The Society
The Hua Hin Golf Society is a non-profit making society based in Hua Hin, Prachuabkirikhan, Thailand. We are a private, members only society and play twice weekly, Tuesdays & Fridays, at one of the local golf courses. We are not a booking agent, tour operator or trip adviser.
The first rule of the Hua Hin Golf Society is that it is a friendly society and golf should be played in the spirit of the game. Members should strive to make all of our outings as enjoyable as possible for their fellow members and guests.
Membership
Membership is available to any person who fulfils the society membership requirements as listed in Appendix 1. Membership is on an annual basis, commencing 1st January 2021 and is not transferable or refundable.
Conduct
Members conduct should always reflect well on the society.
Members are expected to display good golf etiquette at all times.
In the event that a member has been found, following investigation by the Committee, to have committed an act detrimental to the Golf Society in any way, the Committee reserves the right to suspend, terminate membership or take any other disciplinary measure deemed suitable.
Any member placed under suspension is ineligible to hold office, vote at annual general meetings or participate in society competitions for the duration of the suspension.
Disciplinary Procedure.
Any member who becomes subject to disciplinary action will be informed of their breach/s of conduct by a committee member either verbally or by email.
The member will be asked to attend a disciplinary meeting with the committee at a date and time convenient to all. At this meeting, the member will be given the opportunity to state their case and defend themselves. If the member fails to attend the meeting without notice and reasonable cause, the committee reserves the right to deal with the issue/s as it sees fit in the member’s absence.
Once a decision has been reached, the member has the right to appeal any sanction by email to the committee within 14 days of the original meeting – info@huahingolfsociety.com. Committee decisions at this stage will be final.
Any member placed under suspension is ineligible to hold office, vote at annual general meetings or participate in society competitions for the duration of the suspension.
Every effort will be made to resolve disciplinary matters in as conciliatory a manner as possible.
Complaints
Any complaints should be made in writing to the committee for consideration whose decision shall be final.
Guests
Members are welcome to bring guests subject to availability of tee times – “walk ins”, visitors, tourists are not allowed to play with HHGS.
Members are completely responsible for the conduct of Guests at HHGS events and Members shall play with the invited guests or ensure another Member so plays.
At all times members will be given priority for sign up for events and guests shall be placed on a waiting list held either by the HHGS Captain or, as available, on the Handicap Master sign up section.
Guests and/or the member involved shall be notified of actual participation no earlier than 48 hours before the scheduled event.
At all times Guests will only be eligible for the “technical prizes” available at each event and shall not be eligible for the main prizes of each event.
However, where competitions involve team events – 2 or 4 ball competitions – and a Guest is involved, the team as a whole, including said Guest/s, will be eligible for both technical and main prizes. In these instances, all Guests must provide a committee member with a valid and verifiable handicap certificate or all team members will not be eligible for the main prizes.
The number of Guests permitted to play in a team cannot constitute more than 50% of that team’s total players – 1 for a 2 ball competition or 2 for a 4 ball competition.
Guests are not eligible for HHGS green fee rates unless the course involved specifically allows that. In all cases Guests shall pay the HHGS match fee for each event.
Should Guests be able to enter Subsidized events based on availability of tee times, Guests shall pay the relevant (to be calculated on a case by case basis) F & B costs – this also applies to non-playing Guests of Members attending post game gatherings.
On an event by event basis and dependent upon the number of guests involved in any event the committee may decide to award Guest Prizes – most usually being sleeves of HHGS logoed golf balls,
The website contains a section detailing HHGS’s approach to Member guest involvement.
Communications
All notices to members will be displayed in Berny Bar and on our website – (www.huahingolfsoicety.com)
Any member can communicate with the society via our email address (info@huahingolfsociety.com) or by using the ‘contact us’ button on the website.
Subscriptions
All membership fees shall be established by the committee in such amounts as are deemed to be adequate to operate and maintain the society and are payable annually.
These fees are payable by 31st December prior to the renewal year.
