CLUB RULE BOOK
Spa Golf Club Rules
NAME OF CLUB
1. The name shall be Spa Golf Club.
OBJECTS OF CLUB
2. The objects of the club shall be to provide and maintain a Golf course and Clubhouse, to promote and encourage the playing of golf and such other sports and pastimes as may from time to time be agreed, and generally to promote facilities for recreation and social activities amongst the members.
COLOURS
3. The Club colours shall be Navy Blue and Gold.
MEMBERSHIP
4. The Club shall consist of Full, Honorary, Weekday, Associate, Intermediate, Juvenile, House and Temporary members, all as defined in these rules.
OFFICERS OF THE CLUB
5. The Officers of the Club shall be the President, Vice-President, Captain, Vice-Captain, Immediate Past Captain, Honorary Secretary,
Honorary Treasurer.
TRUSTEES
6. (a)The property and effects of the Club shall be vested in three Trustees who shall hold such property and effects in Trust for the Full members of the Club. The Trustees shall (in so far as the assets of the Club may be deficient for that purpose) be indemnified by the members for the time being of the Club against liability and expense incurred by them by reason of their position as Trustees unless the same occurs through their own wilful default.
(b)The Trustees shall, when authorised by a Resolution passed by a majority of the members present and voting at a General Meeting, sell, lease, grant, demise, mortgage or charge any of the property and effects of the Club vested in them, and execute all documents necessary to effect same. The minutes of the meeting at which such Resolution is passed shall, when confirmed, be evidence of such authority.
(c)The club shall not be conducted for profit and any surplus of income over expenditure in any year shall be used and applied for the benefit of all the members
(d)If at any General Meeting a resolution for the dissolution of the Club is passed by a majority of the Full members present and at a Special Meeting held not less than four weeks later (of which not less than two weeks written notice has been given to each member) and at which not less than one half of the full members are present that resolution is confirmed by a resolution passed by a majority of two thirds of the full members voting on it, the Council must immediately, or at such future date as is specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the property of the Club and after the discharge of all liabilities must divide such property equally among all members irrespective of their voting rights, and on the completion of the division of the Club will be dissolved.
(e)There shall be no distribution in any manner whatsoever of the profits/surplus arising from any of the activities of the Club including the supply of intoxicating liquor and other goods and services or a distribution of any assets which belong to the Club whilst the Club continues to operate as a Club under these Rules.
(f)Upon the winding up of the Club the assets of the Club after the payment of all debts and liabilities shall be distributed equally among all the members at the date of the Resolution of the Club to wind up irrespective of their voting rights.
7. Each trustee appointed shall remain in office for a period of 3 years and shall be eligible for re-election for a further and final 3 years unless removed under rule 15(b).
A Trustee appointed prior to November 1993 shall remain in office until his death or resignation or removed under rule 15(b).
8. In the event of a vacancy occurring among the Trustees this vacancy shall be filled by nomination and the name submitted to a General Meeting for approval.
9. Only Full and Honorary members shall be eligible for nomination to the Office 0f Trustee. A Trustee cannot be a member of the Council of the club.
10. The Council of the Club shall consist of
(a) The Officers of the Club.
(b) Six other members who shall be Full or Honorary members
(c) The General Manager,who shall also be an ex-officio and non voting Member of the Council ( and who shall be indemnified by the Club against personal liability resulting from any actions,risks and expenses incurred by the discharge of his duties in a reasonable manner.)
11. All Officers and members of Council shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting.
12. The names of the six members of Council shall be listed at the Annual General Meeting.
(a)The two members whose names are highest on the list shall be deemed to have retired and shall not be eligible for election at that meeting.
(b)Two members of Council shall be elected and their names placed at the foot of the list of six members of Council and the said elected members shall thereupon hold office until the Annual General Meeting three years following the date of their election.
13. A Council member who fails to attend without due cause shall cease to be a member of Council.
14. The procedure for the election of Officers and Members of Council shall be as follows:
(a)The name of each candidate as Officer or as Member of Council shall be proposed in writing to the Secretary by a Full or Honorary member of the Club, and seconded by another such member.
(b)The proposal shall contain a statement as to the capacity for which the candidate is proposed and signed by the candidate indicating his willingness to act in that capacity.
(c)Proposals shall be delivered to the Secretary not later than 30th September immediately preceding the date of the Annual General
Meeting.
(d)Proposals properly made in accordance with this Rule shall be displayed on the Club notice board for a period of at least twenty one days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.
(e)The Agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall give details of the said proposals. At the meeting a proposal shall not be disqualified by the absence of the proposer, seconder or candidate therefrom.
(f)A candidate shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting by a vote of the members present.
15.(a)A member of Council (other than a Trustee) on ceasing to be a member of the Club shall cease to hold Office.
(b)A member of Council may be removed from Office by Resolution of a General Meeting of the Club.
