(Revised Constitution as Approved at Annual General Meeting 12.12.18)

CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF ARBROATH ARTISAN GOLF CLUB (updated 2018)

1. Name of Club
The Club shall be called “The Arbroath Artisan Golf Club” hereafter referred to as the “Club”.

2. Objects
The object of the Club shall be:

2.1 To promote and encourage the sport of golf.

2.2 To institute and carry through annually stroke play and match play competitions for the benefit of members of the Club.

2.3 The Club shall be affiliated to (Scottish Golf Limited) known as “Scottish Golf” through membership of the mens / womens relevant Angus area Authority, and shall abide by the rules and the constitution of these governing bodies as they may be altered from time to time.

2.4 All competitions shall be organised and run in accordance with rules of golf as defined by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.

3. Committee of Management
The Club’s affairs shall be managed by a committee called the Committee of Management who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee of Management shall consist of Captain, Vice-Captain, Secretary, Treasurer, Match Secretary, Lady Captain and a
minimum of five and a maximum of eight other members. The Committee of Management shall meet at least once a quarter.

4. Election of Office-Bearers

4.1 The Captain shall be nominated by the retiring Captain and will generally hold the position for two years although this does not prevent the nomination of a Captain by any Club member at any Annual General Meeting. The Captain shall be eligible for re-election.

4.2 The Vice-Captain shall be nominated by the Captain and will generally hold the position for two years although this does not prevent the nomination of a Vice-Captain by any Club member at any Annual General Meeting. The Vice-Captain shall be eligible for re-election.

4.3 The Secretary shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Club at any Annual or Special General Meeting and at meetings of the Management and House Committees and take charge of all paper, books and other Club records. The Secretary shall be eligible for re-election.

4.4 The Treasurer shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The Treasurer shall keep correct accounts and books in connection with the financial affairs of the Club and produce at the Annual General Meeting a statement of accounts for the relevant financial year. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for ensuring that an abstract of the accounts is posted in the Clubhouse at least one week before the Annual General Meeting. The Treasurer shall be eligible for re-election. In addition to the Treasurer the members at the Annual General Meeting shall also appoint external Reporting Accountants for the year.

4.5 The Match Secretary shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting and shall be responsible for the running of all Club competitions, matches and administration of the current handicapping system. The Match Secretary shall be eligible for re-election.

4.6 The General Committee shall consist of a minimum of five and a maximum of eight members who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. Two members shall retire each year on a rota basis but shall be eligible for re-election.

4.7 Should any member of the General Committee resign their place shall in the event of a ballot having taken place at the Annual General Meeting be offered to the member with the highest number of votes until all members who failed to be elected have been given an opportunity. The Committee of Management may thereafter co-opt Club members if deemed necessary.

4.8 No office-bearer shall rent or lease land to the Club.

4.9 No office-bearer shall be a relative, business partner or person acting under the direction of anyone associated with the Club who receives emoluments based on the turnover of any aspect of Club activity.

5. Sub-Committees
The Committee of Management shall at the commencement of each year appoint the following:

5.1 A House Committee consisting of the Captain, Vice-Captain, Lady Captain, Secretary, Treasurer and two members of the General Committee who shall meet at least once a quarter and shall have sole charge of the management of the Clubhouse. All activities are reportable to the Committee of Management.

5.2 A Competition and Handicap Committee consisting of the Match Secretary and four members of the General Committee who shall meet at least once a quarter and shall arrange all Club competitions along with administration of the current handicapping system. All activities are reportable to the Committee of Management.

5.3 A Social Committee consisting of the Captain, Vice-Captain, Lady Captain, and any other Club member co-opted by them who shall arrange and organise social activities in the Club. All activities are reportable to the Committee of Management. 

5.4 A Junior Convener who shall be responsible for arranging all Junior competitions and other activities. All activities are reportable to the Committee of Management.

5.5 A Senior Convener who shall be responsible for arranging all Senior competitions and other activities. All activities are reportable to the Committee of Management.

5.6 The Golf Course is run by a Company Limited by Guarantee, “Arbroath Golf Links Limited”, members being Angus Council and Arbroath Artisan Golf Club (represented by the Trustees for the time being), in accordance with the current “Articles of Association” of the Company. The Golf Club Committee of Management shall appoint four Directors annually to be their representatives in this Company. All activities which may affect Club members are reportable to the Committee of Management.

5.7 In addition to the above a Ladies’ Committee shall be responsible for arranging all Ladies’ competitions and other activities. All activities are reportable to the Committee of Management.

6. Membership
Any person wishing to apply for any class of membership other than that of Associate Member shall submit an application form. The Secretary shall on receipt of such an application display the name and address of the applicant on the notice board for a period of no less than seven days. Should no objection be made within that period the applicant may be invited to attend an induction meeting. It should be noted that membership is not guaranteed to any applicant who fails to attend such a meeting.

