The RULES of the SOCIETY.

1 NAME.
1.1 The name of the society shall be “THE INCHES GOLF SOCIETY”, herein after referred to as “TIGS”.
2 THE ROYAL & ANCIENT GOLF CLUB.
2.1 The society recognises the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews as the ruling authority for determining the rules of golf.
3 THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SOCIETY
3.1 The object of the society is to play competitive golf.
3.2 To run tournaments, society days & league championship.
3.3 To maintain a uniform system of handicapping for all members.
4 MEMBERSHIP.
4.1 The Membership shall consist of “Members” & “Honorary life members”.
4.1.1 The Members shall be deemed to be those members who have paid in full the annual subscription as decided at by the A.G.M.
4.1.2 All members must abide by the rules of the Society & shall be deemed to have accepted them upon payment of their joining fee.
4.2 Admission to membership.
4.2.1 New members must be proposed by a member, seconded by another member & then approved by the committee.
4.2.2 A new member will only be accepted upon payment of all appropriate monies as nominated in the rules & decided by at the A.G.M.
4.3 Resignation of membership.
4.3.1 A member shall remain a member unless he resigns his membership in accordance with the rules.
4.3.2 A member who wishes to leave the society must inform the committee of his intention & give at least 6 weeks notice.
4.4 Honorary members.
4.4.1 Honorary life membership shall be deemed to be such persons the committee may wish to honour in recognition of services to it & who are no longer deemed to be actively participating in the Order of Merit.
4.4.2 Only the committee has the power to vote in honorary members according to their own criteria.
4.4.3 Honorary members shall have their joining fee returned & will be exempt from rule 6.5, 6.6, 6.10 & 6.11
4.5 Expulsion of a member.
4.5.1 The committee have the right to exclude a member for gross misconduct or bringing the society into disrepute.
4.5.2 The committee reserve the right to determine what is gross misconduct or actions bringing the society into disrepute.
4.5.3 The following course of action shall be undertaken by the committee:
a) Warned verbally by a committee member of their misconduct.
b) Brought before a committee hearing & formally warned of their misconduct or given some disciplinary measure.
c) Receive written confirmation that their membership has been revoked
4.5.4 Any expelled member has the right to appeal under rule 15.
5 MEMBER’S THIRD PARTY LIABILITIES.
5.1 Participants of the golfing events shall assume all risks incidental to or inherent in the game of golf and are required to arrange his/her own insurance cover for third party liabilities or subscribe to the Insurance cover recommended by the office bearers.
5.2 If subscribing to the Insurance cover recommended by the office bearers, participants shall be deemed to have read the insurance policy terms and conditions and deemed them sufficient to cover their needs and shall not hold TIGS or its office bearers liable for any damages or losses, resulting from any failings in the policy.
6 JOINING, SUBSCRIPTION, TOURNAMENT & VISITOR’S FEES.
6.1 The society’s financial year shall run from 1st November to the 31stOctober.
6.2 The joining fee & the appropriate cleared funds shall be of the same value & shall be determined at by the AGM.
6.3 All new members must pay the joining fee as set at the AGM.
6.3.1 This is a fully refundable fee within the context of the rules.
6.4 All new members must pay a £10.00 trophy fee when they join the society.
6.4.1 This is a non-refundable fee & any fee paid not going towards a trophy will be deemed to be part of society’s funds.
6.5 All new & existing members must pay the annual subscription fee as decided at the A.G.M
6.5.1 Any subscription fee paid shall be non-refundable other than by the provisions of these rules.
6.5.2 The Treasurer shall declare the Subscription fee due for the following season at the AGM. This must be approved by the membership at the AGM.
6.6 All new & existing members must pay the annual Players fee as decided at the AGM.
6.6.1 Any Players fee paid shall be non-refundable other than by the provisions of these rules.
6.6.2 The Treasurer shall declare the Players fee due for the following season at the AGM. This must be approved by the membership at the AGM.
6.7 All new & existing members must pay an annual insurance fee as decided at the AGM. However, please also see 6.7.2
6.7.1 The Treasurer shall declare the insurance fee due for the following season at the AGM. This must be approved by the membership at the AGM.
6.7.2 A member has the right to not pay the insurance fee, provided they can prove that they already have valid and appropriate golf insurance.
6.8 The treasurer shall declare how much each member needs to pay to restore each members value back up to the appropriate cleared funds at the A.G.M. & all members must pay this before the start of the next season.
6.8.1 After this date any member that does not have sufficient monies in the society’s current account will have their membership suspended, no deposit shall be paid on their behalf & they will not be allowed to play until the necessary funds have reached the treasurer.
6.9 During the season the committee reserve the right to decide that it would be unsafe to carry on paying deposits for a member who fails to keep appropriate cleared funds in the current account.
