Membership
Membership applications and reclassifications/upgrades are approved at the Board of Directors meetings. Directors meet monthly, except for December and February. The process of review and approval normally takes 30 days. You will receive a written confirmation and new member package once your membership criteria is reviewed and approved by the Board.
For membership reclassification or upgrades you do not need to have ?attestor? signatures, nor do you need any fees to accompany your request. Please submit a membership application with your request. Please provide information necessary to either change your classification; i.e., you are no longer a superintendent, you are now working for an affiliate member company.
A complete description of membership classifications and qualifications for each is located in your membership directory or the back of a membership application. If you need more information or clarification, please contact us.
Membership Classes
Click on the appropriate membership classification to get more details.
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CLASS A - Golf Course Superintendent:
To qualify for Class A membership an applicant shall have at the time of application for membership at least three (3) years experience as a Golf Course Superintendent, and be employed in such capacity. In addition, said applicant must have a Pesticide Applicator License, or its equivalent under California Pesticide Laws and Regulations. A Class A member transferring from an out-of-state chapter shall retain his classification and have one year in which to comply with this requirement. This requirement may be waived if the superintendent does not apply pesticides and directly supervises a superintendent or assistant who is licensed. Class A members shall have all the privileges of the Association. Annual dues will be payable. Class A membership in SDGCSA must also be a shared member of GCSAA.
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(SM) Superintendent Member - Golf Course Superintendent:
To qualify for Superintendent Member membership, an applicant shall be a golf course superintendent who has, at the time of application for membership, less than three (3) years experience as a golf course superintendent, and shall be presently employed in such capacity. In addition, said applicant must have a Pesticide Applicator License, or its equivalent under California Pesticide Laws and Regulations. A Superintendent Member transferring from an out-of-state chapter shall retain his classification and have one year in which to comply with this requirement. Superintendent Members shall have all the privileges of the Association. Dues will be payable. Superintendent Member membership in SDGCSA must also be a shared member of GCSAA.
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CLASS AA - Life Members
To qualify for Life membership a member must have been a Regular or Charter member for at least twenty-five years (25) and must have retired from active service as a Golf Course Superintendent. A Life member shall have all the rights and privileges of the Association except that of holding office.
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CLASS C - Golf Course Assistant Superintendent:
To qualify for Class C membership an applicant shall be, at the time of application, an assistant to a golf course superintendent, and shall be presently employed in that capacity. Class C members shall have all the privileges of the Association, except that of holding office. Annual dues will be payable.
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ASSOC - Associate Member:
To qualify for Associate membership the applicant shall be an individual employed by a golf course superintendent and interested in golf course management and/or in the growing or production of fine turfgrass. Associate members shall have such privileges of the Association as the board of directors may specify by standing rules, except those of voting and holding office. Annual dues will be payable.
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CLASS E - Educators:
To qualify for Class E membership, an applicant must be a full-time turfgrass educator or extension officer. Class E members shall have such privileges of the association as the board of directors may specify in standing rules, except those of voting and holding office. Annual dues will be payable.
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Class HE - Honorary Education Members:
Representatives from a related field or industry who are recognized annually by the Board. This membership classification is awarded to the person holding a specific position, such as County Farm Advisor, and membership will change as the representative changes or at the discretion of the Board. Membership annual dues will be complimentary, however, monthly meeting charges will be payable. Industry Representatives shall have such privileges of the Association as the Executive Committee may specify from time to time by Standing Rules, except those of voting and holding office..
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R - Retired Members:
Any member reaching age sixty (60), who is retired and no longer seeking employment within the scope of activities of any membership class of this Association, may apply to the Executive Committee, in writing, for Retired membership. The annual dues will be complimentary. A rate fixed by the Board of the Directors will be charged for food costs at meetings. A Retired member shall have all the privileges of this Association afforded the member in his immediate previous classification with the exception of holding office.
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Class TM - Turf Manager:
To qualify for Class TM membership, an applicant must manage a facility which grows sports-related turfgrass, but which is not defined as a golf course in the SDGCSA bylaws. The facilities included are: driving ranges, practice facilities, test facilities, stadiums. This specifically excludes any turf that is sold to a golf course or other sports facility. TM members shall have such privileges of the Association as the board of directors may specify by standing rules, except those of voting and holding office. Annual dues will be payable.
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Class AFFIL or G:
To qualify for Affiliate membership an applicant must be a person involved in the growing, management or production of turfgrass, either individually or through employment by, or other affiliation with, a company, proprietorship, governmental agency, or association, who provides products or services to golf courses does not qualify for membership in another class. Affiliate members shall have all the rights and privileges of the Association except those of voting and holding office. Dues will be payable. Affiliate members may join as an individual or as a corporation. Each Corporate membership shall have the right to name two of its owners, employees, or other agents as its representatives to the Association. Such representatives shall have such privileges of the Association as the Executive Committee may specify by standing rules, except those of voting and holding office. Annual dues to be set by the Board double that of individual Affiliate membership.
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INACTIVE MEMBER:
An Inactive member is a member who, by reason of unemployment, illness or other adverse circumstances, has been placed in this class upon his application. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to act on such application and to place a member on inactive status subject to such terms and conditions as the Executive Committee may specify from time to time by Standing Rules; provided, however, that an inactive member shall not vote or hold office. A and SM members who no longer fulfill all the requirements for A or SM classification due to a position change will be eligible to keep their status for the purpose of resumes, interviews, applications, etc., for a period not to exceed twenty-four (24) months, providing they are actively seeking employment as a Golf Course Superintendent or Assistant. Members in this classification will continue to pay regular dues during this period, and retain all rights and privileges of the Association, except that of holding office. Any A/SM Inactive member exceeding twenty-four months of consecutive unemployment or reduced employment will be automatically placed in the appropriate membership classification or dropped from the association. Annual dues will be payable.
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Class S - STUDENT:
To qualify for Class S membership an applicant must be a turfgrass student enrolled in a formal course of education in an approved and accredited institution. Class S members shall have such privileges of the Association as the Executive Committee may specify for each respective class from time to time by Standing Rules except those of voting and holding office. Annual dues will be payable.