Articles & Rules (valid from March 2021)
RULES (last updated April 2024, post AGM)
1. Name
The Society shall be called the Royal Swedish Golfing Society.
2. Object
The Society was formed on the 12th March 1912 with the object of promoting golfing goodwill, social amenities and providing all things incidental to the playing of golf.
3. Membership
(i) The members shall be selected from persons of Swedish nationality or ancestry or, if otherwise, interested in Swedish affairs and residing in the United Kingdom.
(ii) The Society shall consist of the following ordinary members in the following categories:-
- Full UK members
- Overseas members who are those who have previously been members of the Society and who no longer reside in the United Kingdom
- Junior members under the age of 25
- Non-playing members, including spouses of playing members
- Honorary members
f) Lifetime members – this category is closed as of 2018
(iii) Lifetime membership is no longer offered.
(iv) Golfers of either sex are eligible for membership.
(v) Corporate membership may be offered on application to the Committee.
4. Officers
(i) The officers of the Society shall be a president, a captain, vice-captain, a secretary and a treasurer. They shall be proposed, seconded and elected at each annual general meeting. They shall hold office until the next annual general meeting when they shall retire, but, subject to Rules 4 (ii) and (iii), shall be eligible for re-election from year to year.
(ii) The president shall hold office for a maximum continuous period of three years.
(iii) The captain shall hold office for a maximum continuous period of two years.
(iv) The office of secretary and treasurer may be filled by the same person if a majority of members present at the annual general meeting shall so approve.
(v) The secretary and treasurer roles shall have an initial term of 3 years, and then may offer themselves for re-election for a further one-year term, with no limit on the total number of such additional one-year terms. (added 2017)
5. Committee
The committee of management shall consist of the officers, the immediate past captain (in his first year after leaving office as captain) and such other members as shall be elected annually at the annual general meeting, provided that the total number of members of the committee shall not exceed nine.
6. Election of Members of this Committee
The election of the members of the committee shall take place in the following manner:-
(a) Any two members of the Society shall be at liberty to nominate a member to serve on the committee. The name of each member so nominated shall be sent in writing to the secretary at least fourteen days before the annual general meeting. The nominated member must give his consent in writing to the secretary before voting takes place.
(b) The election shall take the form of a show of hands but in the event of more candidates being nominated than numbers of seats available the vote shall be made by secret ballot of members present at the annual general meeting. In case there shall not be a sufficient number of candidates nominated the committee shall co-opt members to fill the remaining vacancies.
(c) If two or more candidates obtain an equal number of votes, the committee shall select by lot from such candidates the candidate or candidates who are to be members of the committee.
(d) All members of the committee, other than the officers, shall retire every year at the annual general meeting, but may offer themselves for re-election.
7. Casual Vacancies
Any casual vacancy on the committee may be filled by the committee, and any member so chosen shall retire at the following annual general meeting, but shall be eligible as a candidate for election on the committee at such annual general meeting.
8. Powers of Committee
The committee, in addition to the powers hereinafter specifically conferred upon them, shall have control of the finances of the club and all such administrative powers as may be necessary for properly carrying out the objects of the Society in accordance with these Rules.
9. Committee Meetings
(i) The committee shall meet whenever reasonably necessary in the interests of the Society.
(ii) On receiving written requests from at least three members of the committee the secretary shall call a committee meeting to be held in not less than 28 days from the receipt of the third request.
(iii) The secretary shall give every member of the committee at least 14 days written notice of a committee meeting, except during Competition Meetings when the requirement for written notice shall be dispensed with.
(iv) Four members of the committee shall be a quorum.
(v) Subject to Rule 26 the President or in his absence the Captain or in his absence any other member of the committee chosen by those present shall be chairman.
(vi) The chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
10. Duties of Honorary Secretary
The secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Society, and shall have the custody of all documents belonging to the Society. He shall keep full and correct minutes of all proceedings, a current list of the names and addresses of all members, and records of all competitions of the Society.
11. Duties of Honorary Treasurer
The treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Society and shall make up the annual statement of accounts and balance sheet of the Society (to 31st December in each year), copies of which shall, after audit, be circulated amongst the members with notice of the annual general meeting.
12. Auditors
Two members shall be appointed auditors at the annual general meeting. They or one of them shall audit the annual statement of accounts and balance sheets and shall certify the same before they are published to the members.