6.1 Any adult from the age of 18 and until drawing UK State Government Retirement Pension shall be an Adult Member unless they meet the conditions for a Student Member as detailed in Para 6.5.

6.2 Any adult on drawing UK State Government Retirement Pension shall become a Senior Member on 1st of January following receipt of such pension. 

6.3 Any person under the age of 16 shall be a Juvenile Member and shall become a Junior Member on the 1st of January following their 16th birthday.

6.4 Any person between the age of 16 and 18 shall be a Junior Member and provided they continue in full time education shall become a Student Member on 1st of January following their 18th birthday. Any other Junior Member shall become an Adult Member.

6.5 Any adult between the ages of 18 and 21 following a course in full time education shall be a Student Member and shall become an Adult Member on 1st of January following their 21st birthday.

6.6 Juvenile and Junior Members shall not be entitled to take part in the business and affairs of the Club and only Junior members who have reached the age of 18 shall be supplied with alcohol within the Club.

6.7 Any person whose normal place of residence is more than 40 miles from Arbroath may be admitted as a Country Member and shall enjoy the same benefits as a local resident of similar category of membership.

6.8 Any Adult member who in the opinion of the Club at a General Meeting has conferred exceptional benefit or service to the Club or Course may be made a Life or Honorary Member. The name of any prospective Life or Honorary Member along with the reason for recommending such honour must be posted on the notice board at least seven days before the meeting. A Life or Honorary Member shall enjoy the same
benefits as an Adult Member.

6.9 Any husband, wife or named partner may become an Associate Member. Associate Members shall not be entitled to take part in the business and affairs of the Club including playing competitive golf and being assigned an official Club handicap. They shall not introduce any visitor to or propose any person for membership of the Club. Anyone paying a green fee (annual or part yearly) to Arbroath Golf Course cannot be an Associate Member. Associate Membership shall be withdrawn when the appropriate Adult Member ceases for any reason to be a member of the Club. The Secretary must be informed in the event of a change in the person eligible for Associate Membership.

6.10 Any adult who cannot or does not wish to play golf may be admitted as a NonPlaying Member. Non-Playing Members shall not be entitled to take part in the business and affairs of the Club including playing competitive golf and being assigned an official Club handicap. This category of membership shall not exceed 20% of the total club membership. Anyone paying a green fee (annual or part yearly) to Arbroath Golf Course cannot be a Non-Playing Member. A Non-Playing Member has the same rights as an Adult Member regarding the admission of guests as per Rule 7 of this Constitution and is entitled to the same bar discounts.

6.11 Any husband, wife or named partner may become a Non-Playing Associate Member. Non-Playing Associate Members shall not be entitled to take part in the business and affairs of the Club including playing competitive golf and being assigned an official Club handicap. They shall not introduce any visitor to or propose any person for membership of the Club. Any one paying a green fee (annual or part yearly) to Arbroath Golf Course cannot be a Non-Playing Associate Member. Non-Playing Associate Membership shall be withdrawn when the appropriate Non-Playing Member ceases for any reason to be a member of the Club. The Secretary must be informed in the event of a change in the person eligible for Non-Playing Associate Membership.

6.12 Associate Membership for all categories also covers children of the Member/Associate, up to the age of 18 providing they do not play competitive golf or hold an official Club handicap or pay a green fee (annual or part yearly) to Arbroath Golf Course.

6.13 An Associate Member for all categories does not require to be signed in the visitors’ book and may purchase alcohol from the bar and have unlimited access to the Club with or without the presence of the Member partner. An Associate Member may obtain any applicable discount by using the Member partner’s card.

6.14 If a Non-Playing Member or Non-Playing Associate Member should take up competitive golf and wish to obtain an official club handicap or take out a green fee (annual or part yearly) for Arbroath Golf Course they are required to inform the Secretary in writing. The applicant will then be requested to pay the appropriate fee. Similarly should an Adult or Senior Member wish to cease playing golf and let their handicap lapse they may request to transfer to a Non-Playing Membership category and are required to inform the Secretary in writing.

7. Temporary Members and Visitors
Any person whose ordinary residence is not within five miles of the burgh of Arbroath may be admitted by the House Committee as a temporary member of the Club. The name and address of each temporary member along with the period of temporary membership (which
shall not exceed one month) and the name of the member introducing him or her shall be inserted in the book kept for that purpose. Payment by the temporary member shall be at a rate fixed by the House Committee. Applications for temporary membership can be made to the secretary or treasurer or any member of the House Committee. Adult members may introduce visitors to the Clubhouse who shall remain in the Clubhouse only whilst the members introducing them are there. No visitor shall be supplied with excisable liquor in the Club premises unless on the invitation and in the company of a member. The member shall on the admission of such a visitor to the Club premises or immediately upon his or her being supplied with such liquor enter his own name and the name and the address of the visitor in a book that shall be kept for the purpose and which shall show the date of each visit.

