1. NAME

1.1 The name of the Golf Society shall be San Miguel Golf Society , herein after refered to as San Miguel GS.

2. AIMS

2.1 The aims of the San Miguel GS shall be the playing and promotion of golf in a sociable environment and economical with a happy social style.

3. ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

3.1 San Miguel GS is a Social Group, playing at various golf courses on the Costa Blanca.

3.2 The Playing Members of the San Miguel GS shall be under no financial liability by reason of their Membership, save the annual Membership Fee, which shall be determined by the General Committee.

4. PLAYING MEMBERSHIP

4.1 San Miguel GS shall consist of no more than 180 Playing Members. Amateur or Professional golfers of either sex are eligible for Playing Membership.

4.2 Every candidate for Playing Membership shall be at least 16 years of age.

4.3 The annual subscription shall be payable to the San Miguel GS Treasurer.  The Playing Member will be liable for the full annual subscription for the current year upon being accepted as a Playing Member and upon renewal of membership each year. 

4.4 It is the responsibility of Playing Members to ensure that their subscriptions are paid not later than the final date for doing so (31 st March) and it shall not be obligatory for the Treasurer to send out reminder notices.  If any annual subscription is unpaid on the day following the final date by which it was due then membership will be deemed to have lapsed.

4.5 Applications for Playing Membership must be on the forms provided for that purpose and must be signed by the candidate for Membership.

4.6 Applications shall state the name, address and telephone number, e-mail address if applicable, home course and current handicap if applicable of the candidate, whose acceptance for Playing Membership shall be at the sole discretion of the General Committee. All applications for Playing Membership will be processed by, and be the sole responsibility of the General Committee.

4.7 When a candidate is accepted for Playing Membership and paid such sum, as the Playing Membership shall have determined he shall be a Playing Member of San Miguel GS and be entitled to all the privileges of Playing Membership and shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these Articles.

5. QUALIFICATION FOR PLAYING MEMBERSHIP

5.1 Be able to play with San Miguel GS at least 12 times a year, and the same amount of times each year to retain playing membership.

6. OFFICERS

6.1 The officers of San Miguel GS shall be the President, Secretary, Captain, Vice Captain , Treasurer, plus three full members.

6.2 The holders of such offices shall be voted in by the Playing Membership of San Miguel GS at the Annual General Meeting.

7. GENERAL COMMITTEE

7.1 The officers shall constitute the General Committee (the General Committee).

7.2 Any five members of the General Committee shall form a quorum and will have the authority to make any urgent decisions as may arise although any decisions made by them shall be subject to ratification by the General Committee at their monthly meeting.

7.3 Any officer failing consistently to fulfill their obligations may be requested by the General Committee to surrender their position.

7.4 The General Committee shall have all such administrative powers as may be necessary for carrying out the objects of San Miguel GS in accordance with these Articles.

7.5 The General Committee shall meet at such intervals as the General Committee consider necessary to arrange and conduct the affairs of San Miguel GS.

8. ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS

8.1 With the exceptions contained within theses Articles any two members of San Miguel GS may nominate any Playing Member to serve as an Officer.  The name of each Playing Member so nominated shall be sent in writing to the Secretary of the General Committee by a closing date determined by the General Committee. But no less than 14 days before the Annual General Meeting.  The nomination shall be in the prescribed form incorporating the signed consent of the Playing Member so nominated to serve if elected.  The General Committee may at their discretion request nominees to attend for interview and to support their nomination by a letter detailing their credentials for seeking the appointment.  Save as otherwise detailed in these Articles the General Committee shall be responsible for determining the method or process for appointing an Officer . 

9. PRESIDENT

9.1 The President shall be Elected every year, but will have no voting rights, but will chair the Annual General Meeting of San Miguel GS.

9.2 The President shall hold office for a term of one year.

10. SECRETARY TO THE GENERAL COMMITTEE

10.1 The Secretary to the General Committee shall, subject to the approval of the Playing Members, be appointed by the General Committee.  The term of office shall be two years but may be appointed for a second or subsequent term.

10.2 The Secretary to the General Committee shall conduct the correspondence arising through the General Committee.  The person shall keep full and correct Minutes of all proceedings of San Miguel GS and of the General Committee and have access to all records of account or competition.

10.3 The Secretary will arrange and book all golfing venues in accordance with the dates supplied by the General Committee

11. TREASURER

11.1 The General Committee shall appoint, from nominations received, a Treasurer, whose appointments shall be announced at the Annual General Meeting.

11.2 The term of office of the Treasurer shall be one 1 year, but may stand for re-appointment at the end of the term or any subsequent term.

