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CONSTITUTION
As
at January 2007
1. The title of the organisation will be The Oxfordshire Junior Golf League, hereinafter called “the League”.
2. The objects of the League will be:-
(a) to provide and foster competitive golf amongst junior golfers (male and female) at club representative level.
(b) to further the etiquette and knowledge of the rules of the game of golf for these juniors.
3. In furtherance of the said objects but not otherwise the League may:-
(a) organise an annual league competition. (see Appendix 1:6)
(b) hold competitions – both team and individual in nature between junior members and others. (see Appendix 1:1-5)
(c) arrange and provide for the holding of exhibitions, meetings, lectures, classes, and training courses (finances permitting).
(d) Raise funds, invite and receive contributions and sponsorship, by way of subscription or otherwise – provided any such donation, whether monetary or material, does not contravene regulations of any national golf body.
4. Membership of the League shall be open to all junior members of those golf clubs that are within the boundaries of Oxfordshire and that are affiliated to the League. A club may become affiliated to the League upon application and acceptance, and payment of the annual subscription fee. Every junior must have paid his/her subscription to their respective club and hold a recognised golf handicap, after an introductory period. Membership of the League will cease once a junior becomes 18 years of age in accordance with the national rules.
5. Each affiliated club will appoint an adult full member as their representative on the League and that person will also be a member of the League during the tenure of his/her appointment.
6. The representative will be known as the Junior Organiser. A substitute may be appointed by the Junior Organiser should the latter be unable to attend any meeting or event organised by the League.
7. Any Junior Organiser may be accompanied by a junior member when attending a meeting, if it be that the junior member wishes to address the League on any matter affecting the objects of the League. If any junior wishes, he/she shall put into writing any observations he/she has, to be submitted through the Organiser of his/her club. The decision, on the matter raised personally or in writing by a junior, of the Committee is final.
8. Affiliated clubs will be requested to pay a membership fee – to be reviewed annually – failure to pay will result in expulsion from the League.
Amendment 08/02/04. Affiliated clubs will be requested to pay a membership fee, to be reviewed annually, and to host certain competitions on a rotation basis. Failure to comply may result in expulsion from the League.
A proposal to expel a member club shall receive the assent of not less than two thirds of the membership of the committee of the League.
9. The League shall be controlled by a Committee, which will consist of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Match Secretary, Competitions Secretary, Under 16 Team Coach and each Junior Organiser.
10. The League shall appoint a President which will be a non-executive position. The League may also appoint persons to occupy positions of vice-presidents.
11. The League shall hold an Annual General Meeting in February, at such meeting the positions of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Match Secretary, Competitions Secretary, Under 16 Team Coach will be reviewed and will be appointed by majority vote. The League shall also hold other meetings during the year. Extra-ordinary meetings may be called at the request of a member of the Committee with due notice of 28 days. A minimum of five persons must be present at all meetings.
12. The League may invite other clubs within the boundary of Oxfordshire to join the League and become affiliated. Such invitations can be proposed at any meeting and carried by simple majority.
13. All events for which the League are responsible are organised under the rules of the R.&A., the rules of the golf club of venue, and the rules of the League.
14. A referee will be appointed at each event and he/she will be a Junior Organiser of the particular club where the event is played.
15. Any breaches of rules will be dealt with by this referee, who will also be assisted by two members of the League Committee. The matter will also be reported to the player’s home club in writing.
Amendment 22/11/94. Where any member of the Oxfordshire Junior Golf League is found to be in breach of the Rules of Golf, or whose behaviour is such that it brings, or is likely to bring the League into disrepute, then that member may be subject to the discipline procedure of the League:-
(a) The facts of the breach of rules or behaviour shall be submitted verbally or in writing to a discipline committee (the Chairman, Secretary and two other organisers), none of these being the Junior Organiser of the club to which the member belongs – if in the case of the Chairman a substitute will be nominated.
(b) The committee will then decide the penalties (if any) to be imposed.
(c) The League will inform the Junior Organiser and the secretary of the member’s club as to the result of the proceedings. The member will be informed in writing.
