Levels of DGC Membership

Every Duffer admitted to membership of the DGC is awarded the status of 'Fellow Duffer'. The correct form of address to a member of the Club called John is 'Fellow Duffer John', or 'FD John' for short.

Progression through the ranks of Duffership can thereafter be achieved:

By skill, or lack of it, on the golf course;
Through acts deemed by the Committee to enhance the image of Duffers in the golfing community, or indeed society at large;
By the election or nomination to offices within the DGC Chapters;
By winning one of the three classes of 'Divot', awarded periodically by the DGC Committee to Duffers who have exhibited excellence in Duffing;
Through "Associate" or social, non-playing membership, open only to low handicap golfers, who are otherwise ineligible.

Ranks are retained permanently, with the exception of 'Rex Dufferorum' (see below), which is granted for one year only, and the honorific titles of office holders in the DGC Chapters, which lapse if the holder should leave office.

In the first category, we recognise:

A Fellow Duffer who wins a competition within his Chapter is awarded the status of 'Leading Duffer', addressed as 'LD John'.
A Leading Duffer who wins his national or professional Chapter Championship is awarded the status of 'Master Duffer', addressed as 'MD John'.
A Master Duffer who wins either the International Championship or the Interprofessional Championship is awarded the status of 'Supreme Duffer', addressed as 'SD John'.

A Supreme Duffer who wins the International vs. Interprofessional Championship becomes 'Rex Dufferorum' and wears the crown at all DGC functions. This status is valid for a period of one year, until the match between next year's Supreme Duffers. The holder is entitled to use the crown device from the DGC crest on his clothing, golf bag, business cards, etc...

We also award the status of 'Grand Duffer' ('GD JOhn') to any Duffer who can substantiate having achieved every score from Hawk (2 over par) to Archaeopteryx (15 or more over par) in the AnyoneForTee scoring system, and at least twelve of the AnyoneForTee Menagerie of Golf Shots.

In the second category, we recognise: HD Jean

Honorary Duffers ('HD Jean'): these may be professional golfers, or low handicap amateurs, who by their play or actions are deemed worthy of Duffer status, although ineligible on handicap grounds. Jean Van der Velde is the first player to be awarded this status.
Knight Duffers ('KD John'): these are Duffers of any rank who, through unselfish acts of public or golfing interest (for example, charitable work), have enhanced the image of Duffers everywhere. A Knight Duffer may choose to use either his 'playing' or 'honorific status', or place the letters 'KD' after his name, eg. 'Leading Duffer John, KD'. Duffers may be nominated for this status by other Duffers, with due explanation of the reasons, of course.

In the third category, we recognise the offices within each DGC Chapter, of:

President. This is an open-ended position, usually nominated by the founders of the Chapter. It can however be revoked, and a new President elected, by a majority decision of Chapter members.
Vice-President. As above for President.
Captain. This is an annual position, elected by a majority of Chapter members.

In the fourth category, we award three classes of Divot:

Gold
Silver
Bronze

In the fifth category of membership we recognise Associate Duffers:

Associate Duffers ('AD John'), are amateur golfers whose handicap is 18 or lower, and who are therefore ineligible for full DGC membership.
This status is similar to being a "Social Member" in other clubs, and affords the privileges of the Clubhouse and other facilities, but not participation in DGC competitions. It allows full DGC members to invite their low handicap friends to join the Club.
Associate Duffers whose handicap increases to 19 or more may apply for full DGC membership.
By the same token, a full DGC member whose DGC handicap improves beyond +9 (ie. 19) must relinquish full membership and become an Associate Duffer.