6.9.1 That member will not be allowed to play until funds are made available.
6.10 All new & existing members are deemed ‘active members and will be liable to pay the annual subscription, Players fee and insurance fee until such time that member either ‘freezes’ their account, leaves the society or is expelled from the society.
6.10.1 Every member has the right to ‘freeze their account at any time. Freezing of an account means that prior to the start of a new season the treasurer will notdeduct any further monies from that members account until that member informs the committee that they wish to ‘re-activate’ their account or leave the society.
6.10.2 If a member does not contact the committee to request that their account be frozen, the committee will assume that they are ‘active’ members and will continue to take the subscription fee, tournament fee and insurance costs from their accounts on an annual basis until that members account has been emptied or until such time that member informs us they wish to ‘freeze’ their account or leave the society.
6.11 It is a members responsibility to pay on demand any costs incurred by the society on their behalf.
6.12 The Committee at their discretion are allowed to award a discount on the subscription fee upon prompt payment
6.13 A visitors fee (if applicable) shall be payable by the visitor on the day of the event.
6.13.1 The Treasurer shall declare at the AGM whether a visitors fee is applicable for the following season. This must be approved by the membership at the AGM.
6.13.2 Visitors who pay the visitors fee (if applicable) are allowed to play in the tournament of the day but their results will have no standing.
6.14 At every event all members (except honorary members) must pay the tournament fee set at the A.G.M.
6.14.1 The tournament fee payable for the following season shall be decided upon at the AGM.
6.14.2 The tournament fee collected shall be distributed in a manner decided upon at the A.G.M.
6.14.3 At all events where a tournament fee is collected and visitors are permitted, visitors are only permitted to play for the nearest the pin, longest drive and 2’s club competitions.
7 PROFIT.
7.1 The society is a non profit making society & any profit made over a season shall be return to the members.
7.1.1 Monies going into an AGM approved fund shall not be deemed as profit.
7.2 The treasurer shall at the AGM declare how much profit has been made and upon approval by the A.G.M distribute any proceeds equally by all members.
7.3 Members are at liberty to withdraw the extra cash or leave it in the funds of the society.
7.4 The treasurer shall keep an account of all monies left in the accounts, as regards each member, & make details of this account readily available to any member that wishes to see it.
7.5 Any loss made during the year shall be declared at the A.G.M. & all “Members” shall share an equal share.
8 ADDITIONAL MONIES.
8.1 Additional monies can be paid in by a member at any time.
8.2 Additional monies are deemed to be any monies over & above the appropriate cleared funds held by a member within the society funds.
8.3 Any additional monies acquired or paid in by members shall be treated as separate and used only to pay off that member’s debt.
8.4 The treasurer shall keep an accurate figure for each member, who can request to know the amount, at any point.
8.5 In the event that the society folds or terminates these extra monies shall be returned to the member who paid them in.
8.6 Any additional monies can be taken out of the account with 2 weeks notice to the treasurer.
9 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
9.1 The society will hold an annual general meeting (A.G.M) in October, November or December of each year. The committee will give at least 3 weeks notice to all members when proposing a date for the AGM.
9.2 Any decision made at the A.G.M will be final providing at least five members are present & a committee can be found.
9.3 A simple majority vote will carry any issue.
9.4 Proxy votes are not permitted.
9.5 The “Chairman” will not be allowed to vote on any issue although he will be allowed to propose issues on behalf of the committee.
9.6 In the event of a stalemate situation over any issue the “Chairman” will have the casting vote.
9.7 Any proposal to change a “Society Rule” must be submitted to the committee at least 4 weeks prior to the A.G.M & all members must be notified as to the proposed rule change.
9.8 The agenda of the A.G.M will be:
a) Approve the annual statements of accounts. (profit/loss)
b) Approve the Treasurer report.
c) Approve the Secretary’s report.
d) Approve the Club Captain’s report.
e) Elect the new committee.
f) Any other business.
10 THE COMMITTEE
10.1 The elected committee will consist of:
The Chairman, the Treasurer, the Secretary & the Club Captain.
10.2 “The Chairman” will act as the society chairman.
He will chair all committee meetings, the A.G.M & an E.G.M.
He is not allowed to vote at the A.G.M or an E.G.M.
He is allowed to vote in a committee meeting.
If a stalemate situation arises at an A.G.M, E.G.M. or a committee meeting, he will have the casting vote.
10.3 “The Treasurer” will act as the society treasurer.
He will look after the funds of the society & the payment of any monies thereof.
He will keep a record of the profits fund & make it readily available.
He will collect subscriptions, tournament money & payoff where appropriate.
He will perform these duties as per the Rule of the society.
10.4 “The Club Captain” will select appropriate venues & dates, & run society days.
He can call upon any helpers at anytime.
He must notify all members about the various tournaments & society days.
10.5 “The Secretary” will be the society secretary.
He will act as society statistician.