(d) The member has right of appeal, notification of same must be received in writing within 14 days.
Amendment 28/2/95. Any penalty imposed shall not be put into operation until the period of appeal is up.
(e) The appellant must appear in person, and may be accompanied by his/her Junior Organiser. Following the appeal, the decision of the appeal committee is final. The appeal committee shall be three different members to that of the discipline committee.
If the member has committed a breach of the rules of golf, and has been the subject of a penalty on the day of the event, this may be deemed to be adequate, and no action need be taken by the discipline committee.
The penalty may include suspension from the league matches and/or suspension from any competitions run by the League. Should any suspended player participate in any competition or league game during a period of suspension, that person will be disqualified from the competition, or in the case of a league game it will be declared void and all points awarded to the opponents.
Amendment 28/2/95. In the case of a league game the points of the suspended player will be awarded to the opponents.
16. Any alteration or deletion to this constitution shall receive the assent of not less than two thirds of the membership of the committee of the League. An application to alter or delete any constitutional item must be made in writing not less than 28 days before the meeting at which the alteration is proposed.
17. Finance – All moneys raised by or on behalf of the League shall be applied to further the objects of the League. The Treasurer shall keep accounts and a statement of such accounts will be submitted at the Annual General Meeting. A bank account in the name of the League will be kept at a recognised bank. The Chairman, Treasurer and two other Committee members will be authorised to sign cheques on behalf of the League. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the aforementioned persons.
18. Dissolution – If the League decides at any time that it is necessary to dissolve, a meeting shall be called, with 28 days notice, and if at that meeting, by a majority vote, the League is dissolved, then all monies, and monies realised from any assets held by, or on behalf of the League shall be donated to The Golf Foundation.
Appendix 1
Amendment 22/11/94. Where the number of entries exceed the course limit then a ballot will be conducted in handicap order commencing with the highest handicap and decreasing in order to reduce the number of entries to the course limit. In the event of a tie a play-off will be held, this to be three holes scratch medal, holes to be decided on the day of the competition. If still tied after three holes the decision will revert to a sudden death over the same three holes.
2. Stuart Gibbs Putter – A scratch knock-out
competition held annually at Brailes Golf Club.
16 contestants with the best scratch scores returned in the Championship
are invited. Each player is seeded as a result of his position
in the Championship. The Knock-out
takes place over 2 days, 36 holes played each day.
Amendment 25.2 01. Boys play off Mens SSS, girls play off Ladies SSS.
Amendment 27.2 05. Boys and girls play off their respective medal tee. The competition is played off the men’s SSS, girls receiving course leveling shots equivalent to the difference in the men’s and ladies’ SSS, i.e. two shots
3. Smedley Shield – A team competition held annually
at North Oxford Golf Club. Each affiliated
team enters a team of six with the best five nett scores counting towards
a winning total. The shield goes to
the winning team. Individual prizes,
1st gross and 1st nett.
A member of the winning team may not take the gross or nett prize.
Amendment28/2/96. Each affiliated club may enter a team of six, with the best five nett scores to count for a winning total.
Amendment 27.2 05. Each affiliated club enters a team of five, with the best four nett scores counting towards a winning total.
4. Cherwell Cup – An annual competition held at Chipping Norton Golf Course, for those
members with a handicap of 18 and over.
Amendment 3/2/2002. An 18 hole Stableford Competition. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, nearest the pin and longest drive prizes.
5. The Tony Rees Cup – Held annually at
Amendment 22/11/94. Where the number of entries exceed the course limit then a ballot will be conducted in handicap order, commencing with the highest handicap and decreasing in order to reduce the number to the course limit. (This after consultation with Mr Rees.) In the event of a tie a play-off will be held, this to be three holes scratch medal, holes to be decided on the day of the competition. If still tied after three holes the decision will revert to sudden death over the same three holes.
