MEMBERSHIP - BROAD PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES

Throughout the 12 South African clubs, 3 Zimbabwe Clubs, 1 each in Botswana, Britain and New Zealand as well as 3 in Australia, there is an approximate total of 3000 Members of Nomads Golf Clubs. 

The respective Constitutions of all Nomads Golf Clubs emphasises that a Nomad has to commit himself to participation in Nomads activities.
Apart from having to participate in a minimum number of Monthly Meetings per year  Members are encouraged to play in as many of the monthly meetings as possible per year. This has the resultant effect of restricting the overall Membership of any Club to about 200 Members. However now that there are Nomads Clubs spread around close to, or in, all the major centres the pressures on the waiting list system have lessened dramatically. Thus the processing time for prospective candidates from initial interest, to application, through vetting, to potential final acceptance has reduced considerably.

In ALL cases the criteria is based on QUALITY  not QUANTITY, no matter what the waiting list situation pertaining to that particular Club.

To become you MUST be over 21 years of age or older, be and remain a  member of a recognised Golf Club affiliated to a Golf Union recognised by the International Golf Federation or the Professional Golfers Association and must be handicapped by that Golf Club.

Thereafter, the procedure varies, in minor aspects, from Club to Club but should you wish to express an interest in becoming a PLAYING Nomad golfer then the following broad guidelines to becoming a Member apply:-

Typically. new Members join the Nomads as a result of having been introduced to play as a guest at the Club by an existing Member of that Club. The inviter should endeavour to ensure that their guest is fully familiarised with Nomadic customs, rules of play and dress codes (both for playing and prize-giving). At that initial game the guest will play with his proposer and two other Nomads, one of which may be a current Member of the Club Executive.

It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the conduct of the prospective  Nomad meets the high standards which will be required of him throughout any subsequent Nomadic career.

Most Clubs will then require the potential Nomad to play one or more future games with a member of the Executive Committee. Such an arrangement ensures that the guest is fully aware of the purpose and standards that are representative of the Nomads ethos and it also provides an informed forum for clarifying any outstanding questions that a prospective new member might have about joining the club.

Assuming that the interest in becoming a Member remains mutual, the name of the potential Member is placed on a wait-list and circulated in the Club's Newsletter to ascertain whether there are any formal objections to the candidate's membership. If no substantial objections are registered, in writing, with the Club Executive, the applicant becomes a pipeliner until such time as a vacancy arises. 

When the time nears for completing the membership procedures, many Clubs have a final meeting with the applicant at which the current Club Executive detail the duties and  responsibilities of their respective portfolios and reinforce the Club's expectations of the Nomad level of participation and commitment.

Upon acceptance, the prospective Nomad is advised of the date of the Monthly Meeting at which he will be inducted. Prior to induction the future Nomad will be required to equip himself with the appropriate items of clothing, for both playing and formal occasions, and upon induction, he will be presented with his name bar, complete with official Nomads badge, his membership tie, a copy of the Constitution and Rules of Play (in a suitable ring-binder)  and a set of Diary inserts covering the Fixture Lists, a list of Members names and contacts numbers for all Nomads in the country in which he has been accepted as a Member. 

[Other categories of Nomads Membership do exist but these categories are normally defined to cover such specific criteria as to not be applicable in detailing here in this broad, general outline]. 

Having met the above criteria and passed the above procedure the individual is free to enjoy the benefits which being a Nomad brings.

One thing is certain, as with most things in life, the more you put in the more you get out! This most definitely applies to the fellowship and camaraderie which can be experienced by being a Member of a Nomads Golf Club.

Think you can make a meaningful commitment and contribution?
How will you know until you try?