7.1 No person shall be introduced as a visitor more often than once in four consecutive weeks except in the case of visitors residing beyond a radius of five miles from Arbroath who may be introduced twice in four weeks. Such temporary members and visitors under this rule shall not be entitled to take part in the business and affairs of the Club.

7.2 Any golfer purchasing a visitor’s ticket to play the Course shall become a temporary member for the day.

7.3 Any person purchasing a ticket for a social event organised by the Club shall become a temporary member for the duration of the event. Such temporary members and visitors under this rule shall not be entitled to take part in the business and affairs of the Club.

8. Intimation of Election – New Members
On admission of a new member, the Secretary shall notify the same to him or her. The Secretary shall also make them aware of the rules and the regulations of the Club and request the payment of the appropriate entrance fee and subscription for the year then current. No new member shall obtain any of the advantages or privileges of the Club until he or she has paid the same. In the case of the entry money or the subscription not being paid within one month of such notification the person elected shall be considered as having forfeited their right to become a member.

9. General
No member of any Committee and no manager or servant employed by the Club shall have any personal interest in the sale of excisable liquor therein or in the profits arising from such sales. Excisable liquors shall be sold only to an Adult member/ Adult associate member of
the Club and persons over the age of eighteen years old within the Club premises and shall not be sold for consumption out with the Club premises. No excisable liquors shall be sold or supplied to any person under eighteen years of age.

10. Fees, Subscriptions and Honoraria

10.1 The fees, subscriptions and honoraria shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting.

10.2 The annual subscription shall be paid in full by 28th February or by an instalment system approved by the Committee of Management. Any member failing to pay by the due date may be required to pay an entrance fee and continued membership will be at the discretion of the Committee of Management.

10.3 Payment of entry fees and subscriptions confers on all categories of members and their associates the right to use the Clubhouse.

10.4 Members admitted after the last day in June and before the last day in September shall pay one half the annual subscription.

10.5 Members admitted after the last day in September shall pay one quarter of the annual subscription.

11. Resignations

11.1 Any members intending to resign from the Club shall notify the same to the Secretary prior to 1st January otherwise they shall be liable for their subscription commencing that day.

11.2 Members leaving the district and wishing to become members again on their return may, at the discretion of the Committee of Management, be re-admitted to membership of the Club without paying the entrance fee.

12. Annual and General Meetings

The Annual General Meeting shall be held in December and the Committee of Management may at any time call a Special General Meeting for the transaction of business and in the event of a requisition signed by ten members stating their object, it shall be incumbent upon the Captain or the Secretary, within two weeks thereafter to call a Special General Meeting of the Club.

12.1 All meetings shall be called by advertisement in the local newspapers or by notifying individual members and by a notice posted in the clubhouse at least one week before the meeting.

12.2 The notice in the Clubhouse shall state the nature of the business.

13. Procedure at Meetings

13.1 At all General Meetings and Special General Meetings of the Club, seven adult members shall form a quorum. Should that number not be present, no business shall be done and the meeting shall adjourn. The chair shall be taken by the captain or in the event of the captain not being present, the vice-captain. In the event of the vice-captain not being present any Adult member may be called to the chair. The chairman shall have the casting vote as well as the deliberative vote.

13.2 A majority of the Committee of Management and also of any of the Standing Committees shall form a quorum.

14. Trustees
The whole property of the Club, both heritable and movable, at present belonging to, or which shall be hereafter acquired by the Club, shall be vested in the Club Committee of Management, and their successors in office, in trust on behalf of the Arbroath Artisan Golf Club. The Committee of Management may borrow money on the security of the property of the Club when authorised to do so by a resolution of three-fourths of the Adult Members of the Club personally present at a Special Meeting called for the purpose. This Special Meeting shall determine the amount and grant dispositions conveying such property in security to the lenders, with such power of sale as may be necessary for the realisation of the property, in the event of the amount borrowed not being repaid within three months after a normal demand for payment.

15. Club Property

15.1 The whole property of the Club, both heritable and movable at present belonging to, or which thereafter acquired by the Club, shall be vested in the names of the Captain, Vice-captain, Secretary and Treasurer on trust on behalf of the Club.

15.2 Heritable: No structural alterations or additions to the Clubhouse can be made except when so resolved upon by three-fourths of the adult members present at any Annual or Special General Meeting and only if notice of such proposed alterations or additions has been given at a previous General Meeting.