6. Autumn Trophy Held annually. A stableford competition, maximum handicap 28 for boys and 36 for girls. Girls to receive course leveling shots (equivalent to the difference in the mens and ladies standard scratch at the club hosting the competition). Trophy goes to the individual winner, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes. In addition a team event is included, 3 out of 4 stableford scores to count, and in the event of a tie the 4th card to be included. If still tied the sum of the back 9,6,3,1 of all 4 cards to be deciding factor. Clubs may enter as many teams as they wish. Team members to be nominated before start of play. The venue changes each year in accordance with the rota.
7. Oxfordshire Foursomes. An 18 hole foursomes stableford competition. Shots received 7/16ths of combined. Men play from the tees of the day, ladies from red tees but take their shots from the mens stroke index. The pair need not be from the same club, but must come from a club affiliated to the league. Handicap limit 28 for boys, 36 for girls. Each girl to receive course leveling shots equivalent to the difference in the SSS of the men’s and ladies cards of the course being played. Prizes for 1st and 2nd but a 3rd may be added if numbers demand it. Small prizes for longest drives and nearest the pin.
Amendment 11.5.98 In ladies pairings and mixed pairings the course leveling shots are added to the combined total prior to the 7/16ths being taken.
8.
9. The League. The League is split into two sections, decided by ballot in alternate years. Within the sections each member plays all other members once. Other than in exceptional circumstances, once the date for a match has been fixed, it should not be postponed. Non availability of a club’s best players is not an exceptional circumstance. Each team consists of 5 players and format is match play. The matches are played off handicap and do not go to sudden death. Points are awarded as follows: 2 points for the winning team, 1 point each if match halved. Position within section is determined by total points. Should a club fail to produce a full team, that club will concede individual match/es equating to the number of absentees. At the end of each match the home Junior Organiser will notify the Match Secretary of the result. The Match Secretary is responsible for producing a league table.
In the event of a tie at the completion of the League sections, the winner will be determined by the individual match wins. If a tie remains there will be a play off at a neutral venue.
Male and female players in the League will play from their respective medal tees. Ladies will receive course leveling shots equivalent to the difference in the mens and ladies standard scratch at the club hosting the match. These shots are added after the ¾ difference in handicap has been calculated.
The winners of the League sections will represent Oxfordshire in the Inter Club Championship which is held annually.
The winners of each section will play on neutral ground during the last week in August to decide on the overall winner of the League and the George Gale Cup.
Amendment 23.2.94. When entering players names on the team sheet for each match, the Junior Organisers will list the handicaps beginning with the lowest and ending with the highest. Players with similar handicaps should then play each other.
Amendment 28.11.98. League Final. In the event of a tie at the end of all five matches, one player, (name to be placed in an envelope prior to the match and given to the referee) to represent his team in a play off. Play off to be match play over 3 holes. (Holes to be decided on the day by the referee and/or the host club) If still tied after 3 holes match will revert to sudden death, over same 3 holes.
Amendment 25.2.99. Handicaps are as follows: a maximum of 28 for males and 36 for females.
Amendment 2.3.2000. The competition tee of the day will be used for all League competitions.
10. The League will charge an entry fee for competitions numbers 1 and 3-8 inclusive. This fee to be determined by the committee and is not refundable. All entry fees must be paid prior to the event and late entries to any event will not be accepted
Rules relevant to the aforementioned competitions.
1. In all competitions organised and run by the league, players participating will not be allowed caddies. Applications for exceptions should be made to the referee
2. No person will engage in the giving of any encouragement or advice to any player by way of speech or sign so as to give that player an advantage. The seeking of such encouragement is also prohibited. Any normal show of appreciation e.g. “good shot”, applause is acceptable.
3. Whilst the League wish to encourage the involvement of parents/relatives/friends, at no time will a player be accompanied by any of these persons, whilst that player is engaged in play. Spectating is permissible from the recognised positions, e.g. edge of fairways, fringes of greens.
4. Any breach of rules 2 and 3 will result in the disqualification of the player, whether the player has incited the infringement or not.
5. Following the completion of golf at each event, every player will be required to wear appropriate clothing in keeping with the standards of the League and the rules of the club of venue. The host club may waive such conditions at their discretion.
Appendix last updated February 2005.