Any member who has not renewed by the above date will have to play as a guest until January 31st of the renewal year after which they will become an inactive member.
Voting Rights
For members that are unable to attend any meeting we will accept your vote by email or personally hand delivered to Berny Bar. Any items for voting will be emailed to members who have signed up on our website for updates, displayed on our website and in Berny Bar. A closing date will be given for the receipt of any voting by this method which will be one week prior to the meeting being held
General Meetings
AGM The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Society shall be held annually, at such time and place, as the Committee shall determine. Each AGM will conduct the following business:
- Chairman’s Report.
- Minutes of last AGM.
- Matters arising.
- Treasurer’s Report.
- Charity Policy
- Resolutions.
- Election of Committee.
- Any Other Business.
Notice of the AGM shall be posted on the Society’s Website and on the Notice Board in Berny Bar at least 2 months in advance of the date.
Resolutions
Resolutions are agenda items raised by members for issues that have not been resolved with the committee, and will be accepted no later than 1 month before the AGM and must include a detailed rationale for the resolution.
Voting on all resolutions shall be by completion of voting slips / show of hands by Members present at the meeting plus any email / hand delivered votes received
Resolutions will be carried by a two thirds majority of members voting.
Election of committee
At the annual general meeting the membership should elect a body of officers to form the committee. Each member wishing to be elected to hold office shall have a membership of at least one year’s standing and shall be nominated by a proposer and seconder, both of which shall have a membership of at least one year’s standing. The nominee must include a statement outlining why they are standing and what they will bring to the committee. The list of nominations to hold office shall be posted in the clubhouse two months prior to the AGM and nominations shall close one month prior to the AGM to allow time for receipt of email / hand delivered votes.
Members will be elected based on the number of votes received.
Elected members will hold office for two years and will be eligible for re-election.
EGM
The Committee may call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) when any question of urgent importance shall arise. An EGM can also be called by any members for issues that have not been resolved with the committee, and requires a written petition signed by not less than twenty percent of the membership. No business other than that scheduled in the Agenda for the meeting shall be transacted at an Extraordinary General Meeting.
Voting on EGM agenda items shall be by completion of voting slips / show of hands by Members present at the meeting plus any email / hand delivered votes received.
Agenda items will be carried by a two thirds majority of members voting.
Management
The Society will be run by the elected Committee (see AGM) who will decide and be responsible for all decisions of how the Society is conducted. Any member can make suggestions for discussion at committee meetings and these will be dealt with on their merits.
Committee Role
The committee will elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Captain, Secretary, and a Treasurer. See appendix 2 for definitions of posts. They may also form any sub-committees, co-opting members as required. Any sub-committee will consist of at least one committee member.
The Chairman or Vice Chairman, in the absence of the Chairman, will chair meetings of the committee. There will be at least six committee meetings in one year. Four committee members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting and all decisions will be decided by majority vote. The Chairman is empowered with the casting vote in all unresolved matters
All committee members are voluntary and receive no salary.
Any vacancy on the committee may be filled by the committee seconding an eligible society member.
In the event that a committee member has been found, following investigation by the committee, to have committed an act detrimental to the Golf Society in any way, the committee reserves the right to immediately dismiss that member from the committee, suspend or terminate membership or take any other disciplinary measure deemed suitable. If dismissed from the committee, the committee member will not be eligible for re-election for a minimum period of 5 years.
Special Note:
Notwithstanding the provisions of the above, Berny Morgan shall be the Captain for life or for as long as he chooses to continue in the position.
Finance / Accounts
The fiscal year for the society will be 1st Jan through to 31st December.
Accounts are produced monthly for approval by the committee. The bank book is presented for checking at every committee meeting. These accounts and bank book are available to any member with backup documentation if requested.
No more than 25,000 baht to be kept in petty cash at any time. All other monies are to be deposited into the bank account.
No payments >1,000 baht to be made without approval of the Chairman and Treasurer of the committee
A stock take of balls & shirts to be conducted quarterly.
