Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs

RULES AND REGULATIONS

 Revised February 2006

1. The Union shall be called the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs.   The Union is a non-profit-making organisation and the assets and income, including any surpluses, shall be used to maintain and implement the objects of the Union.   On a winding-up of the Union no surplus shall be distributed other than to other non-profit-making or charitable body or bodies to be nominated by the Executive Committee and approved by the Council.
2. (A) The Union shall consist of:
1. Affiliated Golf Clubs which:
1. have a Constitution and Rules approved by the Union.
2. recognise R&A Rules Limited as the ruling body of amateur golf and agree to abide by and implement the Rules of Golf and the Rules of Amateur Status as laid down from time to time by that ruling body.
3. undertake to conform to the Rules and Regulations of the Union and the English Golf Union Limited and pay promptly all subscriptions due to those Unions in respect of relevant Club members and
4. undertake that control of all handicapping and competition matters are controlled by a committee or two separate committees wholly elected by the members of the Club in general meeting or by one or two such committees appointed by a General committee of the Club wholly elected by its members.
2. Individual Members comprising all male playing members of an affiliated Club irrespective of their membership category                   Any appeal against thje decision of the Executive Committee to refuse to affiliate or to disaffiliate a Club shall be made to a special meeting of the Council which may be convened  by the Executive Committee, or failing that to the next meeting of the Council, provided that notice in writing of such appeal shall have been given by the Club to the Secretary of the Union within fourteen days of the Club being notified of such decision.   The decision of the Council shall be final.
3. The objects of the Union shall be:
1. To further the interests of amateur golf.
2. To assist in maintaining a uniform system of handicapping.
3. To arrange a County Amateur VChampionship and such other championships, competitions and olf meetings as the Executive Committee, with the sanction of the Council, may from time to time decide.
4. To co-operate with R&A Rules Limited and the English Golf Union Limited to all matters relating to amateur golf.
4. The governing body shall be styled the Council, and the entire management of the Union shall be vested in it.
5. The Council shall consist of the Officers hereinafter mentioned and voting representatives from each Club of the Union on the basis of male playing members. respect of whom subscriptions have been paid to the Union.   Clubs having 200 or more members shall be entitled to two voting representatives and clubs with up to 199 members shall be entitled to one voting representative.
6. The Council shall appoint an Executive Committee to conduct the affairs of the Union between the meetings of the Council and such powers shall be vested in it as the Council may from time to time decide.
7. The Property of the Union, other than cash, shall be vested in not less than two nor more than four Trustees who shall be appointed and may be removed by the Executive Committee, and such property shall be dealt with by them as the Executive Committee may from time to time direct by resolution, of which an entry in the Minute Book shall be conclusive evidence.   A Trustee shall retire immediately on reaching the age of 80 years.
8. The Annual Meeting of the Council, which any Individual Members shall be entitled to attend, shall be held in February of each year at a venue to be decided upon by the Executive Committee for the purpose of:
1. Receiving the report of the Executive Committee on the affairs of the Union during the preceding year and the financial statements (duly audited) for the year ending on the preceding 30^th day of November.
2. Electing Officers of the Union and Members of the Executive Committee as required, and an Auditor.
3. Transacting the general business of the Union and such other special business of which not less than fourteen days’ notice shall have been given to the Secretary of the Union by one or more affiliated Clubs.
1. At least four weeks’ notice of the meeting shall be given by the Secretary to each Club in the Union.
2. Voting representatives of twelve Clubs shall form a quorum at all meetings of the Council.
3. The election of the Executive Committee shall be by ballot of Club Voting representatives only.   Each voting representative present may give one vote only to a candidate, but must vote for as many candidates as there are vacancieThe election of the Executive Committee shall be by ballot of Club Voting representatives only.   Each voting representative present may give one vote only to a candidate, but must vote for as many candidates as there are vacancies.
4. Should the number of nominations under Rule 19 be equal to or less than the number of vacancies available then those nominated shall, unless otherwise decided by the Council, be declared elected to the executive Committee without recourse to a ballot.   Should any vacancies so filled be for a term of less than four years as provided by Rule 17 then, unless all the candidates shall agree otherwise, a ballot shall be held to determine the order of precedence of the candidates.   Each voting representative may give one vote only to a candidate but must cast votes totalling one less than the number of candidates nominated.
