SBCC Membership Terms & Conditions
These Membership Terms & Conditions govern membership at South Bend Country Club (“Club,” “SBCC,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). By applying for, accepting, renewing, or using a membership at South Bend Country Club, each member agrees to be bound by these terms, as well as all Club rules, policies, procedures, and any amendments adopted by the Club from time to time.
1. Membership Privilege
Membership at South Bend Country Club is a privilege and not a vested property right. Membership provides access to certain Club facilities, amenities, events, and services as determined by the Club and subject to the member’s membership category, availability, posted rules, seasonal operations, and Club discretion.
The Club reserves the right to modify membership categories, privileges, pricing, benefits, access rules, operating hours, amenities, and policies at any time.
2. Annual Membership and Renewal
Memberships are generally offered on an annual basis unless otherwise stated in writing by the Club. Renewal of membership is not guaranteed.
South Bend Country Club reserves the absolute right, in its sole discretion, to decline, deny, suspend, cancel, or refuse to renew any membership for any reason or no reason, to the fullest extent permitted by law. This right may be exercised with or without cause and without creating any obligation to provide a specific explanation.
Non-renewal, suspension, or termination of membership does not entitle the member to any refund, credit, proration, reimbursement, or damages, except where expressly required by law.
3. Dues, Initiation Fees, Charges, and Payment Obligations
Members are responsible for all applicable dues, initiation fees, food and beverage minimums, cart fees, locker fees, storage fees, guest fees, service charges, assessments, event charges, and any other amounts incurred by the member, their family members, guests, or account users.
All dues, initiation fees, and other membership-related charges are due according to the payment terms established by the Club.
Failure to keep an account current may result in suspension of Club privileges, late fees, collection costs, termination of membership, or refusal of future membership.
4. No Refunds
All membership dues, initiation fees, deposits, minimums, and other membership-related payments are non-refundable.
No refunds, credits, transfers, or prorations will be issued due to non-use of the Club, voluntary resignation, relocation, illness, injury, weather, course conditions, facility closures, disciplinary suspension, termination, non-renewal, or any other reason, unless expressly approved in writing by the Club or required by applicable law.
Initiation fees are paid for the opportunity to join the Club and are not equity interests, ownership interests, deposits, or refundable payments unless expressly stated in a separate written agreement signed by the Club.
5. Code of Conduct
All members, family members, guests, and account users are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful, courteous, and appropriate manner at all times while on Club property, participating in Club activities, communicating with Club staff, or interacting with other members and guests.
Members are responsible for their own conduct and for the conduct of their family members, children, guests, and anyone using their membership account.
Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:
- Harassment, intimidation, threats, abusive language, or disrespectful behavior toward staff, members, guests, vendors, or others.
- Discrimination, hateful language, or inappropriate conduct based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected classification.
- Excessive intoxication, disorderly conduct, fighting, or unsafe behavior.
- Damage to Club property, golf course property, carts, facilities, equipment, landscaping, or neighboring property.
- Failure to follow golf course etiquette, pace-of-play expectations, dress code, cart rules, pool rules, dining policies, event policies, or posted Club rules.
- Verbal abuse of employees, management, ownership, members, guests, or vendors.
- Misuse of Club privileges, unauthorized use of facilities, improper sharing of membership access, or allowing non-members to use member privileges without authorization.
- Posting or distributing false, harmful, threatening, or defamatory statements about the Club, its staff, ownership, members, or guests.
- Any conduct that, in the Club’s judgment, harms the reputation, safety, operations, or enjoyment of South Bend Country Club.
The Club may determine, in its sole discretion, whether conduct violates this Code of Conduct.
6. Discipline, Suspension, Termination, or Non-Renewal
The Club may take disciplinary action for violation of these Terms & Conditions, Club rules, failure to pay amounts owed, inappropriate conduct, or any behavior the Club determines to be harmful to the Club, its staff, members, guests, property, reputation, or operations.
Disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to:
- Verbal or written warning.
- Temporary suspension of privileges.
- Restriction from certain facilities, events, or services.
- Removal of guest privileges.
- Termination of membership.
- Refusal to renew membership.
The Club is not required to follow progressive discipline and may take any action it determines appropriate based on the circumstances.
