The Association shall be called ‘The Nottinghamshire Professional Golfers' Association’.

The Association is referred to throughout the Constitution and Rules as ‘The Notts PGA’.

The Association is a ‘County’ as defined in the Articles of Association of the Professional Golfers Association Limited (Article 56) and the Professional Golfers Association Regulations Part 1 (paragraph 10.4).

The Professional Golfers Association is referred to throughout the Constitution and Rules as ‘The PGA’ or ‘PGA’.

2.       Objectives

2.1    The Association shall promote and further the interest in the game of golf and provide support and playing opportunities to all Professionals and Assistants within the County of Nottingham.

2.2           The Association may also promote from time to time other activities that the Committee may decide.

2.3           The Notts PGA relies totally upon the support of PGA Professionals / Assistants, Golf Clubs, Amateur Members of the Golf Clubs and Sponsors for its Income.

3.          Purpose

3.1           Each year The Notts PGA will promote The Professional Strokeplay Championship, The Professional Matchplay Championship, The Notts Championship, The Assistants Strokeplay Championship and The Assistants Matchplay Championship.

3.2           To provide the funds for these Championships the Notts PGA will organise a number of Pro Am’s that also directs revenue to the participating Golf Club and Club Professional.

3.3           The Notts PGA may from time to time promote other Tournaments to provide playing opportunities for its Members. These Tournaments will be required to be ‘self funding’ i.e. prize funds and other expenses to be provided from entry fees / sponsorship.

3.4           The Notts PGA will endeavour to provide training and support to Trainees in furthering their chosen career and shall at its discretion set aside funds to be used for Training purposes.

4.          Assets

4.1           The assets of The Notts PGA consist of trophies, stationary and cash and any other assets from time to time in the possession or ownership of the PGA.

4.2           If the Notts PGA be wound-up and after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities there remain any assets, the same shall not be distributed amongst the Members but shall be given or transferred to the PGA.

5.          The Officers

5.1           The President

5.1.1      There shall be a President nominated by the Committee who will hold office for a period determined by the Committee.

5.1.2      The President shall have no voting powers.

5.2           The Captain

5.2.1      A Member of the Notts PGA shall be nominated as Captain of the Association and will hold office for a period of two years from the date of election.

5.2.2      The Captain will seek the approval of the County Committee before nominating the Vice Captain.

5.3           Accountant / Auditor

5.3.1      There shall be an Accountant / Auditor nominated by the Committee.

5.3.2      The Accountant shall have no voting powers.

5.4           Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer

5.4.1      There shall be an Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer nominated by the Committee.

5.4.2      The Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer have no voting powers.

5.4.3      The same person may hold the Office of Honorary Secretary and Treasurer.

5.5           If an Officer resigns, dies or becomes incapable of carrying out his duties by reason of mental or physical incapacity and the other members of the Committee resolve that his office be vacated, a suitable replacement may be nominated by the members of the County Committee to serve until the expiry of the original Officer’s term.

6.          Membership

6.1           General

6.1.1      Membership of The Notts PGA shall be confined to PGA Professionals, PGA Assistants and PGA Registered Trainees employed in the County of Nottingham.

6.1.2      The ‘County’ and members of the county are determined within PGA Regulations Part 1.

6.1.3      Professionals and Assistants must have been accepted and continue to be accepted by The Professional Golfers Association as a Category AA or Category A Member and have paid all the necessary fees.

6.1.4      Trainees must have been accepted and continue to be accepted by The Professional Golfers Association as a Registered Trainee Category T and have paid all the necessary fees.

6.1.5      Professional or Assistant or Trainee PGA Members in Tournament Player (TP) Categories should be aware that conditions of entry for individual tournaments may vary and they should refer to the relevant Conditions of Competition.

6.2           Honorary Life Membership

The Committee, having unanimously decided to do so, may propose PGA Members as Honorary Life Members for election to the Notts PGA subject to confirmation at the Annual General Meeting.

