1. NAME.

The Union shall be called the BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF UNION and shall be affiliated to the English Golf Union.

2. OBJECTS.

The objects of the Union shall be:

2.1  to promote and encourage golf within Bedfordshire

2.2  to maintain a uniform system of handicapping (currently the CONGU Unified Handicapping System 2008-2011) and course rating system as prescribed by the EGU

3.1 County Championships

3.2 such other competitions as may be required from time to time.

3.3 County Matches and inter County fixtures

3.4 to co-operate with the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews through the medium of the English Golf Union on the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status.

3.5 to purchase, lease or hire any property or assets as may be required for the benefit of the Union

3.6 to take such action from time to time as maybe considered desirable for the benefit of its members, eg. training/coaching for players etc.

3.7 to abide by the constitution and rules of the English Golf Union

4. MEMBERSHIP

4.1      Membership of the Union shall be available to recognised golf clubs with a male membership and situated in or adjacent to the County of Bedfordshire and -

(a) having their own golf course, or playing on a municipal course or, playing on a 

     proprietary owned course,

(b) having a constitution and rules approved by the Union

      (c) recognising the 'Rules of Golf' as administered by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

      (d) operating the CONGU Unified Handicapping System as required by the English Golf Union

4.2 Each Club joining or being part of the Union will pay an Annual Subscription, per capita per member as laid down by the Union at the Annual General Meeting together with the annual levy from the English Golf Union. All subscriptions are due on the 1st day of January in each year (in accordance with the rules of the English Golf Union). Any Club whose subscription is outstanding on 1st June shall not be entitled to take part in any Meeting or golf fixture of the Union or enter any of its members into individual events, If the subscription still remains outstanding on the 1st September the Club will not be entitled to issue valid handicaps to its members or administer the CONGU scheme.

                 4.3   Any member Club wishing to resign must give notice thereof in writing to the Secretary on or before the 31st October, failing which the Club shall be liable to pay its subscriptions for the ensuing year.

4.4  The Executive Committee shall have the power to accept or reject an application for membership. In the event of rejection the applicant club shall be informed of the reason and shall be entitled to appeal to the Annual General Meeting of the County Golf Union.

5. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. (COUNCIL)

5.1 The governing body of the Union shall be the Council and the management of the Union shall be vested in it.

5.2 The Council shall consist of two nominated representatives from each club in the Union.

5.3 A quorum for all Council Meetings shall be representatives from 12 clubs plus one Officer.

5.4 Voting shall be one vote per club. In the event of an equal vote the President/Chairman shall have the casting vote.

5.5 A member of a paid up Bedfordshire Club may attend a Council meeting as an observer but cannot vote or participate.

6. OFFICERS OF THE COUNCIL

The officers of the Council shall be

The President

The Vice President (President Elect)

Honorary Treasurer

The President and Vice President must be from different Clubs in the Union.

7. MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL

7.1 The Annual Meeting of the Council shall normally be held in February each year, at such a place as may be decided by the Executive Committee. At least 21 days Notice of the meeting, shall be given by the Secretary to each Affiliated Club.

7.2 The Council shall at each Annual Meeting:

(a) Consider and, if approved, adopt the Annual Statement of Accounts

(b) Consider and accept reports on the year's results and activities

(c)  Elect as officers a President, Vice President, (both of whom will normally serve for two years) and an Honorary Treasurer.

(d) Elect a County Captain and Vice Captain plus additional Team Captains/Managers.

(e) Confirm the appointment of the County Secretary and assistant secretaries as required for the Union's various activities.

(f) Confirm the appointment of the representatives to the Bedfordshire County Golf Partnership

(g) Appoint an Auditor

(h) Confirm the Executive Committee's recommendation of the persons who will serve as Voting Members on English Golf Union's General Council and the EGU South East Group Committee.

(i) Consider any motions submitted in accordance with the rules.