16. In the event of a casual vacancy occurring Council shall have the power to co-opt a member who shall act until the following Annual General Meeting.
MANAGEMENT
17. The management of the Club shall, subject to the overriding direction of a General Meeting, be under control of Council.
DUTIES OF COUNCIL
18. (a)Council shall hold meetings at regular intervals not less than ten times each year.
(b)The Honorary Secretary or the Officer deputising for him shall give each Council member at least 48 hours notice of every meeting by circular which shall state the business to be considered.
19. The Chair at each meeting shall be taken by the Captain, or in his absence by the Vice-Captain and in the absence of both by such member as Council may appoint.
The Chairman shall have a casting vote to be used at his discretion.
20. The quorum at each meeting of Council shall be eight.
21.(a)Council shall have control of the finances of the Club; engage, control and dismiss all employees(subject always to the provisions of the Employment Rights (N.I)Order 1996 and any amendments thereto and to the general law.) supply refreshments and have all such power as may be necessary for properly carrying out the objectives of the Club in accordance with these rules and as far as they are applicable, the provisions of the Registration of Clubs (N.I.) Order 1996 and the Registration of Clubs(Accounts Regulations (N.I.) 1997.
(b)The Council shall have the power to make, vary or rescind such bye-laws and Regulations (consistent with the Rules) and to give such orders and directions as they may consider necessary for the wellbeing of the Club.
(c)The Council may appoint sub-committees (not necessarily members of the Council) to meet under the Chairmanship of a member of Council and delegate to any such sub-committee or the General Manager any of its powers except the election or removal of members of the club.
(d)If at any time the Club in General Meetings passes a resolution authorising the Council to borrow money:-
(1) The Council may borrow for the purposes of the Club the amount of money(either at one time or from time to time) and at the rate of interest, in the form and manner and upon the security specified in the resolution, and
(2) the Trustees must at the direction of Council make any disposition of the Club property or any part of it and enter in to any agreement in relation to the Club property as the Council thinks proper to give security for the loan and interest.
(3) Every member of the Club whether he votes on a resolution authorising borrowing or not, and everyone becoming a member of the Club after the passing of such a resolution,is deemed to have assented to the resolution as if he had voted in favour of it.
22. The Secretary shall keep:-
(a) A file in which he shall enter minutes of the proceedings of all General and Council Meetings.
(b) A record on the premises of the names and addresses of the Officers and members of the Club.
23 The Treasurer shall keep accounts showing the receipts and disbursements of the Club. He shall present a statement for the Club's previous financial year ending 30 September duly audited by a Chartered Accountant or a member of the Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants to the Annual General Meeting in compliance with the Registration of Clubs(Accounts)Regulations 1997.
QUALIFICATION AND ELECTION OF MEMBERS
The Club shall operate an equal opportunities policy and no-one shall be denied the right to equal access to its facilities on the grounds of race, creed, colour, gender, disability, occupation, religion, or sexual or political persuasion.
Henceforth there shall be no distinction between men and women as canditates for admission to full membership.
Existing or new Lady members shall have the right to elect either to become a Full member or remain as an Associate member.
24. A person shall be eligible for membership of the Club either as:-
(a) A Full member, which term shall mean a male member of twentyone years of age or more at 1st March; or
(b) An Intermediate member, which term shall mean a male member of more than eighteen years of age and less than twentyone years of age at 1st March; or
(c) An Associate member, which term shall mean a female member of eighteen years of age at 1st March; or
(d) Weekday Member, which term shall mean a male member of 21 years of age or more who is entitled to privileges of the Clubhouse but shall be restricted to playing golf on the course Monday to Friday (inclusive). They will not be allowed to play the course on Saturday or Sunday except on payment of the appropriate green fee. Weekday members are not allowed to vote at any meeting of the Club.
(e) A Juvenile member, which term shall mean a member of less than eighteen years of age at 1st March; or
(f) A House member, which term shall mean a member who, by reason of the annual fee paid, is not entitled to play golf on the course or attend a General Meeting of the Club.
(g) Each proposal for membership shall be in writing and in such form and manner as Council may require. Each proposal shall be signed by a proposer and seconder, one of whom shall be an officer of the Club and the other a member, other than a Juvenile or House member.
(h) The names and addresses of persons proposed for membership shall be displayed on a conspicuous place in Club premises for at least two weeks before consideration by Council for membership.
(i) Each proposal for membership made in accordance with the
foregoing Rules shall be considered by Council, whose decision shall be final.
(j) A person whose proposal for membership is accepted by Council shall become a member on payment of such entrance fee and annual subscription as shall have been determined by a General Meeting of the Club. Thereafter the annual subscription in respect of each administrative year commencing 1st March or before that date.
(k) Each applicant on election to membership shall be supplied with a copy of the Rules of the Club, after which they shall be bound thereby.
(l) Persons shall not be admitted in such numbers to membership not carrying rights of voting in relation to affairs of the Club as will result in the number of members not having such rights being more than three times the number of members having such rights.