He will write the minutes of the A.G.M, the committee minutes & will notify members when & where the A.G.M will be held.
10.6 Committee members can only be removed at the A.G.M or at an E.G.M or if they resign.
10.7 Should a committee member resign, he can be replaced with another society member without the need for an E.G.M as long as a majority of the remaining committee agrees to the new committee member.
11 POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE
11.1 Without prejudice to the generality of these rules the committee will be in charge of the day to day running of the society.
11.2 They will format & organize all the tournaments.
11.3 They will make sure that all monies due are paid or appropriate action is taken.
11.4 They will set each member handicaps as per the handicapping rules.
11.5 They will where necessary take action against those members who contravene society rules & penalize members in a fashion of their choosing.
11.6 They will deal with any matter not otherwise provided for in & to decide on the interpretation of these rules
11.7 The committee will endeavour to run the following competitions:
The Singles Matchplay, the Player’s Championship, the INCHES Open, the Masters & an Order Of Merit
11.8 The committee has the right to change the exact format of each tournament within the guidelines of any adopted proposal at the AGM.
11.9 The committee will endeavour to hold the number of society days as agreed, at the AGM.
12 EXTRA ORDINARY MEETING
12.1 An “Extra-ordinary General Meeting” (E.G.M) can be used to sort out any problem, which cannot wait until the next A.G.M and which is deemed to effect the society.
12.2 An E.G.M. can be called by
a) Any member providing they obtain four other members written approval.
b) The committee.
c) Any member appealing against a committee decision regarding expulsion from the society.
12.3 A call for an E.G.M. must be submitted to the secretary who must then organize the E.G.M.
12.4 All members must be notified of the date & venue.
12.5 The success or failure of an E.G.M issue is by simple majority vote of all members present at the E.G.M.
12.6 All committee members are allowed an equal vote.
12.7 There is no minimum number of members required for an EGM to be valid.
13 TOURNAMENT PROCEDURES & FUNDING OF
13.1 It is the responsibility of each member to advise the club Captain if they cannot play, in any of the tournament or society days.
13.2 The Captain will always assume that members can play unless told otherwise.
13.3 The member must meet any costs incurred by the society due to members failing to inform the Captain fully.
13.4 Members must go through the club captain if they have guests they would like to play in any of the society or tournament days.
13.5 The member that contacts the Captain will be financially responsible for any guest they introduce.
13.5.1 Any guest of a member will be required to pay the appropriate visitors fee.
13.5.2 Non-members are allowed to play at the committee’s discretion.
13.6 In the eventuality that a member or a member’s visitor can no longer play the member must phone the club captain.
13.7 The club captain will endeavour to fill the space vacated by the member or try & receive back any monies paid on his behalf from the golf club.
13.8 If the captain cannot do either then the member shall be financially responsible for any costs incurred.
14 LEAVING OR BEING EXPELLED FROM THE SOCIETY
14.1 If a member’s decides to leave the society he shall receive back:
His joining fee / the appropriate cleared funds.
His share of the profit fund as declared at the previous AGM’s,
Minus any monies owed to the society
Minus any unforeseen costs incurred by the society.
14.2 The member has the right to forfeit or play in any “Tournament &/or society day” already paid for but which cannot be reclaimed by the society.
14.3 A member which has his membership revoked in accordance with the rules has the right to receive back:
His joining fee / the appropriate cleared funds
His share of the profit fund as declared at the previous AGM’s
Minus any monies owed to the society
Minus any unforeseen costs incurred by the society.
14.4 The member will lose all rights to play in any “Tournament &/or society day” already paid for but which cannot be reclaimed by the society.
14.5 The committee reserves the right to either:
Reimburse any deposit that cannot be reclaimed out of club funds or allow the member to play on the day but not in the competition.
14.6 In all cases of a member leaving or being expelled, no money will be returned to that member, until all trophies that belong to the society & are in his possession, have been returned.
15 RIGHT OF APPEAL
15.1 A member who has his membership revoked by the committee has the right to call an E.G.M.
15.2 The committee will outline their reasons for expelling the member from the society & the member then has the right to reply.
15.3 Only members present at the E.G.M. have the right to vote & the result will be by simple majority decision of those members present, including the member being excluded.
15.4 The committee will not be allowed to vote in any decision regarding expulsion of a member.
16 DISSOLVING THE SOCIETY
16.1 In the event of the society folding, the following scenario will take place:
a) An E.G.M. must be called & a vote to fold the society taken.
b) A simple majority vote of those members present is all that is required to formally fold the society.
c) All monies held in society funds over & above the appropriate cleared funds shall be returned to the appropriate member who has monies in the fund regardless of the financial status of the society.
d) The treasurer shall declare all monies held in the current account & all monies outstanding.
e) In a profitable situation every member will receive an equal share of the club funds.
f) In a non-profitable situation every member will pay an equal share of the deficit.