Overview
GCSAA respects the privacy of its members and other visitors to its website. In
summary, GCSAA does not collect any information through the website without the
knowledge and consent of the user. In addition, all personal information collected
through the site is provided on a voluntary basis by the user through a visible
means of data entry. As part of this privacy pledge, the following provides a more
detailed explanation of how the information provided to us is used and displayed
on the GCSAA website.
Information collection and use
GCSAA is the sole owner of information collected on its website. GCSAA uses the
information to offer special services, to facilitate the flow of information between
GCSAA and its users, to support and improve the association's programming, and to
help keep the association's database systems current. All personal information collected
on the website is provided voluntarily via the submission of the various applications,
surveys, forms and other online services located throughout the site.
Usage tracking
GCSAA analyzes its Web server logs to track the site's usage patterns and gauge
its performance. Although the server automatically tracks the visitor's domain name
to determine the site's overall number of visitors, no attempt is made to correlate
that information with individual users.
GCSAA releases limited aggregate site data for marketing and informational purposes.
In addition to distributing general site statistics, this includes providing the
number of views and clicks on particular pages or advertisements to sponsors and
advertisers.
Additionally, some HTML email communications are designed to track page views and
clicks in order to gauge their performance and determine response rates. This data
appears only in aggregate form and no personally identifiable information is collected.
Legal disclaimer
Although we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we may need to disclose
personal information when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that
such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order
or legal process served on our site.
Registration and personalization
In order to gain access to certain features on the site, users must submit a registration
form. GCSAA members must only submit their member numbers and email addresses, as
well as a self-selected username and password. However, users who are not members
of GCSAA will also select a username and password, and must provide additional personal
information, such as name, contact information and affiliation with the golf course
management industry, to create a database record for the individual. Registration
information is stored in GCSAA's database system, though passwords are always encrypted.
No one but the user has access to his/her individual password information.
For their convenience, users may select to be automatically logged into the site
upon each visit. Users should note that if they select this option, any individual
with access to their computer would have viewing rights to any personal information
displayed within the site. GCSAA recommends that users log out of the site at the
end of each session if they have any concerns about privacy, or are using a computer
in a public place such as a library or Internet café.
In addition, to optimize the site for GCSAA's users, certain areas of the site are
personalized upon login. The information used to provide this personalized content
is based on the data contained in the user's individual GCSAA record. To review
or update any of this information, please contact GCSAA at 800-472-7878.
Disclosures to third parties
Membership directory GCSAA makes member contact information available
to other members through the online membership directory. If they wish, members
may opt out of appearing in the directory by contacting GCSAA at 800-472-7878.
Discussion forums and chat rooms Registered GCSAA members have
access to several online discussion forums. Upon entering these areas, members are
identified by their first and last names and email addresses. It should be kept
in mind that any personal information disclosed in these areas can be collected
and used by others. At the same time, members may also receive unsolicited messages
from other parties as a result of participation in these areas.
Task groups, committees and other working groups Contact information
may also be made available on the GCSAA website for members of the GCSAA Board of
Directors, GCSAA committees, task groups and other groups associated with GCSAA,
particularly in cases where the group encourages input from the greater golf course
management community. In addition, GCSAA creates listservers for many of these groups
to facilitate communication among their members.
List services For its industry clients, GCSAA offers several paid
list services. Through these services, clients may obtain mailing information for
individuals and facilities in GCSAA's database that match a requested demographic
set (such as facility type, number of holes, region, title, etc.). This contact
information may include an individual's name, title, facility name and preferred
mailing address and is intended for the purposes of creating a mailing list or maintaining
a customer database. However, email addresses are not provided with this service.
Online ordering
The GCSAA website houses several areas in which GCSAA products and services may
be purchased. All GCSAA Internet transactions are handled through a secure server,
and credit card information is never transferred via confirmation emails. Though
it cannot guarantee the security of any third-party site, GCSAA as a practice works
to ensure that any external site used for ordering GCSAA products and services adheres
to the appropriate standards for security and privacy.
Use of cookies
GCSAA uses several cookies to enhance the online experience for its registered users.
Cookies are files that contain information created by a Web server that can be stored
on the user's hard disk either during a particular session (a "per-session" cookie)
or for routine use (a "persistent" cookie).
GCSAA uses a persistent cookie to store the user's login status and personalization
preferences. Per-session cookies are used to validate a user's access to the GCSAA
discussion forums and to save the user's shopping cart in selected areas of the
site. Users who have concerns about storing cookies on their computers should instruct
their browsers to accept only per-session cookies, but will need to log into the
site each time they visit. At the same time, users who choose not to accept cookies
may not be able to experience all areas of the site.
Use of e-mail addresses
Because GCSAA is a professional membership organization, GCSAA will use the e-mail
addresses provided to it to notify constituents of special announcements, new online
services, or other products and services offered by the association. GCSAA also
regularly distributes several e-mail newsletters to its constituents. GCSAA is sensitive
to the concerns of its users and works to segment its distribution lists so that
only recipients who would benefit from the communication are included on the list.
Users may opt out of receiving these communications by contacting GCSAA at 800-472-7878,
or following the unsubscribe instructions and link at the bottom of the particular
communication.
GCSAA does not sell, rent, loan, trade, or lease the email addresses collected to
any outside organization for commercial purposes. However, from time to time, GCSAA
may provide e-mail addresses to authorized agents conducting business on behalf
of – or in conjunction with – the association (such as for survey administration
purposes or providing updates from industry coalitions). In addition, to help prevent
the reproduction of mailing lists, all directories on the website have been configured
so that only one member's contact information is available at a time.
Links to third-party sites
The GCSAA website contains links to other websites. GCSAA has no control over and
is not responsible for the privacy policies or content of these other sites.
Comments and concerns
GCSAA recognizes the importance of privacy to its users. If you have any concerns
about how your information may be used, please contact the
GCSAA Web staff at 800-472-7878, ext. 3697.
GCSAA's physical address is: GCSAA, 1421 Research Park Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049.
