Associations establish effective nonjudicial methods of control and internal procedures, courts are less likely to hear individual and group disputes. Thus, as a general rule, if the constitution and bylaws of a voluntary association provide a system for a hearing and appeal of internal controversies between members, the courts will require that members exhaust the procedures before resorting to the courts.
In Bartley v. Augusta Country Club, Inc., 254 Ga. 144, 326 S.E.2d 442 (1985), the Supreme Court
of Georgia held that disciplinary matters taken by a private social club against a member are governed
by the bylaws of the club. The issue is not a matter of constitutional law.