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General rules to be adhered to whilst playing within the Society.
1. Hazard (Yellow Stakes)
a. If the ball enters the hazard the player can play the ball from the same position as the last ball was played. under 1 stroke penalty
b. Play another ball from behind the hazard as far back on the line the ball entered the hazard. under 1 stroke penalty.
2. Hazard (Red Stakes)
a. Play a ball from the same position as the last ball was played. under 1 stroke penalty.
b. Take a two club lengh drop on the line the ball entered the hazard, but no nearer the hole. under 1 stroke penalty.
3. Out of bounds/lost ball
a. Tee. Play another ball from the same position as the last (provisional), declaring this to the other players before they take their shot. under 1 stroke penalty.
b. Fairway. Play another ball from same position as last ball. under 1 stroke penalty.
c. Shot & distance. Tee/Fairway. Play another ball from anywhere on the line the ball entered, (no nearer the hole). under 2 stroke penalty.
4. Bunkers
a. If the ball is obstructed by a sand rake, the rake can be moved, if the ball moves, there is no penalty stroke
b. Grounding club in the sand prior to back swing. 1 stroke penalty.
5. Ball, lies
a. The ball cannot be moved to improve the lie or moved for a better look into the next shot. 1 stroke penalty. Winter/summer rules will be stipulated by the captain prior to first tee.
b. If the ball lands in ths heavy rough/trees and the ball is obstructed by leaves, twigs, branches etc, and the ball moves this will incure a 1 stroke penalty.
c. If the ball lands on adjacent greens/tee boxes, the ball is dropped at two club lenghs from the area. (no nearer the hole). no penalty stroke.
Captains Rules
a. Any player found shouting, loud swearing, throwing clubs, fighting, spitting dummies out, crying or masterbating. Will be ordered to buy the entire society the first drink in the bar.
b. No talking, singing, dancing, kissing, cuddling, blowing bubbles, eating, drinking, spitting or shitting when a player is taking a shot. oh and practice swings.
c. Club rules and etiquette are to be adhered to on the course and in the club house at all times.
d. Any obvious bandits will have the shit ripped out of them in the bar and probably for some time after.
e. In the event of players with overall equal scores, the winning result will be determined on the most number of nett pars/pars. If there is still no winner after this result then the winner will be determined by the most nett birdies/birdies. And if there is still no overall winner there will be a playoff on the putting green.
Rules of the Whitehall Golf Society
1. The name of the society shall be The Whitehall Golf Society.
2. The objects of the society shall be;
a) To promote the game of golf at various courses throughout the year
b) To promote social activity and fellowship among the membership of the society.
3. Membership
a) New members may be nominated and seconded only by existing members. The committee shall have the right to refuse membership to any applicant by a majority decision.
b) A member may resign from the society at any time by notifying the secretary or captain.
4. Annual subscriptions
a) The monthly subscription shall be determined by the committee prior to the AGM and notified to the members at the AGM. The monthly subscription shall become payable on the day of the society event. Any member who fails to pay the required subscription has the option to pay at later date at the committee's discretion.
5. Funds
In the event of the dissolution of the society, the funds, assets and properties of the society shall be distributed as directed by the committee.
6. Royal and Ancient Golf Club
a) The society agrees to abide by the Rules of Golf as laid down by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
b) The society agrees to abide by the Rules of Amateur Status as laid down by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
c) The society recognises that the English Golf Union is the governing body for men's amateur golf within England and, as such, recognises its authority to govern the game.
7. Officers and committee
a) The society shall elect a captain, vice captain and secretary who shall act as the society's committee.
b) Any member may be nominated for election to the committee.
c) All officers shall be elected by a majority vote held annually at the society's annual general meeting.
d) Nominations for the offices of captain, vice captain and secretary must be proposed and seconded by society members and lodged in writing with the secretary at the latest 14 days before the annual general meeting.
e) The position of Vice Captain and Captain shall be for one year only. The Vice Captain will progress to Captain in the year following his election to the position of Vice Captain unless otherwise determined by majority vote.
8. The functions of the committee
a) To administer the affairs of the society.
b) To monitor the standards of dress and behaviour among members and guests at society events.
c) To appoint an Honorary Treasurer who shall be responsible for all monies received and settlement of accounts and shall prepare annual accounts for distribution to members prior to the AGM. All cheques and withdrawals of money shall be authorised by the signature of the secretary or the captain or vice captain.
d) All society members are invited to annually audit the accounts.
e) To determine the annual subscription to the society.
f) To determine, in as far as they are able and with regard only to the society, all questions relating to the Rules of Golf.
g) To allocate and administer the Society handicaps of the members.
9. Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting shall be held every second month at the society event..
10. Extraordinary General Meeting
An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by the committee or six society members. Members shall be given at least 21 day's notice of an EGM informing them of matters to be discussed. No matters may be discussed at an EGM other than those duly notified to the members.
11. Changes to the rules
Changes to these rules may only be made at the AGM or at an EGM called for that purpose.
12. Discipline
a) Any breach of acceptable standards as determined by all the committee under 8 (b) may result in the member being excluded from one or more official society events. Persistent offenders may be expelled from the society at the discretion of the committee.
b) Any member so expelled from the society shall not be entitled to receive any refund of subscriptions regardless of the date of expulsion.
c) Following authorised inclusion in the final numbers notified by the secretary to a host club for any official society event, any member or member's guest who fails to attend that event shall be required to pay the fees for the day in full unless the member has given the secretary at least 7 day's notice of their withdrawal from the event.
d) Members shall be held fully responsible for the payment of fees in full on behalf of any of their nominated guests.
13. Competitions
a) The society may play any number of events the committee may decide in any one year.
b) Each society member shall play five Qualifying Rounds minimum for the end of year cup Day, each to be played to the Stableford scoring system off full handicaps. Any ladies playing shall play from the ladies' tees to the stroke indices of the men's scorecard and play to their full LGU or society handicap.
c) Other rounds played at society events may be any form of golf decided by the membership on the day.
14. Handicaps
a) A society member possessing both CONGU and society handicaps shall play off the lower of the two figures in all society events.
b) Handicaps will be adjusted after every 2 Qualifying Rounds as follows:
i) The highest scoring society member will have his handicap cut by one stroke.
ii) All members handicap will not be adjusted by no less or greater than two strokes when reviewed.
c) All handicaps will be reviewed annually after the AGM meeting and adjustments made where deemed necessary or requested by the member. A member possessing both CONGU and society handicaps shall have his society handicap reinstated to the same level as the CONGU figure after the AGM meeting each year.
15. Allocation of trophies
a) The society's Golfer of the Year trophy shall be awarded to the member who submits the highest aggregate score from five out of the eight Qualifying Rounds played that year. Should the members decide to run six qualifying rounds, the Golfer of the Year trophy will be awarded to the member submitting the highest aggregate score from the six Qualifying Rounds.
b) The society's Worst Golfer of the Year trophy shall be awarded to the member who submits the lowest aggregate score from five out of the eight Qualifying Rounds played that year. If six qualifying rounds are played, the member submitting the lowest score from four out of the six shall be awarded the trophy.
d) The committee may, at its discretion, award various other prizes to be competed for at a society event.
16. Guests
a) Members may invite any number of guests to any Society event, with the exception of the AGM, which is a members-only event.