(j) Confirm the Executive Committee as set out in the Constitution and delegate all powers for the day to day running of the Union to the Executive Committee until the next Annual or Special Meeting of the Council

7.3 Notice of intention to move any resolution at the Annual Meeting must be notified to the Secretary 28 days prior to the meeting to allow the 21 days notice to clubs under rule 7.1.

7.4 A special meeting of the Council, may be convened at any time by the Secretary on the instruction of the Executive Committee or by written request from 8 clubs in the Union stating the purpose for which the meeting is required.

7.5 Subject to the provisions of Rule 7.6, 28 days notice of the business to be transacted at the special meeting shall be given to each Member Club and only business of which notice has been given shall be considered. Where such a meeting is called upon the request of 8 clubs the Secretary shall call the meeting for a date within 42 days of receipt of the resolution.

7.6 No Rule of the Union shall be repealed or altered and no new rule shall be made, except at a meeting of the Council for which at least 28 days notice shall be given to each member Club, stating the proposed alteration or addition and then, only if not less than two-thirds of the Club representatives attending and voting are in favour. This rule shall not apply to the regulations for Competitions.

7.7 If within 30 minutes of the appointed time for a Council meeting a quorum is not present, the Meeting shall be dissolved. It will be reconvened at an agreed time and date within the following two weeks. If a quorum is still not present the business will be lost.

7.8 The Secretary shall keep correct Minutes of the proceedings of the Council and Executive Committee meetings and shall produce the same at all meetings of both bodies. He shall summon the Meetings of the Council and Executive Committee when required to do so.

7.9 The Treasurer shall record all financial transactions and shall, prepare annually a revenue account and balance sheet for the financial year 1 January to 31 December and present these fully audited to the Annual General Meeting.

8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

8.1 The business of the Union shall be conducted by the Executive Committee consisting of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Past Presidents, Captain, Vice Captain, Section Managers (and Secretaries if appointed) and one representative from each Club in the Union. A Club may, if desired, have a second person at the meeting but there will only be one vote per Club and one vote for the officials and Past Presidents. In the event of a tied vote the Chairman will have a casting vote.

8.2 The County Secretary shall act as secretary to the Committee, of whom 7 shall form a quorum of which not less than 4 shall be club representatives.

9. ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT PROCEDURE.

9.1 The President and Vice President, although normally serving for two years, will be elected annually with a formal proposer and seconder. The Vice President will be proposed and seconded following a recommendation from the President and Past Presidents of the Union. The Officers, Captains and Managers, will be elected by the Council at the Annual Meeting. The Captain and Vice Captain will normally be elected for a two-year term and confirmed annually. All other officers including the Treasurer will be elected for period of one year and are to be proposed and seconded at the Annual General meeting and voted into office by the Council. They may offer themselves for re-election at the end of their year in office. The nominations for the posts of Treasurer and Auditor will be proposed by the Executive Committee.

9.2 The Secretary shall be appointed by the Executive Committee; such appointment being ratified by the Council. The officers of the Union will recommend the Secretary's honorarium and expenses to the Executive Committee for approval.

10. DISCIPLINE

10.1 The Executive Committee is charged with ensuring that all rules contained in the Constitution and other Regulations, including the conditions of Competition, are followed.

10.2 The Union shall duly exercise the disciplinary powers delegated to it under the Constitution of the English Golf Union. This will be carried out in accordance with the English Golf Union's instructions for the Procedure and Conduct of Disciplinary Committees.

10.3 When required, the Executive Committee will appoint a disciplinary Sub-Committee, which will consist of the President and Vice President and two members from other Clubs in the Union who are not involved in the disciplinary matter to be considered. The Secretary will take Minutes and arrange the meetings of this Sub-Committee in accordance with 10.2 above. The decision of the Sub-Committee will be passed to the Executive Committee of the Union for ratification and where sanctions or otherwise are recommended and approved by the Executive Committee, its decision will be final.

11. FUNDS