15.3 Movable: No member shall take or permit to be taken from the Clubhouse any article belonging to the Club or members, on any pretence whatever. The Committee shall have power to expel such defaulting member or members.

15.4 No surpluses shall at any time be distributed to members and if upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club there remains after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be given or transferred to some other organisation or organisations having objects similar to the objects of the Club. Such organisation or organisations are to be determined by the members of the Club by a resolution passed at a General Meeting at or before the time of dissolution. If no such organisation can be identified then any surplus shall be given to a charity or charities decided by the members.

15.5 All surpluses generated by Club activities shall be devoted to maintenance or improvement of Club facilities.

16. Legal Business
All legal proceedings at the interest of, or against, the Club shall be in the name of the Captain, Vice-captain, Secretary and Treasurer for the time, as acting for and on behalf of the Club.

17. Removal of Members

17.1 If in the opinion of the Committee of Management the conduct of any member inside or outside the Club premises is contrary to the best interests of the Club and injurious to it’s reputation, it may terminate, suspend or recommend the resignation of the person’s membership, provided always that three-fourths of the members present were in agreement.

17.2 Prior to such action being taken, the member concerned shall be called before the Committee of Management and afforded an opportunity of speaking on their own behalf. If the member chooses not to do so the Committee shall proceed in the member’s absence.

18. Complaints

18.1 All complaints shall be made in writing and signed by the complaining member and sent to the Secretary in order that they may be submitted to the Committee of Management.

18.2 In connection with Club Competitions all complaints must be made to the Match Secretary in writing.

19. Bar Areas, Dining Room and Games Area
No person shall be allowed into the lounge, bar area, dining room or games area with sports equipment (holdalls etc.) or wearing golf shoes. This rule will be stringently enforced by the Committee of Management.

20. Caddie Cars
Caddie cars may be stored in the caddie car shed at a rental fixed by the Committee of Management.

21. Lockers
Golf bags, clubs and other golf equipment may be stored in a locker at a rental fixed by the Committee of Management.

22. Change of Address

Members shall notify to the Secretary any change in their address, and all notices sent to them under such address shall be considered as duly delivered.

23. Clubhouse Hours

23.1 The locker rooms, and caddy car shed shall be open to members at 07.00 hours and closed as soon as practicable after darkness has fallen.

23.2 The Clubhouse shall be open for reception of members at the times decided by the House Committee. These times shall be exhibited on the notice board.

23.3 The hours during which excisable liquor may be served in the Clubhouse shall be in accordance with the Operating Plan submitted to the Angus Licensing Boar

24. Alteration of the Constitution and Rules

No alteration shall be made to these rules, nor shall any new rule be made, except at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting of the Club called expressly for that purpose. Such alterations or additions must obtain the sanction of at least three-fourths of the Adult members voting at such meeting.

25. Bye-Laws

The House Committee shall the have power to frame bye-laws for management of the Clubhouse and the Committee of Management shall have similar powers for all other purposes but such bye-laws shall not be inconsistent with the constitution of rules of the Club. The Committee of Management shall also have the power to impose penalties in the event of any infringement of any such bye-laws.

25.1 Members shall defray whatever expenses they incur before leaving the Clubhouse and the Bar Manager shall not give credit.

25.2 All articles broken or damaged by members or visitors shall be paid for.

25.3 The Club nor its servants shall be held responsible for any articles belonging to members or visitors left by them in the Clubhouse.

25.4 Members shall not be entitled to enter the fields or railway bordering on the course. Any members trespassing in these areas do so at their own risk and are liable for any damage caused.

25.5 No notices or documents of any kind shall be placed on the walls of the Clubrooms except by authority and with the concurrence of the Committee of Management. The Committee of Management shall have full power to deal with anyone violating this rule.

25.6 The club shall not take responsibility or accept any liability for any person’s injury or damage to any vehicles or property as a result of them being struck by stray golf balls from the driving range.

CLUBHOUSE RULES

The club operates a NO SMOKING POLICY

The following are STRICTLY prohibited within the lounge, bar area, dining room or games
area :-

1. The wearing of headgear (unless for medical or religious reasons).
2. Golf equipment, wearing of golf shoes of any kind or sports equipment, including
holdalls.
3. The wearing of casual, sports or beach type shorts. (tailored shorts or culottes may
be worn at any time).

Also STRICTLY prohibited are:-

1. The cleaning of golf equipment in the locker room, toilets and showers.
2. The interference with security including door locks.
3. Cards and dominoes being played in the lounge area except for organised events.
4. Foul Language.

The following contravene the licensing laws:-

1. Under eighteen year olds attempting to buy alcohol or playing the gaming machine.
2. Visitors within the Clubhouse not signed in the Visitor’s book.
3. Gambling.
4. Children outwith the designated Family area within the lounge