NFU CLUB GOLFING SOCIETY
Rules
1) Name of Society
i) The name of the Society shall be: ‘NFU Club Golfing Society’.
2) Objectives
i) To promote friendship and fellowship for its members through the game of golf. To organise competitions amongst its members and matches with other similar Societies. To administer the Society and its funds within the Rules approved by the members in general meeting.
3) Membership
i) Membership is open to persons over the age of 18 years who are members of the NFU Club; members, associate members and staff of the NFU; members and staff of organisations associated with the NFU; members and staff of organisations associated with agriculture, subject to restrictions which the Society may from time to time impose.
4) Membership categories:-
Annual members
i) A person, who qualifies for election to membership, must be approved by at least one member and the Regional organiser or member of the Committee. It is a prior condition that the proposed member is a competent golfer with a CONGU handicap and will promote friendship and fellowship within the Society. Upon election and payment of the entrance fee (if any) and annual subscription, which will be set by the Society from time to time, the member will be entitled to all the privileges of membership including voting rights.
Life Members
ii) An Annual member of at least one year’s standing may, subject to the approval of the committee, pay such subscription agreed by the members in general meeting for Life membership. Upon payment of this sum, the member shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership including voting rights, without paying the annual subscription thereafter.
5) Entrance fee and subscription
i) The entrance fee, annual subscription and Life member’s subscription shall be determined by the members in general meeting.
ii) Annual subscriptions become due on the 1st January and shall be paid by standing order or direct debit, unless agreed otherwise by the committee. No person may attend a general meeting or compete in a Society event until his entrance fee (if any), annual subscription and all sums due to the Society have been paid in full.
6) Management Committee
i) The Society shall be managed by a committee elected by the members in general meeting. The committee shall comprise the following:-
ii) No more than sixteen members; a President; Vice President (s); Captain; Vice captain; Secretary and Treasurer.
iii) The Officers of the Society shall be nominated by the Committee and be subject to approval by the members in general meeting. The Captain and the Vice Captain will serve for one year.
iv) The remainder of the committee shall be subject to re-election annually by the members in general meeting, unless resigning.
v) Five members will form a quorum and shall include the Captain (or Vice captain) and the Treasurer or a member appointed by the Treasurer to act on his behalf.
vi) The committee shall have the power to co-opt and fill casual vacancies occurring during the year; any such appointments shall be valid until the next general meeting.
vii) The committee has the power to collect funds; obtain sponsorship monies; open and close bank accounts and administer financial transactions on such terms as the Committee think fit on behalf of the Society.
viii) A Chartered Accountant shall be nominated by the committee for approval by the members in general meeting.
ix) A general meeting shall be held annually on the date of the Spring Meeting, when accounts for the previous year (made up to 31st December), which have been scrutinised and approved by the Chartered Accountant, will be presented.
7) Golf rules and Handicap procedures
i) The Society shall be subject to the Rules of Golf as adopted by the Royal and Ancient Club of St Andrews including those Rules relating to Amateur status and any Local rules which may be in force at any Club where competitions are played. Only a member in possession of a CONGU handicap is permitted to compete in Society events. The Committee reserves the right to award a Society handicap using the principles of Rule 19. A maximum handicap for events and a fraction of the CONGU handicap may be imposed, at the discretion of the organisers of the event.
8) Events
i) The committee shall organise National events during the year. Usually a Spring meeting; Captain’s day and Finals day. Matches with other associated Societies shall be arranged. Regions shall administer local events and provide a competition to enable members to qualify for Finals day.
9) Competitions
i) The prizes and order of prizes shall be determined by the organisers and be available before the event. In the event of a tie first the inward nine holes; then inward six holes; then inward three holes; then last hole of the inward nine; then first hole of the outward nine shall be used to decide the order. Holes 10 – 18 of the course are considered to be the inward nine holes etc. In a 36 hole competition, the inward nine holes (10 – 18 etc) of the 18 hole competition played last by the majority of the players will be used. If competitors are evenly split, both inward nines etc of both 18 hole competitions shall be used. In the event of a tie after this process, a coin shall be tossed to determine the winner.
10) Sanctions
i) A member in breach of the Rules of the Society or conducting himself or herself in such a manner as is likely in the opinion of the committee to bring discredit on the Society or to cause his or her presence to be offensive to other members may be given such sanction as is deemed appropriate (including being suspended or expelled). Such person having received notice of such intention may explain his or her conduct to the committee in person or in writing. The committee shall give a fair hearing to such member.
11) Dress
i) Members shall adhere to the dress code of any Golf Club at which an event organised by or on behalf of the Society is being played.
12) English Golf Union
i) During such period as the committee agree to pay the subscription to the English Golf Union (EGU) annually on the 1st November for Associate membership, the following conditions apply:-
ii) The Society recognises the EGU as the Governing body for men’s amateur golf within England and as such recognises its authority to govern the game.
iii) The Society agrees to accept the conditions as laid down by the EGU in respect of the EGU Associate Golf Society scheme and agree to adopt such changes as may from time to time be determined by the EGU.
iv) The Society agrees to advise the EGU of any change of Officers.
v) The Society agrees to keep full records of members and resignations; competitions and handicaps of members as determined by the EGU and to provide those records on request within the terms of the Society’s Privacy Statements so far as that action is permitted within the Data Protection Regulations 2018 and any other relevant legislation.
13) General
i) Any alteration to these rules shall be made at a general meeting and must be approved by at least two thirds of the members present and voting. Written notice of any proposed amendment must be given to the Secretary at least 31 days before the next general meeting.