Such Honorary Life Members shall have the full privileges of The Notts PGA.

6.3           Rules Binding on Members

Members attention is drawn to PGA Regulations Part 1:5.1

Rules, regulations and bylaws made by a County Committee in accordance with and subject to the powers granted to that Committee under the terms of the Constitution, Regulations or of the Regional Committee of which Region that County is a member, shall be binding on all the Members of that County.

7.          Management of The Notts PGA

7.1           The Committee shall be responsible for the management of The Notts PGA. The Committee will consist of between three and eight Members of the Notts PGA (not being employees of the Association) who shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting.

7.2           The Committee at the meeting immediately following the Annual General Meeting will appoint from amongst the elected Committee Members a Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

7.3           The quorum at Committee meetings shall consist of 3 members and effective voting will be by a simple majority determined on a show of hands.

7.4           At each Annual General Meeting, the members of the Committee who were appointed two years previously shall stand down and the Members of the Notts PGA will elect an equivalent number together with any additional Members necessary to meet the requirements set out in paragraph 7.1.

7.5           A retiring Member will be eligible for re-election.

7.6           To be eligible for election or re-election to the Committee a candidate must be a Life or Honorary Member of The PGA or a PGA Professional Class AA at the time of nomination and at the time of the Annual General Meeting at which he is proposed.

7.7           The Honorary Secretary must receive nominations for election to the Committee - together with confirmation from a candidate in writing of his willingness to serve - at least 21 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. A candidate must (except in the case of a retiring member seeking re-election) be proposed and seconded by Members of the County who have signed the nomination.

7.8           If at the Annual General Meeting there are nominations for more candidates than there are vacancies on the Committee election shall be by ballot. Nominations not submitted within the prescribed time may not be included on any Ballot Paper.

7.9           If a member of a Committee resigns, dies, ceases to be a member of the Notts PGA, or becomes incapable of carrying out his duties by reason of mental or physical incapacity, or is absent from Committee Meetings for more than 6 consecutive months without permission of the Committee and the other members of the Committee resolve that his office be vacated, another Member of the Notts PGA shall be promptly nominated and appointed by the remaining members of the Committee to serve in the original members place until the expiry of the original member’s term.

7.10        Any permission given by the Committee regarding absences of more than 6 consecutive months, will only be given by the Committee where the absence arises as a result of circumstances which are genuinely outside the control of the absent member and which do not materially affect his ability to participate in the ongoing management of the committee.

7.11        If within 30 minutes (or such longer interval as the Chairman in his absolute discretion thinks fit) from the time appointed for the holding of any Committee Meeting a quorum is not present or, if during the Committee Meeting such a quorum ceases to be present, the Committee Meeting shall stand adjourned for 14 days to the same day of the week at the same time and place, or to such other day and at such time and place as the Chairman (or, in his absence the Deputy Chairman) may determine being not less than 7 nor more than 28 days thereafter. If at such adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within 30 minutes from the time appointed for holding the meeting the adjourned meeting shall be dissolved.

8.          Midlands Region Representative

8.1                The Committee shall elect as required a Member, who must be a Life or Honorary Member of The PGA or a Class AA Professional, from the Committee to serve on the Regional Committee.

8.2                Nominations for appointment to the Regional Committee must be agreed by the Committee and notified to the Regional Secretary not later than 7 days before the date of the Midlands Region AGM.

9.          General Meetings

9.1           The Annual General Meeting

9.1.1      A General Meeting will be held in every calendar year as the Annual General Meeting, at such time and place as may be determined by the Committee, provided that the Meeting shall be held in line with PGA Regulations Part 1.

9.1.2      The notice convening the Annual General Meeting shall be deemed to have been properly given if not less than 21 days notice in writing is given to the Members of the County. The notice to be by post or Email to the last known address of members. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of such notice by, any person entitled to receive notice thereof shall not invalidate any resolution passed, or proceedings held, at any meeting.

