By Laws

Article I: By Laws

Section 1 The CMSG shall establish a set of By Laws to guide the operational governance of the organization. Topics to be covered in the By Laws may include but not be limited to the following:

– Ratification of By Laws

– Amendments to By Laws

– Tournaments and competitions

– Local rules

– Complaints and resolutions

– Captain(s) prerogatives

– Other topics as deemed appropriate by the Committee

Section 2 The By Laws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the Committee, by a two-thirds vote of the Committee members.

Article I: Handicap System

Section 1 The CMSG handicap system is based on the 2020 handicap system as recommended by both the R & A and the USGA and uses the differential of the best eight of the last twenty rounds (or part there of if 20 rounds have not been played) of each member to establish their handicap.

Section 2 New Members. Before receiving their initial handicap each new member may submit 3 cards to the CMSG handicapper. A handicap will be issued on the basis of these 3 cards. Each of these cards must be from a CMSG scheduled event, marked and signed by an experienced member and at least one of the three must be marked and signed by the course captain. Cards can be from a nine hole course but must be for 18 holes played that day, or two nine hole cards played on different days. The cards submitted will be scored as stroke, so each hole must be completed by putting out for the card to be counted. Any combination of the above cards must equal 54 holes.

New members who have a valid W.H.S. handicap index and who can provide their last 20 game history should not have to submit 3 cards but can use their W.H.S. handicap immediately, and have a maximum handicap index of 54 allocated to them.

Following a decision by the Committee at their meeting on 30th March 2023, if the initial handicap is calculated using 3 cards, then the maximum “initial” handicap index will be 36 for both men and women. As further rounds are played, this may increase to a maximum handicap index of 54.

Section 3. Highest handicap index available to both male and female members will be 54

Section 4. If members play at other courses and not as part of CMSG events then they are
asked to submit their cards to the handicap secretary to maintain the accuracy of our
handicaps. This request excludes “nomad” competitions or rounds played at Artitaya
or Sand Creek.

Section 5. When members return from an extended break abroad and they have a WHS handicap index, this should be provided to the Handicap Secretary as it will be more accurate than the handicap they last used in Thailand. If they do not have a WHS handicap then the Handicap Secretary will monitor their first three cards after returning, and adjust their handicap index if there is a significant change as evidenced by their cards.

Section 6. The Handicap Secretary may manually adjust any member’s handicap index at any time where justified.

Article III: Meetings of the Committee

The Committee members shall meet at least once every 2 months but preferably once a month.

Article IV: Tournaments and Competitions

Section 1 The Golf events (scheduled days/dates, tee-times, and formats) for the weekly events) shall be set by the course Captain(s) and announced on the CMSG website.

Section 2 The Golf events (scheduled dates, tee-times, formats, and venues) for Away Games, Scrambles, and the Annual Tournament shall be set by the President in consultation with the Committee and announced on the CMSG website.

Article V: Expenditure and Reporting of Expenditure of Funds

Section 1 All expenditures of funds shall be approved by a majority vote of the Committee prior to the expenditure.

Section 2 All expenditures of funds and the remaining balance of funds shall be reported to the Committee at the subsequent meeting of the Committee in the month following the expenditures.

Article VI: Invite Guests to the Away Games

Any CMSG Member has the authority to invite guests they want to the CMSG Away Games. Invitees who are not members of the CMSG and do not have a handicap established using the CMSG adopted handicap system will not be allowed to play in the competition, but will be allowed to play along with CMSG members and attend the post-game ceremonies.

Article VII: End of Year Party

Section 1 The CMSG shall organize an end of year party, which shall also serve as the award presentation for the Annual Tournament.

Section 2 A levy not in excess of 300 Baht per person (children under 12 free) has been set for members and partners and not in excess of 500 baht for guests who attend the Annual Party and Prize Presentation Function of the Annual Tournament.

Article VIII: Complaints and Resolutions

Section 1 Any complaint, whether verbal or written, submitted by a member against another member in respect to their play or behavior should be brought to the attention of any Committee member. Depending upon the seriousness of the complaint, the President may elect to call a Committee meeting to discuss and determine the outcome of the complaint. If necessary, the Committee may require the presence of all parties involved to appear at a Committee meeting. Complaint resolutions will be decided by the Committee and may result in the complaint being dismissed or one of the following actions:

a) Verbal warning

b) Written warning

c) Probation

d) Temporary suspension of play from competition with the length of time imposed by the Committee.

e) Revocation of membership.