No refund, credit, or proration will be issued in connection with any suspension, termination, restriction, or non-renewal of membership.
Financial Harm, Operational Harm, or Reputational Harm
South Bend Country Club reserves the right to suspend, terminate, restrict, or decline renewal of any membership if the Club determines, in its sole discretion, that the member, their family members, guests, or account users have caused, contributed to, or threatened financial harm, financial stress, operational disruption, legal exposure, reputational harm, or other material harm to the Club.
This includes, but is not limited to, failure to pay amounts owed, repeated disputes or chargebacks, conduct that causes the Club to incur legal or administrative expenses, damage to Club property, interference with Club operations, harassment or mistreatment of staff, misuse of Club privileges, actions that discourage membership or business activity, or conduct that negatively impacts the Club’s financial stability, reputation, or member experience.
Any suspension, termination, restriction, or non-renewal under this section shall not entitle the member to any refund, credit, proration, reimbursement, or damages, including dues, initiation fees, deposits, minimums, or other amounts previously paid, except where expressly required by law.
7. Guest Policy
Members are responsible for ensuring that their guests comply with all Club rules, policies, dress codes, etiquette expectations, and conduct standards. The Club reserves the right to limit, deny, or revoke guest privileges at any time.
Any charges, damages, or violations caused by a guest may be charged to or attributed to the sponsoring member.
8. Use of Facilities
Use of Club facilities is subject to availability, weather, maintenance, special events, private events, seasonal schedules, staffing, safety concerns, and Club discretion.
The Club may close, restrict, reserve, modify, or discontinue access to any portion of the Club facilities at any time without refund or credit. This includes, but is not limited to, the golf course, practice areas, clubhouse, dining areas, pool, locker rooms, event spaces, and other amenities.
9. Rules and Policies
Members agree to comply with all current and future Club rules, including but not limited to rules regarding golf, carts, dress code, pace of play, tee times, guests, dining, pool usage, locker rooms, events, billing, alcohol, children, parking, and general conduct.
The Club may adopt, amend, interpret, or enforce rules at its sole discretion. Continued use of the Club following any rule change constitutes acceptance of the updated rules.
10. Account Responsibility
The primary member is responsible for all charges incurred under the membership account, including charges by spouses, family members, children, guests, or authorized users.
Members must promptly notify the Club of any billing concerns, account disputes, contact information changes, payment method changes, or unauthorized use of their account.
11. Damage to Property
Members are responsible for damage caused by themselves, their family members, guests, or account users to Club property, neighboring property, golf carts, facilities, equipment, furnishings, landscaping, or other property.
The Club may charge the member’s account for repair, replacement, cleanup, or related costs.
12. Assumption of Risk
Members and guests understand that participation in golf, swimming, fitness, dining, social events, and Club activities involves inherent risks, including but not limited to injury, illness, property damage, errant golf balls, cart accidents, slips, falls, weather-related risks, pool-related risks, and other hazards.
By using the Club, members and guests voluntarily assume such risks to the fullest extent permitted by law.
13. Alcohol and Safety
Alcoholic beverages may only be consumed in accordance with Club policy and applicable law. The Club reserves the right to refuse service, remove individuals from Club property, arrange transportation, suspend privileges, or take other action when safety or responsible service concerns arise.
Members may not bring outside alcoholic beverages onto Club property unless expressly permitted by the Club in writing.
14. Communications
Members agree that the Club may communicate with them by email, phone, text message, mail, member portal, website postings, invoices, or other reasonable methods. Members are responsible for keeping their contact information current.
15. Changes to Terms
South Bend Country Club reserves the right to update, modify, replace, or amend these Membership Terms & Conditions at any time. Updated terms may be posted on the Club website, distributed by email, included with membership materials, or otherwise made available to members.
Continued membership or use of the Club after updated terms are issued constitutes acceptance of those terms.
16. No Waiver
Failure by the Club to enforce any rule, policy, payment obligation, or provision of these Terms & Conditions does not constitute a waiver of the Club’s right to enforce such rule, policy, obligation, or provision in the future.
17. Governing Law
These Membership Terms & Conditions shall be governed by the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to conflict of law principles.