9.1.3      The County Chairman or his nominee (normally The Vice Chairman) will preside as Chairman at every Annual General Meeting. The chairman will invite The President, at the start of the meeting, to conduct the business of the meeting.

9.1.4      The Annual General Meeting shall consider the following items of business:

(a)  Minutes of the Previous Meeting.

(b)  Honorary Secretary’s Report.

(c)  Receipt and consideration of the Income & Expenditure Accounts and Balance Sheet of the County.

(d)  Election of Members to the Committee.

(e)  Introduction of The Captain and The Vice-Captain.

9.1.5      No other business shall be conducted at the Annual General Meeting (PGA Regulations) but a period of time may be made available after the meeting is closed for the discussion of matters of interest to Members.

9.1.6      The Members will be advised at this time of any changes in respect of The President, Accountant/Auditor, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.

9.2                Quorum at Annual General Meetings

9.2.1      No business shall be transacted at any Annual General Meeting unless a quorum is present, when the meeting proceeds to business. Save as herein otherwise provided, ten Members personally present shall be a quorum.

9.2.2      If within half an hour from the time appointed for the holding of the Meeting a quorum is not present it shall stand adjourned to such other time and place as the Committee may determine.

9.3                Voting at Annual General Meetings

9.3.1      All Notts PGA Members are eligible to attend an Annual General meeting.

9.3.2      No Member other than a Member who has paid his subscription and other sum (if any), which is due and payable, shall be entitled to vote on any question at any Annual General Meeting.

9.3.3      Notts PGA Members attending an Annual General Meeting who are eligible to vote shall have one vote.

9.3.4      Registered Trainees may not stand for election to the Committee; make any nomination or vote at Annual General Meetings (PGA Regulations Part 4 paragraphs 5.6 & 5.7).

9.4           Minutes of Meetings

The Honorary Secretary shall cause minutes to be taken at each and every meeting. The minutes shall be recorded and retained. The minutes shall be approved at the commencement of the next meeting.

10.       Finance

10.1       Financial Year

The financial year shall end on the last day of December in each year.

10.2       Accounts

10.2.1       A Bank Account will be held at a bank agreed upon by the Officers and Committee.

10.2.2       The Committee will approve signatories shown on the Bank Account Mandate. Two signatures from those specified on the mandate will be required to authorise Cheque payments.

10.2.3       The Honorary Treasurer shall keep all books and accounts for the Notts PGA and at the request of the Committee shall be required to produce them for inspection.

10.2.4       The Honorary Treasurer shall arrange for the books and accounts to be audited by the Accountant / Auditor. A Statement of Accounts will be produced and submitted to the Members at the Annual General Meeting.

10.3       Subscriptions

10.3.1       All PGA Professionals, PGA Assistants and PGA Registered Trainees shall pay an Annual Subscription (see PGA Regulations Part 1:5.2) to The Notts PGA at a level determined by the Committee.

10.3.2       The Subscription shall cover a 12 month period from 1st January to 31st December and the Subscription will become payable on the first day of January in each year.

10.3.3       New Members at their first election where they are elected after the last day of June in any year shall pay one half of the Annual Subscription.

10.3.4       In the event of a Member resigning, or being expelled from membership of The Professional Golfers Association, no refund of his Notts PGA Subscription shall be made.

10.3.5       In the event of a Member wishing to withdraw from Notts PGA Tournaments for the remainder of the year no refund of the Notts PGA Subscription shall be made.

10.3.6       Any PGA Professional, Assistant or Registered Trainee who plays in an event when his Notts PGA Subscription is over due shall not be awarded any prize or any ‘Order of Merit’ points.

10.4       Tournament Entry and Entry Fees

10.4.1       The Committee shall be responsible for the management of Notts PGA Tournaments and for the acceptance or rejection of entries.

10.4.2       The Committee shall determine the Tournament Entry Fees and such other fees as are reasonable to cover administration costs.