11.3 The Treasurer shall be a Playing Member of San Miguel GS and be able to fulfill the position for the period and shall sit on the General Committee

11.4 The Treasurer shall produce to the General Committee a monthly Statement of Finances and to the Annual General Meeting an annual Statement of Finances and to an Extraordinary Meeting relating to financial issues all the books and records of account. 

12. CO-OPTION

12.1 The General Committee may also co-opt not more than four additional members who shall retire at the next Annual General Meeting but who shall then be eligible for further co-option or election as an Officer. 

13. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS AND EXTRAORDINARY MEETINGS

13.1 So far as circumstances may permit an Annual General Meeting shall be held on the second week of December every year for the announcement of the names of Officers to serve on the General Committee and for such other business as may be permitted in accordance with the Articles.

13.2 At an Annual General or Extraordinary meeting of San Miguel GS Playing Members shall be entitled to be present and to vote on every relevant question raised and in case of equality of votes the President shall have a second or casting vote.  The Secretary of the General Committee shall take Minutes of the proceedings of all such meetings.

13.3 Playing Members wishing to raise matters for discussion or to be voted upon under “Any Other Business” at an Annual General Meeting must convey them in writing to the Secretary of the General Committee no later than fourteen days prior to the date of the meeting.

13.4 The General Committee may at its discretion call an Extraordinary Meeting of the Playing Members upon giving no less than 28 days notice to the Playing Members.

13.5 Playing Members seeking an Extraordinary Meeting may petition the General Committee detailing the issue they seek to have brought before the Playing Members.  No less than 25 Playing Members whose subscriptions are fully paid must sign such petition.  Such petition must detail clearly the issue and proposal being raised. If the General Committee consent to the Petition and call the Extraordinary Meeting sought then Playing Members may be at liberty to submit any amendments to any proposition but no later than fourteen days prior to the date determined for the Meeting.

13.6 The implementation or adoption of any resolution made at an Annual General or Extraordinary Meeting is subject to the approval of the Playing Membership.

14. CHAIRMANSHIP OF MEETINGS

14.1 The Chairman of any Annual General or Extraordinary Meeting shall be the President or in his absence the San Miguel GS Secretary who shall hold the casting vote.

14.2 The Chairman of any General Committee meeting shall be the Captain or in his absence the San Miguel GS Vice Captain, the President shall hold the casting vote .

16. PROXY VOTES

16.1 In respect of the election of Officers or of any resolution or motion before an Annual General or Extraordinary Meeting, proxy votes will be accepted from individual members entitled to vote but unable to attend any such meeting.  Such votes must be in writing to the Secretary to the General Committee and must be received by him/her not less than 24 hours before the meeting.

17. RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF PLAYING MEMBERS

17.1 Every Playing Member of San Miguel GS shall (subject to these Articles for the time being in force) be entitled to use and enjoy (in common with other members of the Society) things provided by the Society.

18. DISPUTES

18.1 Any dispute or difference which may arise as to the meaning or interpretation of these Articles or as to the powers of the Officers or the validity of any election or proceedings of the General Committee shall be determined by the President whose decision shall be final and binding on all members of San Miguel GS.

18.2 The San Miguel GS shall, whenever necessary, exercise the disciplinary powers delegated to them under the constitutions of the European Golf Union and the Ladies Golf Union in respect of any breach of the rules of the Unions or for conduct which prejudices the interests of the Unions in the game.

19. CONDUCT OF MEMBERS

19.1 A member may resign his Playing Membership at any time by letter delivered to the President at the Presidents address.  The Playing Member will remain liable for any balance due in respect of annual subscriptions for the current year of membership and no refund of subscription will be allowed for any unexpired portion of a membership year.

19.2 San Miguel GS may in response to complaints as to the conduct of members undertake an inquiry as to the matter or incident complained of and will adopt in respect of all members the instructions laid down by the European Golf Union for the procedure and conduct of disciplinary committees in relation to the conduct of Playing Members.

19.3 The General Committee shall appoint a Disciplinary Committee, which, unless special circumstances arise, shall consist of the President, the Fixtures Secretary in office and the Secretary to the general Committee.  The President shall act as chairman for any such Disciplinary Committee.

19.4 The General Committee may expel from San Miguel GS (or suspend from Playing Membership for a specific period) any Playing Member whose conduct is such that in the opinion of the General Committee may be injurious to the character or interests of San Miguel GS or render themselves unfit to associate with members of San Miguel GS or upon the recommendation of San Miguel GS as a consequence of an inquiry held in accordance with the Article above.