13. Election of Members
Admission of ordinary members shall be by election of the committee. A candidate for election who receives the unanimous votes of the committee shall be declared elected.
(i) A candidate must be proposed and seconded by two members of the Society, both of whom must be personally acquainted with him and responsible for his eligibility.(ii) On the election of a new member, the secretary shall notify the same to him in writing, furnish him with a copy of the rules and request him to pay his entrance fee (if any) and first subscription.
14. Entrance Fees and Subscriptions
(i) The committee shall, subject to ratification at the next annual general meeting, from time to time propose the entrance fee and subscriptions to be paid by the members for the following calendar year.
(ii) All annual subscriptions shall be payable in advance on the 1st January on which day the financial year shall commence.
(iii) No member whose subscription is in arrears can compete for any Society prize or vote at any meeting.
(iv) Any member whose subscription is unpaid on 31st May shall cease to be a member but may in the discretion of the committee be reinstated on payment of all arrears.
(v) A member elected after the Autumn meeting shall pay full subscription which shall also cover the following year.
15. Members Abroad
A member absent abroad for the whole of any year shall not be liable for any annual subscription for that year save that as overseas member, provided he shall have given to the secretary notice in writing of his intention to be so absent.
16. Honorary Members
On the recommendation of the committee, honorary members may be elected at any general meeting of the Society. A two-thirds majority of members present shall be necessary at such election. Honorary members may be elected for life or for such other period as the general meeting may deem expedient, and they shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership.
17. Resignation
(i) A member may at any time by giving notice in writing to the secretary resign his membership of the Society, but shall continue to be liable for any annual subscription due and unpaid at the date of his resignation. Any such member having discharged all his liabilities to the Society and wishing to rejoin may be proposed and voted for in accordance with Rule 13 and the committee may in their discretion excuse him any entrance fee.
(ii) A member intending to resign shall give written notice to the secretary before 1st December. In default he shall be liable to pay his subscription for the ensuing year.
18. Expulsion
To expel a member from the Society notice shall be sent to the secretary signed by three members acquainting him with the circumstances that give rise to such notice. The secretary shall then communicate with such member so that he may be given the opportunity of explaining or withdrawing from the Society, and shall call a meeting of the committee, who are empowered to decide the question. If all the members of the committee present vote for his expulsion the member shall be expelled. Any member so expelled shall have the right of appeal to an extraordinary general meeting, to be summoned within two months of his expulsion, when a two-thirds majority shall be required to confirm the expulsion. If the expulsion be not confirmed the member shall be reinstated.
19. Forfeiture of Rights on Cessation of Membership
Any member expelled in accordance with the rules or otherwise ceasing to be a member of the Society, shall forfeit such rights to, or claim upon, the Society or its property or funds as he otherwise would have by reason of membership.
20. Annual General Meeting
The annual general meeting of the Society shall be held not later than 30th April in each year in the London area or at such other time and place as the committee shall determine.
21. Extraordinary General Meeting
The committee may call an extraordinary general meeting when any question of urgent importance shall arise, and shall be bound to do so within two months on receiving a requisition signed by five members of the Society, or by a member who has been expelled by the committee and desires to appeal to an extraordinary general meeting.
22. Notice of Meeting
At least twenty-one days’ notice of any general meeting, specifying the business to be transacted, and the day, place and hour of the meeting, shall be sent to every member by letter to his address in the Society register.
23. Procedure at General Meeting
(i) At every general meeting ten members shall be a quorum and the president or in his absence the captain or in his absence a chairman elected by members present shall be chairman of the meeting. The chairman shall have a second or casting vote.
(ii) Subject to sub-section (iii) of this rule and rule 24 all motions at a general meeting shall be decided by a show of hands by the majority of the members present and voting.
(iii) If any members present at a general meeting shall demand a poll on any motion (except the election of members of the committee) submitted to the meeting, the motion shall be adjourned and the secretary shall forthwith send to every member entitled to vote a voting paper stating the motion. The motion shall be decided by the majority of the votes upon such of the voting papers as shall be returned to the secretary within 21 days after the meeting; such decision shall be deemed to be the decision of the meeting.
(iv) The business of the annual general meeting shall be the election of the officers and members of the committee, the appointment of the auditors and approval of the accounts, the reception of the annual report of the committee and the disposal of the business introduced by the committee and any other matter of which at least ten days previous notice in writing has been given to the secretary.