10.4.3       All Entry Fees must be paid prior to play.

10.5       Prize Funds

10.5.1       The Committee in conjunction with sponsors will determine the Prize Funds for all Tournaments.

10.5.2       It is intended that the Pro Am’s shall overall be self funding.

10.5.3       The Notts PGA will normally support the Club Professional of the host golf club by the purchase from him of the Amateur Pro Am prizes except that the Christmas Pro Am prizes will be ‘hampers’ purchased from an appropriate source. On occasions the Committee may give permission for the purchase of prizes of a more general and varied nature from other sources.

10.6       Course Acknowledgement / Facilitation Fee

The Committee shall determine the level of the Course Acknowledgement / Facilitation Fee (i.e. donation in lieu of green fees) to be paid to each golf club hosting a fixture.

10.7       Honoraria and Expenses

10.7.1       The Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall each be paid an Honorarium and agreed expenses as determined by the Committee.

10.7.2       The Honorary Treasurer shall have the authority to pay any other expenses where that expense has been incurred on behalf of The Notts PGA.

11.       Conditions of Competition

11.1       The Professional Golfers’ Association Tournament Rules as defined in PGA Regulations Part 6 will be applicable at all Tournaments.

11.2       The Committee shall be responsible for agreeing the Conditions of Competition for all Notts PGA Tournaments and shall have the sole right to alter, amend or add to these as appropriate.

11.3       The ‘Conditions of Competition’ applicable at Notts PGA Tournaments can be viewed by visiting the Notts PGA website currently at www.nottspga.co.uk/Conditions of Competition or by request from the Honorary Secretary.

12.       Vice Presidents

12.1       The Committee may in its absolute discretion invite Amateurs to become Vice Presidents.

12.2       Vice Presidents must be Amateurs as defined by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and be a full playing member and have a Handicap from an EGU Affiliated Golf Club.

12.3       The Committee, having unanimously decided to do so, may propose Honorary Vice Presidents for election subject to confirmation at the Annual General Meeting.

12.4       Vice Presidents or Honorary Vice Presidents have no voting powers.

12.5       Vice Presidents or Honorary Vice Presidents shall not be Members of the Committee and cannot attend any Meetings unless invited to do so by the Committee.

13.       Administration of Rules

13.1       Interpretation of the Rules

13.1.1       If any of the provisions of this Constitution are non compliant either wholly or partially with the terms, conditions and Constitution of the PGA then the terms of this Constitution which are non compliant shall be amended accordingly by revocation or necessary amendment so that they comply in all respects with the requirements of the PGA.

13.1.2       The Committee shall have the sole right to interpret these rules.

13.2       Alterations and Amendment of the Rules

13.2.1       No rule shall be made which is inconsistent with or at variance with the policy of the PGA.

13.2.2       The Constitution and Rules shall not be altered or amended other than by affirmative vote at a Committee Meeting and where necessary approval obtained from the PGA.

13.3       Complaints

13.3.1       Any Member having cause to complain about an Individual or The Notts PGA in general shall submit the complaint promptly and in writing to the Honorary Secretary. The person making the complaint must sign the letter. Wherever possible the complaint should be accompanied by supporting evidence.

13.3.2       The Honorary Secretary, upon receipt of a complaint, shall bring the matter to the attention of the Chairman. Where the matter does not infringe PGA Regulations and can be resolved immediately this will be done otherwise the Honorary Secretary shall place the complaint on the Agenda at the earliest possible Committee Meeting.

13.3.3       Complaints placed on the Agenda of a Committee meeting will be dealt with in line with PGA Regulations Part 5.

13.3.4       In the event of the Member not being satisfied with the decision of the Committee he has the right to appeal in line with PGA Regulations.

14.       Circulation of The Constitution and Rules

The Constitution & Rules shall be available to all PGA Professionals, Assistants & Registered Trainees who are Members of The Notts PGA.t your users know a little more about you.
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