About Us

Elburton Golf Society

Constitution

 Contents:

1.               Objectives.

2.               Membership / Fees.

3.               Committee.

4.               Handicap Procedures.

5.               Notice of Play / Fixture List.

6.               Rules.

7.               Dress.

8.               Miscellaneous

a.      Transport

b.     Discipline/Sanction Procedures

c.      Prizes

d.     Dissolution

e.      Meetings

 1.        Objectives:

Elburton Golf Societies objectives are to provide a friendly gathering of all Golfers no matter what Handicap for the enjoyment of a social but competitive round of golf (under the rules of the R&A) on a monthly basis  from March to October each year. Each competition will be played using the Stableford Method of Scoring (rule 32 1b of the Rules of golf) or unless otherwise stated (club Matches etc.)

2.        Membership / Fees:

The Society is open to all golfers subject to approval by the committee. The annual fee is £10.00, paid either at the start of each season or upon joining the society. All fees / joining monies are to be paid to the Secretary. Guests will pay the stated cost of that days Golf, or if they so wish to do so, join the society. Society members playing at their own Registered club will be charged a nominal fee to maintain prize monies etc, but will not be required to pay Course Fees. All monies remaining at the end of each season will be disposed of as agreed by the Committee through the Societies Members.

3.        Committee:

The committee will be re-elected each year. It was decided that a committee of Five (President (honouree role with casting vote), Captain, Vice-Captain, Secretary and Treasurer) would run the Society jointly, ensuring that all aspects of the Societies needs are run in a professional manner. The nominated Secretary, will deal with all correspondence matters and maintain the Handicap spread sheet, along with Fixtures, Transport, Food, AGM’s etc. The Treasurer will deal with all aspects of money collections and payments and is to maintain an Auditable log of all transactions, along with posting frequent statements for the members. The Committee under the guidance of its Captain, is to ensure that all aspects of finance or any actions taken are well posted for all members to see.

4.        Handicap Procedures:

As of 2006 season, handicaps will be run i.a.w. the R&A guidelines which are as follows:

The competition committee will perform the following calculations:

1. Compute a ‘Competition Scratch Score’ (CSS) for the competition,

2. Calculate a ‘nett differential’ for each player. This is the difference between the players’ nett score (score less current handicap) and the CSS,

3. If the competition is a medal round, possibly adjust the nett differentials under ‘Stableford Adjustment’,

4. Use each players’ nett differential to adjust their handicap according to the following formula:

Handicap of player Buffer Zone Nett Differentials below zero Nett Differentials above buffer zone

Category 1: 0 to +1 Handicap reduced by 0.1 for each stroke Nett Differential is below zero Handicap increased by 0.1

Handicaps up to 5

Category 2: 0 to +2 Handicap reduced by 0.2 for each stroke Nett Differential is below zero Handicap increased by 0.1

Handicaps 6 to 12

Category 3: 0 to +3 Handicap reduced by 0.3 for each stroke Nett Differential is below zero Handicap increased by 0.1

Handicaps 13 to 20

Category 4: 0 to +4 Handicap reduced by 0.4 for each stroke Nett Differential is below zero Handicap increased by 0.1

Handicaps 21 to 28

Category 5: 0 to +5 (*) Handicap reduced by 0.5 for each stroke Nett Differential is below zero (*) Handicap increased by 0.1 (*)

Handicaps 29 to 36 (*)

(*) Category 5 only applies to Ladies. Men's CONGU® Handicaps stop at 28.

Where the Nett Differential is within Buffer Zone, no adjustment to handicap is made.

What is a ‘General Play’ adjustment?

A General Play change is a manual adjustment of a player’s handicap usually made by the Handicap Committee of a Club. These manual adjustments are required to be made when the player’s "Home Club considers that a player’s Exact Handicap is too high and does not reflect his current playing ability".

Are there limits on adjustments made under ‘General Play’?

There is no maximum amount a Handicap Committee may cut a player’s handicap under General Play. However, a minimum of 1 whole stroke applies in England, Scotland and Wales.

Handicap Committees may not reduce the handicap of a category 1 player nor may a category 2 handicap be cut into a category 1 without agreement from their ‘Area Authority’ (typically their County Union). They will need to enter a password into any software they are running to complete the adjustment. The password should be obtained from the club's Area Authority.

Handicap Committees can also increase handicaps under General Play. This is not very common and under some circumstances is subject to prior agreement from the ‘Area Authority’.

How does the Committee decide what adjustments to make under General Play?

When making a General Play change, the Handicap Committee is required to set the Handicap to a value that matches the player’s "current playing ability". How the committee determines an appropriate value is the subject of much debate!