Article IX: Captain’s Prerogatives

Section 1 The Course Captain has full authority to make all decisions not prescribed in the Charter and By Laws, with due consideration of the desires of the course-based constituency of members and after consultations to elicit the views of those members.

Article X: CMSG Playing Rules

Section 1 Separate away days will be organized for CMSG members as follows:

– 3 separate course-based away days each year.

– 1 away day scramble each year where teams are made up of CMSG members

– The remainder of the away days are arranged as joint course-based CMSG days

Section 2 No more playing restrictions: Lifting all restrictions/conditions for entering into the Weekly Competition or Monthly Away Games. The exception is for entry into the Annual Tournament where a member must have played in and entered cards from 8 CSMG events, where scores can be used for handicap purposes, since the end of the previous Annual Tournament to be eligible to win. If a member has an established Handicap with the Society and their membership fee is paid up for the current year then there should be no additional restrictions/conditions for a member to enter the Weekly Events or away Game competitions. We have an established Handicap System and there is therefore no further rule should be applied than the before mentioned.

Section 3 Any member of the CMSG has the right to choose the Tee Box from which they play regardless of age or gender, however the Handicap System reflects the scores from the Tee Box that they established their Handicap (Index) or from which they played the most rounds. The forward Tee Initiative is designed to make the game more enjoyable for the player and the CMSG encourages players to make use of this Initiative.

Section 4 Once a player has an established handicap, that player can nominate the tee box they wish to play from without submitting extra cards to qualify for this change as handicaps from all tees are already set.

Article XI: Local Rules

ALL COURSES

IF A PLAYER NEEDS A FREE DROP OR PENALTY DROP, OR OTHER RULING IT MUST BE APPROVED BY THEIR MARKER. IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE THESE DECISION ON YOUR OWN.

PLEASE REMEMBER THE NEAREST POINT OF RELIEF IS ACTUALLY THE NEAREST POINT OF RELIEF – NOT THE ‘NICEST’ POINT OF RELIEF

If in doubt which rule applies in any circumstance, play one Ball according to your understanding and another according to your playing partners understanding. After holing out both Balls, note the two Scores and immediately after you finished your round ask the CMSG Captain that day for a ruling. then write down the final score for the hole(s) in question and sign your score card. Captains decision is final.

LOCAL RULES FOR ALL CMSG VENUES INCLUDING AWAY GAMES.

TREE ROOTS – If your ball comes to rest on a tree root or close to a tree root on the fairway you are entitled to a free drop. This drop must be backwards in line from where you ball lies and the pin. (Even if means there is a tree in that line. The relief is not from the tree or line of the tree, it is only from the tree root) This does not apply to standing on a tree root, only if your swing is possibly hindered by the tree root. This is to ensure that no injury to a member is caused by hitting that tree root.

ORNAMENTAL GRASS – Stands of ornamental grass such as those on holes 10 and 17 at North Hill and 17 at MaeJo are NOT considered garden beds. You do not get a free drop. Play the ball as it lies or take a penalty drop at nearest point of relief no closer to the hole.

OUT OF BOUNDS – If you ball goes out of bounds you have two options. 1. Play another shot from where the original shot was played for a one shot penalty or 2. You may play a ball from the fairway not closer to the hole adjacent to where you ball went OB but NO CLOSER TO THE HOLE, with a two shot penalty.

LOST BALL – If you ball is lost you have two options. 1. Go back and play another ball from the same spot as you played your last shot for a one shot penalty. 2. You may play another ball from the fairway at a point where your ball crossed the margin of the fairway no closer to the hole for a two shot penalty.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR A BALL THAT MAY BE OB OR LOST – IF you believe you may have trouble finding your ball or unsure if you are OB play a provisional ball to aid pace of play. Ball MUST be called provisional or it is play.

NOTE – If you find your first ball, except if it is OB, your first ball is in play even if it is in a penalty area or if you believe it is not playable. This applies even if you find your ball in the water. Once you find your first ball it cannot be considered lost. Provisional ball cannot be played once the original ball is found.

CUT EDGES AROUND GREEN – Where there is a distinct cut around the edge of the green and the join impedes your putting stroke you are entitled to free relief no closer to hole. No Penalty. Note this free relief may mean you are putting from just off the green.

