Membership Classifications

Class A member is a golf industry professional; who possesses knowledge, skills and abilities through a combination of education, experience, professional development and environmental stewardship; and has met and continues to fulfill on-going Class A renewal requirements.

Annual dues: $465

To qualify for Class B membership, an applicant shall, at the time of application, be employed as a golf course superintendent and does not meet the additional qualifications for Class A membership. Class B members shall have all the privileges of the association, except that of holding office.

Annual dues: $465

To qualify for International Superintendent membership, an applicant shall be employed outside of the United States as a superintendent or head greenkeeper and be a member of his/her own international association at the time of application for membership. International Superintendent Members shall have all the privileges of the association, except those of voting and holding office. Services and benefits provided to International Superintendent Members are outlined in the Standing Rules for Membership.

Annual dues: $240

To qualify for Assistant Superintendent membership, an applicant shall be, at the time of application for membership, an assistant to a golf course superintendent, and shall be presently employed in such capacity. Class C members shall have all the privileges of the association, except those of voting and holding office.

Annual dues: $240

To qualify for Life membership, one must have retired as a golf course superintendent or assistant golf course superintendent and have been a golf course superintendent or assistant golf course superintendent member of GCSAA for 25 years of which a minimum of 20 years has been as a golf course superintendent. A life member shall have all the rights and privileges of the association except that of holding office.

Dues: FREE

To qualify for Class A-Retired status, one must not be currently employed as a golf course superintendent and have a minimum of five years of service as a Class A golf course superintendent member. The years of service as a GCSAA member when combined with the member's age must equal or exceed 75 years. This member shall have all the privileges of the association afforded that classification, with the exception of holding office.

Annual dues: $75

To qualify for Affiliate membership, an applicant must be an individual, business firm or governmental body interested in golf course management and/or in the growing or production of fine turfgrass, either individually or through employment by, or other affiliation with, a company, proprietorship or association, and who does not qualify for membership in another class. Affiliate 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: $465

To qualify for Equipment Manager membership; an applicant shall be employed as an equipment manager, assistant equipment manager or mechanic/technician and shall have such rights of the Association as the Board of Directors may specify by Standing Rules, except those of voting and holding office.

Annual dues: $115

To qualify for Associate Membership, an applicant must be employed by a golf course superintendent at a golf course and does not qualify for membership under the Class A, Class B, Class C or Equipment Manager Bylaws' definition. Associate Members shall have such rights of the association as the board of directors may specify by standing rules, except those of voting and holding office.

Annual dues: $110

To qualify for Educator membership, an applicant must be an educator or extension officer. Class E 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: $70

An Inactive Member is an individual who, by reason of unemployment, illness or other adverse circumstances, has been placed in this class upon his or her application. The board of directors shall have the authority to act on such application and to place a member on Inactive status subject to terms and conditions as the board of directors may specify by standing rules.

Annual dues: $30

To qualify for Student membership, an applicant must be a full-time turfgrass student intending to or currently enrolled in a formal course of education, or have completed his or her formal education less than one year prior to the date of application for membership and have not become employed at a golf course. Student 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: FREE
Student web-only membership: FREE

Student memberships are compliments of  

To qualify for Retired membership, one must be retired and no longer seeking employment within the scope of activities of any membership class of the association. An applicant may apply to the board of directors in writing for Retired membership, the annual dues for which shall be set by the board of directors but shall not exceed half the amount paid for the classification in which the member retires.

There are two options for retirement:

1. Any member reaching age 55 may retire with privileges afforded from the immediate previous classification, with the exception of holding office
2. Any member who completed at least 20 years of service in any membership classification may retire in that classification with privileges afforded that classification, with the exception of holding office

Annual dues: $75

To be eligible, a facility must not have had a GCSAA member in the last three years, and the facility’s green fee must be below the 50 percent median in their region (regions will be based on GCSAA field staff regions). Dues will be $200 a year for the facility and its employees, who will have access to GCSAA resources, but will not receive individual membership benefits such as term life insurance, Class A eligibility, board eligibility, voting rights and tournament entry benefit.

Annual dues: $200

The Friend of the Golf Course Superintendent Membership is for individuals who want to support superintendents and the game of golf but do not qualify for any other membership category. Friends will not receive traditional membership benefits such as access to restricted areas of the GCSAA website, voting rights, insurance benefits or tournament entry.

Annual dues: $50 individual level, $100 individual level, $200 individual level, $400 group.

Voluntary reclassification:

Any individual member may request a change in his or her membership classification in accord with a change in his or her qualifications for membership.

Mandatory reclassification:

All members, upon renewal of their annual membership, must clearly state their current employment status. This statement of employment status shall be based upon the association's officially accepted job titles and golf course organization chart, or other commonly accepted listings of job titles.