24. Alteration of the Rules
(i) Alterations in or additions to the rules of the Society may be made at a general meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting at such meeting.
(ii) Notice of the proposed new rule, repeal or alteration shall be given to the secretary at least twenty-eight days before the general meeting. Notice of the same shall be sent to the secretary in writing not later than ten days before the meeting.
25. By-laws
The committee are empowered to make, repeal and amend such by-laws as they may from time to time consider necessary for the well-being of the Society, which by-laws, repeals and amendments shall have effect until otherwise determined by the committee or a general meeting.
26. Competitions
(i) At every competition meeting the captain or in his absence the vice-captain or in his absence a member chosen by those committee members present shall be in charge of all competitions and matches.
(ii) Competitions shall be held at such times and under such conditions as the committee shall determine.
(iii) Competitions shall only be open to members in the following categories:
a) Full members (annual subscription)
b) Full Lifetime members
c) Overseas members
d) Junior members
e) Honorary members
f ) Corporate Members
27. Complaints
All complaints shall be made in writing to the secretary, who, if he shall be unable to deal with them, shall submit to the committee whose decision shall be final.
28. Payment of Expenses
Members are required to pay all expenses and discharge all obligations incurred on their own behalf or for their guests before their departure after meetings.
29. Addresses of Members
Every member shall from time to time communicate to the secretary their contact details, who shall maintain such details in the register of members, together with records of communications to and from members.
30. Rules of Golf
The rules of golf as adopted from time to time by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew’s shall be observed (except in so far as they are modified by by-laws of the Society or the local rules of the clubs where competitions take place).
31. Members Bound by Rules
Every member shall be bound by and submit to the rules and by-laws of the Society.
32. Dissolution of the Society
If at any General Meeting a resolution for the dissolution of the Society shall be passed by a majority of three-quarters of the members present and voting thereon any property or assets owned by the Society shall be handed over to the secretary of Svenska Golfförbundet in Sweden.
By-laws (valid since 2021)
1. Membership. The membership fee shall be £50 per person per year for all membership categories listed in the RSGS rules except:
a. Honorary members – no subscription is payable
b. Pre-existing Lifetime members – membership continues with no subscription payable. This category was closed in 2018.
c. Non-playing members shall pay a subscription of £25 per year
d. Corporate membership may be given at the discretion of the Committee
2. Handicaps. Handicaps will be applied in accordance with the RSGS Handicap Rules – see here.
.3. Competitions
a. Higher/lower divisions. (updated post 2017 AGM) The Spring and Autumn Meetings, and any other event or Meeting having multiple competitions/trophies, shall be played in such divisions (defined by a cut-off for low/high handicaps) as may be decided by the committee from time to time. Such decisions to be made notwithstanding specific handicap cut-offs previously specified by donors of trophies. Lady members shall play in a separate division.
b. The Committee shall make the draw for all competitions.
c. In all stroke play competitions ties shall be decided on the last 9, 6, 3, or 1 hole on
the card in that order. If this fails to break the tie the winner shall be decided by lot.
d. In the event of a match-play competition being halved the players shall continue hole by hole until one side wins a hole with strokes received at the same holes as the first 18 holes.
e. In matchplay competitions competitors must play their matches in accordance with the rules published when the draw for the competition is sent to the competitors concerned.
f. Tees of the day – Normally those competing in the same competition/trophy should play from the same tee but this can be varied at the discretion of the Committee.
g. Entrance fees shall be paid in advance for all competitions.
h. Sheltering in inclement weather is allowed.
i. Cups and trophies will be presented to winners on the day of the competition
and/or at the annual general meeting and shall remain the property of the Society at all times.
j. Rules of etiquette shall be observed by all members – there are 3 categories of
player conduct referred to in Rule 1.2 of the R & A rules.
All players are expected to play in the spirit of the game by:
i. Acting with integrity – for example, by following the Rules, applying al penalties, and being honest in all aspects of play.
ii. Showing consideration to others – for example, by playing at a prompt pace, looking out for the safety of others, and not distracting the play of another player.
iii. Taking good care of the course – for example, by replacing divots, smoothing bunkers, repairing ball-marks, and not causing unnecessary damage to the course.