19.5 No illegal betting or gaming, drunkenness, bad language or other misconduct shall be permitted on the club premises or at any golf complex that San Miguel GS may be present at.

20. CONDUCT OF THE GAME

20.1 San Miguel GS recognises the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews as the ruling body of amateur golf and agrees to abide by the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status as laid down by such body.

21. SUBSCRIPTIONS

21.1 The Annual fee for Playing Members will be set at the Annual General Meeting each year.

22. VISITORS, GUESTS AND PRIVATE FUNCTIONS

22.1 San Miguel GS shall let visitors, either individually or collectively, use or enjoy the golfing facilities subject as necessary to the payment of the appropriate fees and one guest per member.

22.2 San Miguel GS shall determine the fee to be paid (if any) by any visitor invited under this Article.

22.3 Any Playing Member shall be entitled to introduce guests to San Miguel GS save for persons whose application for Playing Membership has been refused or who have been expelled from San Miguel GS or whose membership has been revoked.  The member shall be responsible for the conduct of such guests whilst at the Club.

23. RESIGNATION

23.1 A Playing Member may at any time by giving notice to the President resign his membership of San Miguel GS but shall continue liable for any annual subscription unpaid at the date of his resignation.

23.2 Any such member having discharged all his liabilities to San Miguel GS and wishing to rejoin may apply to the General Committee who may at their discretion waive all or any part of any entrance fee.

24. FORFEITURE OF RIGHTS ON CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP

24.1 Any member expelled in accordance with the Articles or otherwise ceasing to be a member of San Miguel GS shall forfeit all rights to, or claims upon, San Miguel GS or its property or funds as he may otherwise have by reason of his membership.  He shall not be entitled to any return of subscription and shall remain liable for any subscriptions or other fees due at the time of cessation.

25. COMPLAINTS

25.1 All complaints of whatsoever nature shall be made in writing to The Secretary.  If considered necessary on the part of The Secretary such complaint may be acted upon by him or if they relate to a San Miguel G S issue or in respect of matters arising from San Miguel GS competitions or disputes between San Miguel GS Playing Members be referred to the General Committee for disciplinary or other consideration. 

26. MEMBERS BOUND BY ARTICLES

26.1 It is a condition of acceptance as a Playing Member of San Miguel GS that every Playing Member shall be bound by and submit to the Articles of San Miguel GS.

27. ACCESS TO RULES

27.1 A current edition of these Articles will be maintained by The Secretary, who shall make them available for inspection by any Playing Member upon request at any reasonable time.  So far as possible a current edition will also be available from each captain.

28. HANDICAPS

a. All handicaps shall be calculated and controlled in accordance with the method in use as instituted by the RFEG & EGA.

b. Any new member, unless they hold a current PGA or EGA handicap, must submit three (3) cards. A valid assessment shall be made by the Handicap Secretary in accordance with The Rules of Golf.

c. Guests shall produce a current PGA or EGA handicap certificate, failing that, the handicap awarded shall be at the discretion of the Handicap Secretary.

29. COMPETITIONS

29.1 The Committee shall be responsible for deciding the competitions played by the Society.

29.2 The Committee shall have powers to deal with all matters relating to competitions.

29.2 Competitions shall be played from the tees as placed by the Golf Clubs (Red tees for Ladies and Yellow tees for Men).

29.3 In the event of two or more players completing a competition with equal scores, the results shall be decided in the following order:

Stableford competitions - a count back over the last 9, 6, 3, 12 and 15 holes in that order.

Medal competitions - the best net score at each hole, commencing at stroke index 1.

29.4 All competitions shall be played under "The Rules of Golf" of the R&A together with any local rules in force at the course being played.

29.5 Both player and marker must sign the competition score cards. Failure to do so shall result in disqualification of the player.

30. CONTINGENCY

30.1 The Committee shall have powers to deal with all matters not contained within the above Constitution.

31. MISCELLANEOUS

31.1 All Playing Members are required to familiarise themselves and act in accordance with Section 1 (Etiquette) of the Rules of Golf.

31.2 The General Committee, either jointly or severally, shall not be liable or responsible for physical injury, loss or damage suffered by Playing Members, their guests visitors or others, howsoever caused whether by negligence or otherwise, while playing with San Miguel GS.

31.3 Playing Members are responsible for affecting their own insurance cover and particularly against third party liability and are strongly recommended to do so.

31.4 The dress code shall be determined by the prevalent Golf Club, but in all cases a minimum standard of smart casual shall be required.

32. INTERPRETATION

32.1 References to the masculine shall include the feminine and where appropriate the singular the plural.

32.2 The headings to these Articles are for ease of reference only and shall not be taken into account in their interpretation.