The following guidelines are laid down in the Handicapping Scheme:

The committee shall consider all available information. In particular

• How frequently the player has returned scores in competitions to or near to their handicap,

• How the player has performed in non-qualifying competitions, such as match-play knockouts, Fourball Better Ball competitions, etc.,

• If any stroke play competition scores have been unduly affected by one or more particularly bad holes.

The Handicap Committee are advised to deal more severely to Handicaps for those players which it knows their standard of play is improving rather than those who have returned some low scores but whose general playing ability is not improving.

The Handicap Committee may NOT apply any formula to the calculations made under General Play.

Part Five (Decisions), Decision 15 of the regulations identifies that a single low score is not sufficient evidence alone to justify a General Play reduction.

Peter H. Wilson (an English Golf Union representative to CONGU) provided further insight for clubs when he penned an article in "English Golf", the English Golf Union’s journal in May 1998. Although these related to the previous CONGU Handicapping scheme, they remain relevant for the Unified Handicapping System. Included in his article were the following points:

Handicap adjustments under Clause 19 ("General Play") should be made in the following circumstances:

1. Exceptionally, where a player is trying to achieve a handicap higher than his ability justifies,

2. Where a player returns poor scores in Handicap Qualifying Competitions, but has been successful in Match play and Best-ball events,

3. A player whose standard is clearly improving and who has returned two or more scores well below his handicap in a short period of time,

4. A player who, because of health or advancing age, is quite unable to play to his current handicap and does not compete in enough competitions for his handicap to be adjusted accordingly.

An example of (3) was given whereby a category 3 or 4 player who returns two nett differentials of –5, say, in quick succession should have an aggregate reduction of 5 strokes taken from their handicap.

5.        Notice of Play / Fixture List:

Each month a ‘Notice of Play’ will be posted  by Email, and will close on the Friday before the competition (see fixture list). The ‘Notice of Play’ will define Date, Venue, Timings, Costs, Buggies, Food arrangements and if necessary Transport arrangements. On the Day before the competition, the ‘Notice of Play’ will be posted by email. Once this final ‘Notice of Play’ has been posted, all players will be liable for costs, except in special circumstances when it is beyond their control not to play. The provisional Fixture list will be put forward to the members at the beginning of each season (AGM), once agreed upon, the fixtures are to be confirmed by the committee, costed and printed for all members to see. It is the responsibility of the committee to confirm all aspects of each venue in plenty of time to ensure the smooth running of the society.

6.        Rules:

The Society will conduct itself in accordance with the Rules of Golf as laid down by the R&A. All members are to abide by the local rules of golf as laid down by each visited course, and respect their Club Rules to the fullest. Members are to try to avoid slow play when ever possible, and to seek advice where necessary on the ‘Rules of Golf’ if in any doubt about a situation that you find yourself or playing partner in. If in any doubt at all, record what you have done, carry on and the committee will decide what actions are required if at all.

7.        Dress:

All members are to abide by the local dress rules as laid down by each visited club. Society members are expected to wear the ‘Societies Logo’ shirts whilst either playing or at the function afterwards.

8.        Miscellaneous:

a.        Transport – On occasions when Transport is required, the Committee will post along with the ‘Notice of Play’ a list for those requiring transport. The club may, with the members vote, subsidise the cost of the transport to an amount agreed upon. Once a member puts down for transport, that member will be liable for the costs involved whether travelling or not.

b.       Discipline/Sanction Procedures – Should the Society determine that Disciplinary action be taken against a member, the following procedure must be followed. All evidence and statements are to be clearly recorded. Notice is to be given to the member in order for that member to prepare his/her defence. The Committees decision on the outcome of such procedures is final, and shall be recorded and placed on file. (Formal appeals to be forwarded to the committee)

c.        Prizes – Prizes will be kept to a minimum and consistent throughout the season. They will be awarded as follows: Winner, Runner Up, Longest Drive, Nearest the Pin. Minor prizes will also be awarded, as seen by the committee/sponsor. A 2 club competition will be run at each venue. A sum of £1.00 to  enter and anyone getting a 2 club will share the Money.  Should no one get a 2 club then the Money will go back into the club funds for disposal as seen fit by the committee.

d.       Dissolution of the Society – In the event of dissolution of the society, the funds, assets and properties of the Society shall be distributed as directed by the Committee following an E.G.M

e.        Meetings – (A quorum is to consist of at least 2 committee plus 2 full members with the casting vote going to the President)The society will call an AGM at the beginning of each year (normally February) to re-elects its officers and to lay down the proposed programme of events for the forth coming season. It is at this time only that proposed changes to the constitution are to be made. The committee will meet on a regular basis to ensure that the Society is being run smoothly. Should an extra ordinary meeting (EGM) be necessary, all members are to be given two weeks notice of that meeting and an agenda is to be posted. It must be noted that at an extra ordinary meeting, only the items on the agenda are to be discussed.