(m) Council shall have the right to waive the Entrance Fee.
(n) Any ommission from or inaccuracy in the particulars furnished to the Secretary may at the Council's discretion invalidate proposal and any election made in consequence of it.
(o) Members upon reaching the age of 65 with 15 years continuous membership will qualify for a 50% reduction in their annual subscription.
(p) Any new member joining the Club after the 1st January 2000 will not qualify for any reduction in annual subscription upon reaching the age of 60 for females and age 65 for males.
HONORARY MEMBERS
25. As a mark of appreciation for outstanding services to the Club or Golf in general, a General Meeting may elect any member to Honorary Membership and that person shall not thereafter be liable to pay an entrance fee or annual subscription.
TEMPORARY MEMBERS
26. (a) A temporary member is;
1. A person participating in a competition or match arranged by the Club; or
2. A person who has signed the Green Fees book and has paid the appropriate fee.
(b) Council shall have the right to refuse the admission of any person as a temporary member.
(c) Where a member of the Club introduces a person to temporary membership at the reduced fee, such member shall sign the Green Fees book opposite the name of the person introduced and shall play in the company of the temporary member.
(d) Council may by regulation limit the number of temporary members who may be introduced by a member of the Club.
(e) A Temporary member shall have no voice in the management of the Club or be permitted to introduce visitors or be entitled to play in Club competitions.
The Council shall have the right to prevent any person visiting the Club as a Temporary Member at any time.
Discipline/Removal of Members
27. (a)In the event of any member wilfully acting contrary to Rules and Regulations of the Club, or in the event of any Member conducting himself, either in or out of the Club premises, so as, in the opinion of Council to injure or discredit the character of the Club, the Honorary Secretary shall communicate with such Member and inform him that a Special Meeting of Council will be held to to consider the complaint made against him and notifying him that he may attend thereat to explain his conduct. Sufficient time will be allowed before the meeting to afford the Member a proper opportunity of offering his explanation.
(b)At the meeting the member will be allowed to offer an explanation of his conduct verbally or in writing. If a two-thirds majority of the meeting, at which not less than eight Members of the Council shall be present, consider it be expedient that he should resign, he shall have the option of doing so within seven days, and should he fail to do so within that time; he shall be
he shall be expelled bt the Council from the Club, and, on such expulsion, shall forfeit all rights to or claim upon the Club or its property or funds. If a two-thirds majority at such a meeting consider it expedient that he should not resign but be suspended from the Club for a period of time then the Council may suspend such Member from his Membership for such a time as they think fit.
(f)In the event of any temporary member or a visitor to the Club acting in a manner which Council considers is in any way objectionable, Council may debar such person from the Clubhouse and the Course.
RESIGNATION
28(a) Any member who has not paid their current annual subscription by 31st March shall be deemed to have resigned and reinstatement to membership shall be at the discretion of Council.
(b) Any member may resign his/her membership by giving notice in writing to that effect to the Secretary.
(c) Every such notice must, unless otherwise expressed, be deemed to take effect as from the next day following its receipt provide that any member giving such notice after the first day of in any year will be liable for all subscription arrears to the date of his/her resignation.
(d) On ceasing to be a member of the Club a person forfeits all rights to and claims upon the Club and its property and funds.
Recovery of Debts Due to the Club
28(e) The Honorary Treasurer for the time being shall be authorised to sue on behalf of the Club, when directed by Council to do so, and the Minutes of the Meeting at which direction was given shall be evidence of authority.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
29. The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 3rd Wednesday in December, at such time and place as Council shall arrange, to receive various annual reports from Council in respect of the preceding year, and to transact any business that may arise.
30. Notice of the Annual General Meeting and the business to be transacted thereat shall be given to the members by circular not less than seven days before the date of the meeting.
31. A member who wishes to bring a Resolution before an Annual General he intends to propose and such notice shall be given not later than 30th September preceding the date of such meeting.
32. The Chairman at an Annual General Meeting shall have the power to refuse the transaction of any business or the proposal of any Resolution not on the Agenda or not the subject of notice in accordance with Rule 31.
33. At the Annual General Meeting the Chair shall be taken by the Captain, or in his absence by the Vice-Captain and in the absence of both by such member as the meeting may appoint. The Chairman shall have a casting vote to be used at his discretion.
34. Only, Full and Honorary members are permitted to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting.
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
35. The Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting when directed by Council, or when required to do so by a requisition signed by at least one hundred Full or Honorary members. Notice of such meeting and of the business to be transacted thereat shall be given to members by circular not less than seven days before the date of the meeting.
36. For the purpose of a Special General Meeting. Rules 30, 33 and 34 shall apply as if the word "Special" was substituted therein for the word "Annual".
METHOD OF VOTING
37. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. Should a majority of the members present wish any question under discussion to be put to a vote by secret ballot, that method will be adopted.
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