KENT GOLF VETERANS LEAGUE
CONSTITUTION
1. Name: The name of the League shall be ‘’Kent Golf Veterans League’’ [KGVL].
2. Objectives: The object of the League shall be the promotion of good fellowship fostered by the game of golf.
3. Officers: The officers of the League shall be the President [if appointed], Secretary, Treasurer and the Group Organisers. The management of the League shall be vested in these officers henceforth referred to as ‘’The Committee’’. The Committee may appoint a President in recognition of a member’s outstanding service to the League. The Presidency shall normally be held for a period of three years but may be extended in special circumstances with the agreement of the Committee. The appointment of the Secretary and treasurer shall be made in the light of nominations made by the constituent clubs and thereafter resolved and ratified by the Committee. The Committee shall meet at least once a year or as necessary to conduct the League affairs.
4. Membership: Membership of the League shall be restricted to golf clubs situated in the County of Kent and its London environs. Playing members of such clubs of all genders who are aged 60 or over shall be eligible to participate in the activities of the League. Clubs that belong to a Group [see below] shall be known as League Members. Clubs that cannot, for the time being, belong to a Group shall be known as Affiliate Members.
5. Accounts: The financial year of the League shall begin on the first day of January. The Treasurer at its Annual Meeting shall submit a statement of accounts to the Committee. Any two of the Treasurer, the Secretary and the President shall be authorized to sign cheques on the League account.
6. Fees: Subscriptions shall be determined by the committee annually. Subscriptions shall be paid not later than the last day in April. Clubs not complying with this requirement may be excluded from the League.
7. Organisation: The League shall be organised in Groups where possible on a regional basis. Each Group shall appoint a Group Organiser and a Group Committee. The Group Organiser is responsible for informing all Club Representatives within his Group of the Terms & Conditions [including revisions] contained within the League Constitution.
Voting within a Group will be on a majority basis with each club having one vote and the Group organizer will have a casting vote. If a Group Organiser is unable to attend a Group or league Meeting he will nominate a replacement.
In the former he will inform the Club Representatives and the latter the Hon. Sec. of The League.
All matters relating to Affiliate members shall be the responsibility of the Secretary or such other person as the Committee may appoint.
RULES
8. Competitions: All competitions including Championships are played on a no-green fee basis. Group competitions shall be in the hands of the Group Organiser in liaison with the Group Committee. The Secretary shall organize the league’s annual Championship competitions. A member of more than one club shall play for one club only during the Leagues competition year [League, Singles & Pairs]. This also applies to a member of one club who have more than one team in the League.
Should one of the teams operating out of the same club, in future years decide to fold, then the remaining team shall operate out of the original. All players must hold a ‘Competition Handicap’ and in breach of this will result in disqualification of the playing pair. In the case of the Singles Championship the player will be disqualified.
9. Trophies: The trophy holders shall arrange for the safe custody, engraving and insurance of the League’s trophies. Such trophies shall remain the property of the League.
10. Groups: Clubs in each Group shall play each other at home & away. Normally matches shall be played by teams of a minimum of four pairs on a four-ball better-ball basis in accordance with World Handicapping System [WHS] requirements. Clubs not able to conform to this format shall arrange their matches as agreed by the Club Representatives in the Group and the Group Organiser. Each Group may decide to impose a handicap limitation on players participating in inter-club matches.
The individual Groups shall decide the scoring system to be used in their matches, and also the arrangements for deciding Group Winners in the event that two or more clubs finish their matches with the same points.
The results of matches shall be forwarded to the relevant Group Organiser. Group league winners shall qualify for the Group Winners Championship Final.
11. Singles, Pairs and Group Winners Championship Finals: The Championship Finals shall be held each year in the Autumn over eighteen holes at venues to be decided by the committee, following a proposal from the relevant individual Group.
All finals will be played on a better-ball Stableford basis off handicaps set in accordance with the WHS arrangements. The maximum playing handicap in all Finals will be 18 [unless deemed otherwise by the organising committee], although players with a higher handicap may play but with the said restriction.
Play shall be off the white or yellow tees at the discretion of the host club and the KGVL Secretary. In the event of a tie, count-back rules shall apply.
Group Winners Championship Final: Each club team shall consist of ten players and shall play on a four-ball better-ball Stableford basis. Members of a club team must have played in the club’s league team at some time during the playing season. In very EXCEPTIONAL circumstances if this cannot happen the KGVL Hon. Sec. must be contacted beforehand. If the hosting club cannot accommodate 5 pairs per club then it will revert to 4 pairs.
The highest aggregate points of a club’s five [or 4] cards shall be the winner. The winning club shall receive the ‘Founders Cup’.
Singles Championship Final: Each club may nominate up to two representative who are members of that club to enter the Championship. The representatives must have played in the clubs league side during the playing season. If the hosting Club cannot accommodate two players per Club then representation will be restricted to one. The winner shall receive the Singles Cup.
Pairs Championship Final: Each club may nominate a pair who are members of that club to enter the Championship. The representatives must have played in the clubs league side during the playing season. The format to be Stableford in accordance with WHS requirements. The winners shall receive the Golfstream Challenge Trophy.
12. Ride on Buggies: The use of ride-on-buggies in any of the foregoing championships is prohibited except for players who produce a suitable medical certificate or there is an obvious need. Any obvious need must be agreed with the match/competition organisers beforehand.
On production of a suitable medical certificate or there is an obvious need a competitor may use a ride-on-buggy, but this must be subject to the agreement by the host club that buggies may be used on the course.
The buggy may not be used by any other player or his equipment.
However, individual Groups, may if they wish, allow the use of buggies for physical reasons in their Group matches.
It is RECOMMENDED that any player requiring a buggy confirms with the course well in advance as to availability and the use of buggies and reserve one if possible.
12. Other Matters: Any disputes or other matters not covered by the foregoing shall be referred to the KGVL Secretary for resolution and whose decision shall be final.
Revised 6th. December 2022
Revisions relate to:
No. 3: - Requirement that a President may be appointed..
No. 10 - Inclusion of WHS requirements.
- Rephrased allowing individual Groups to decide on a scoring system.
No. 11: - Handicap restrictions and WHS requirements
No. 12: - 'Obvious Need' included in the use of ride-on-buggies
© B.C.Sweetman 2012