committee for disciplinary actions. Don't ask how I know JV 🤣

I'm well behaved, so I have no first hand info. 😜