LIFT, CLEAN and REPLACE – When captains advise that “lift clean and replace” is operative, then members, provided that their ball lies on closely mown areas, have the option to mark their ball, pick it up and clean it and then replace the ball within 6 inches, not nearer the hole. For this local rule’s purposes this benefit given by the captains is not regarded as “relief” under Rule 14.3 and therefore a replacement ball cannot be substituted unless the original is damaged and consent has been obtained by the member’s marker.

LIGHT POLES – If you hit a light pole or its base anywhere on the course you must replay your shot with no penalty. (Even if the light pole has had a beneficial effect, the shot must still be replayed). However, if the light pole is not on the course, e.g. in an out-of-bounds area, then the ball that struck it is still deemed to be the ball in play.

Local Rules @ LANNA Golf Course – Revision 20.02.17

Holes 3, 7, & 11 – Bougainvillea Shrubs in centre of the fairways that are supported by cement stakes. A free drop may be taken only if a cement stake impedes your stance or swing (not the vegetation) – drop 1 club length away from the nearest point of relief, no nearer to the pin. Free relief from the concrete post only. Otherwise a penalty drop. If it is determined that your ball is lost inside the bush refer to CMSG Lost Ball rule above.

The Race Course (Course 3) – holes 6, 8 & 9. There are white stakes on the left of hole 6, on the right of hole 9 and on both sides of hole 8 that define the boundary between fairways. If your ball comes to rest on an adjoining fairway you must drop back onto your own fairway within 2 club lengths of the boundary no nearer to the hole for a penalty of 1 stroke.

Ant hills are considered to be “loose impediments” and may be removed if they impede stance of swing (Rule 32-1, Decision 23/5). There is no relief if your ball is touching an ant hill .

Local Rules @ MAE JO Golf Course

Hole 4 – The small trees with the white flowers in front of the Blue, Yellow and White Tee Marker is considered a penalty area. Tee up again from the Tee Box with a stroke penalty.

Hole 6 – If your Ball crosses over on the right side were the lake starts and all the way alongside were the new fence is built, it is considered that your Ball is in the penalty area. Even if you see or find your Ball on the right side of the fence, you are NOT allowed to play this Ball. It is to be treated as OB. You have to drop the Ball on the left side of the fence, not closer to the Hole, one shot penalty, or use one of the drop zones as long as that drop zone is no closer to the hole, one penalty shot.

BUNKERS – If you ball comes to rest in a bunker in a dog paw print you are entitled to place your ball at the nearest point from that paw print no closer to the hole.

Local rules @ North Hill

Unusual to have OB in the middle of a course but that is the case on the left of holes 7 on the opposite side of the water & past the water hazard on the left on 15.
HOLE 12 – DRIVE only – anything right of the cart path is OB.

Local rules @ Hariphunchai

Drop Zones for Hazards:

The only drop zones that shall be recognised as such are the ones that are clearly marked with signage and / or two gold-coloured spheres. At present these are found by the hazards at holes 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Sometimes during the year cut squares in the grass are used as drop zones and caddies advise players that they are drop zones. However, so that we are consistent, these must NOT be used unless there is signage or the square is spray painted “DZ” (drop zone). If you play from anywhere that is not so marked, you will incur a 2 stroke penalty for “playing your ball from the wrong place”.

Therefore, apart from the signed drop areas, you must otherwise play your ball within two club’s lengths from the POINT OF ENTRY to the hazard and not nearer the hole for a 1 shot penalty.

HOLE 5.

In order to speed up play, with your approach shot to the green, if you are in doubt whether your ball has crossed the water and is in the rough just above the water line, or whether the ball has crossed the hazard and rolled back down the hill into the rough, then you MAY play a provisional ball (even though it is a water hazard and usually this is not allowed).

If you cannot find your ball, then the provisional is the ball in play with the appropriate penalty.

If you find your ball and can play it, then that is what you do – no penalty. (the provisional ball is ignored}

BUT If you find your ball but it is unplayable, then normally this would be the ball in play and you would pick up your provisional ball. and then take penalty relief for the original ball. However, because they are yellow stakes, there is no option for lateral relief. Rather than go back to the other side of the water, and play your next shot from there and with a penalty, your provisional ball with the appropriate penalty will be deemed to be the ball in play.