5. Voting papers not fulfilling these conditions shall be void.
6. In the event of a tie in any ballot the President or Chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
10. A Special Meeting of the Council may be convened at any time by the Executive Committee or on written request from any three Clubs in the Union.   The written request so received shall clearly set out the business sought to be dealt with at the Special Meeting.   Where such Special Meeting is called upon the requisition of any three Clubs, the Secretary shall call the Meeting for a date within six weeks of the receipt of such requisition.   Four weeks’ notice of the business to be transacted at such a Meeting shall be given to each Club in the Union, and only business of which such notice has been given shall be considered.
11. No Rule or Regulation of the Union shall be made, repealed or altered save by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast at any meeting of the Council and four weeks' notice of such proposed addition, repeal or alteration shall be given to each Club in the Union.   Upon consideration of such proposals it shall be competent for the council to pass them with or without modificatin.
12. The Officers of the Union shall con sist of a President, a President-Elect, all surviving Past-Presidents, and Honorary Secretary, an Honorary Sectretary (County Membership) and an Honorary Treasurer.   The Executive Committee shall appoint one or more of its members to represent the Union at General Meetings of the English Golf Union Limited and EGU Property Company Limited.
13. The Officers of the Union (except Past-Presidents) shall be elected each year at the Annual Meeting of the Council, and shall hold office until the next Annual Meeting.
14. The nominations of President and President-Elect to be to be submitted to the Councilshall be made bny thye Executive Committee on the recommendation of the President and Past-President of the Union, who shall meet in October or November of each year to make their recommendations.   The nomination of the mHonorary Secretary, the Honorary Secretary (County Membership), the Honorary Secretary (County Membership), the Honorary Treasurer and the Honorary Auditor shall be made by the Executive Committee.
15. Those Past-Presidents elected as Vice-Presidents on or before the 23rd February 2000 (being the date of the adoption of this Rule) shall be entitled to retain the title of "Vice-President".   Subject thereto, no further Vice-Presidents shall be appointed by the Union.
16. The President, Past- Presidents, The Amateur Champions and Runner-up and all past Champions and Runners Up and, whilst in Office, the Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall be entitled to wear the county tie.   A player who has represented Yorkshire prior to the 25th February 1998 in six county matches, or, with effect from that date, in ten county matches shall be entitled to wear the county tie and badge.      EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
17. The Executive Committee shall consit of the Officers of the Union and the English Golf Union Limited Representative referred to in Rule 12, and twelve other members elected or co-opted as herein mentioned.   Five of the members shall form a quorum except for the settlement of disputes at golf meetings, when three shall be sufficient.   Members (other than ex-officio members) elected to the Executive Committee at each Annual Council Meeting shall hold office for a maximum of four years, unless removed by a resolution at a Council Meeting.   At each Annual Council Meeting the members of the Executive Committee (other than ex-officio members) who have completed their term of office shall retire and shall not be eligible for re-election until the next Annual Council Meeting.   The Executive Committee shall ensure that these Rules and regulations and the conditions governing championships, competitions and golf meetings are complied with.  
    The Executive Committee is authorised to deal with any breach of such Rules and Regulations and conditions or of discipline, and to impose sanctions upon any Club, player or person adjuged to have committed such breach.   Wothout prejudice to the generality of these
    Rules and Regulations, the Executive Committee shall have the following powers namely:-
1. to appoint and determine the composition, terms of reference and delegated powers of such sub-committees, asit shall consider appropriate to form
2. without prejudice to the generality of the preceding sub-clause, to appoint and delegate disciplinary powers to a Disciplinary Sub-Committee, such powers to be exercised in accordance with the terms and conditions for the conduct ofdisciplinary sub-committee fromm time to time issued by the English Golf Union and
3. to formlate and implement conditions and requirements for affiliation of a Club to the Union.
18. In case of a vacancy occurring in its membership, the Executive Committee shall have the power to fill such vacancy by appointing thereto for the unexpired portion of the current year such person as they think fit who shall immediately thereafter by eligible for election to the Executive Committee.
19. The Secretary shall, not later than 30th November of each year, send to each Affliiated Golf Club a request for written nomination of candidates for election tothe Executive committee.   Each such nomination shall be signed on behalf of theClub by an officer bearer or member of the Committee of the Club and must reach the Secretary of the Union not later than the 31st December following.