All monies collected shall accrue to the benefit of the members.
The committee shall determine the regulations regarding finance and accounting as well as any other power and duty relating to income and expenses that are not specified in these rules.
Competitions
Members must observe the R & A Rules of Golf and the rules of the host club at all times. In addition, the Hua Hin Golf Society has its own local rules which can be found on our website.
If during a competition round players are unable to agree on a ruling, then two scores should be clearly marked on the scorecard for that hole. The committee, whose decision will be final, on completion of the round, will rule upon the issue.
Score cards must be returned at all competitions. Scorecards must be marked and completed by another player in your group (not by you or your caddie) and then checked and signed by both the marker and yourself.
To play in any of the society’s major competitions and subsidised events, members must have played the requisite number of times as displayed on the website and in Berny Bar. An exception to this rule
will be made for members of less than twelve months standing. Their qualifying will be on a pro rata basis. The committee has discretion to include members for a good reason e.g. ill health.
Handicaps It is the responsibility of each Member to ensure that they are playing from their correct handicap.
Can we remind members that before commencing play in any competition that they must declare their lowest current handicap that they have achieved anywhere, which may not be the Hua Hin Golf Society handicap that they have been given.
All handicaps are maintained using the Society version of “Handicap Master”. This is a fully licensed handicap management software which manages personal handicaps in accordance with all the rules laid down by the English Golfing Union (EGU). This version is for use by Golf Societies.
Winding Up
If at any stage the society shall be wound-up or terminated, the proceeds of all assets, after settlement of all liabilities, will be donated to the society’s adopted Charity(ies).
Amendments to Rules
The committee shall have the power to repeal or amend any of these rules provided that such action shall not be effective until approved by a two thirds majority vote of the society members at a general meeting. Voting on amendments to the rules shall be by completion of voting slips / show of hands by Members present at the meeting plus any email / hand delivered votes received.
APPENDIX 1
MEMBERSHIP
Membership Requirements
Open to those who reside in Thailand for at least 3 months of the year. Handicap limits for new members are 28 for Men and 36 for Women.
Establishing Handicap
New applicants must provide evidence of an existing handicap by copy of handicap certificate or evidence of a handicap held on an on-line handicapping system.
New applicants who are unknown to any of the committee members at the time of first approaching HHGS are required to play 5 times as a guest of a member (at least one with a committee member) before submitting a membership application. This application must demonstrate meeting all other specified membership requirements.
New applicants who are known to any of the committee members by way of regular involvement in games with other groups that the committee member is also involved in may be required to play 3 times as a guest of a member (at least once with a committee member) before submitting a membership application. This application must demonstrate meeting all other specified membership requirements.
Application
Application forms are available on the website and in Berny Bar and must be proposed and seconded by an existing member of at least one year’s standing.
Supporting Documents: –
1) Proof of minimum 3 months residency (Visa, Entry Stamps, Accommodation Rental / Lease / Ownership documents)
2) Two Passport Size Photographs
3) Photocopy of the Detail Page of Passport.
4) Handicap Certificate (refer to above) Not Compulsory).
5) Photocopy of I.D. Card (Thai Nationals only)
APPENDIX 2
COMMITTEE
Definition of posts
Chairman: To administer the society within the provisions of these rules and regulations. To maintain good relations with local golf courses and to stimulate the advancement of the society. To preside and maintain order at committee meetings and annual general meetings.
Vice Chairman: To assume all Chairman’s duties in the Chairman’s absence and to assist other executive committee members in the execution of their duties.
Captain: To process applications and issue membership cards within the bounds of society membership. To organize and run the twice weekly tournaments, and to keep the members up to date with forthcoming events.
Secretary: To fulfil all of the society’s administrative requirements, including the recording of minutes of committee meetings and annual general meetings and give notice of all committee and general meetings.
Treasurer: To ensure all monies raised by the society shall be applied to further the advancement of the society and for no other purposes and maintain proper accounts of the finances of the society. To report at committee meetings and annual general meetings the balance of society accounts.