Constitution of The Oxfordshire Junior Golf League

1. The title of the organisation will be "Oxfordshire Junior Golf League," hereinafter called "the League".

2. The objects of the League will be to provide and foster competitive golf amongst junior golfers (male and female) at club representative level.

3. In furtherance of the said objects but not otherwise the League may : -
a) provide the opportunity to play competitive match play by arranging fixtures with member clubs and others.
b) raise funds, invite and receive contributions and sponsorship, by way of subscription or otherwise - provided any such donation, whether monetary or material, does not contravene regulations of any national golf body.

4. Membership

a) Membership of the League shall be open to all junior members of golf clubs that are affiliated to the League. Each junior must have paid his/her subscription to his/her respective club and hold a recognised golf handicap, after an introductory period. Membership of the League will cease once a junior becomes 18 years of age in accordance with the national rules.
b) A club may become affiliated to the League by applying in writing to the League Committee at least 21 days before the AGM-Fixtures Meeting. Members will be notified of any applications at least 14 days prior to the meeting. Applications will be discussed and approved at the AGM-Fixtures Meeting.
c) Each affiliated club will appoint an adult full member as their representative on the League and that person will also be a member of the League during the tenure of his/her appointment. The representative will be known as the Junior Organiser. All Junior Organisers should obtain a Criminal Records Bureau enhanced disclosure certificate (CRB). The Junior Organiser may appoint a substitute should he/she be unable to attend any meeting or match organised by the League. In the case of a match the substitute should have a CRB enhanced disclosure certificate.
d) Affiliated clubs will be requested to pay a subscription (to be reviewed annually by the League Committee) which is due at the AGM-Fixtures Meeting. Failure to pay the subscription to the Treasurer by this date will result in expulsion from the League. Expulsion of an affiliated club from the League for any reason or reasons other than failure to pay the annual subscription shall receive the assent of not less than two thirds of the membership the League.

5. League Committee

The League will be controlled by a Committee that will consist of: - an elected Chairperson/Secretary, Treasurer, plus one representative from each Section of the League. Chairperson/Secretary and Treasurer will need to seek re-election after 3 years. Section Representatives will need to be re-elected every year. The League Committee will consist of a minimum of four members. The Committee will undertake the routine business of the League including the settlement of any dispute arising from the matches. All Committee decisions will be final.

6. The League will hold an AGM-Fixtures Meeting in the first week of November. The Junior Organiser (or an adult representative) of each club wishing to be a member of the League in the following year must be present at the AGM/Fixtures Meeting. At such meeting: -
a) The first item on the agenda will be the approval of any new application for membership. Once approved the representative will be invited to join the meeting.
b) Every other year it will be decided how many sections of the League there will be for the following 2 years. e.g.If 20 or less members there could be 2 sections. If 21 or more there could be 3 sections
c) Every other year members of the 2/3 sections will be drawn, and home and away matches will be drawn, In this way each club will play a home and away match against other clubs in the section in consecutive years.
d) Each section will appoint one of its Junior Organisers to be its representative on the League Committee. The representative will be elected annually by the members of each section at the AGM-Fixtures Meeting.
e) When necessary the elections for Chairperson/Secretary and Treasurer will take place.
The Chairman/Secretary may appoint a person to take minutes at the AGM-Fixtures Meeting

7. The League Committee may hold other meetings in the year to carry out any business of the League.
8. Extra-ordinary General Meeting.
The Chairman/Secretary shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting at any time by request of the League Committee, or on receiving a request to call such a meeting signed by at least 6 members of the League, stating the purpose of the meeting. Notice of the EGM must be sent to all members of the League at least 28 days before the proposed meeting stating the business of the meeting. No other business shall be considered at the meeting.

9. Disciplinary Procedure

Where any member of the Oxfordshire Junior Golf League is found to be in breach of the Rules of Golf, or whose behaviour is such that it brings, or is likely to bring the League into disrepute, then that member may be subject to the disciplinary procedure of the League as follows: -
(a) The facts of the breach of rules, or behaviour, shall be submitted verbally or in writing to the League Committee, who shall act as the Disciplinary Committee. Should any member of the Disciplinary Committee be a member of the club to which the member in question belongs, a Junior Organiser from another club shall be appointed as a substitute member of the Disciplinary Committee.
(b) The Committee will then decide the penalties (if any) to be imposed. Such penalties may include suspension from League Matches. If any suspended player participates in any League game during a period of suspension, the points of the suspended player will be awarded to the opponents.
(c) The Chairman/Secretary will inform the Junior Organiser and the Secretary of the member's club as to the result of the proceedings. The member will be informed in writing.
(d) The member has right of appeal, notification of same must be received in writing within 14 days. Any penalty imposed shall not be put into operation until the period of appeal has expired.
(e) The appellant must appear in person, and may be accompanied by his/her Junior Organiser. Following the appeal, the decision of the Appeal Committee is final. The Appeal Committee shall consist of the Chairman/Secretary and 2 Junior Organisers who shall not be members of the League Committee and who shall not be the Junior Organiser of the club to which the member belongs.
If the member has committed a breach of the Rules of Golf, and has been the subject of a penalty on the day of the event, this may be deemed to be adequate, and no further action need be taken by the Disciplinary Committee.

10. Alterations

Any alteration or deletion to this constitution shall receive the assent of not less than two thirds of the Junior Organisers of the League. An application to alter or delete any constitutional item must be made in writing not less than 28 days before the AGM-Fixtures Meeting

11. Finance

All moneys raised by or on behalf of the League shall be applied to further the objects of the League. The Treasurer shall keep accounts and a statement of such accounts will be submitted at the AGM Fixtures Meeting. A bank account in the name of the League will be kept at a recognised bank. The Chairman, Treasurer and two other League Committee members will be authorised to sign cheques on behalf of the League. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the aforementioned persons.

12. Dissolution

If it becomes necessary to dissolve the League, an Extra-ordinary Meeting shall be called. If, by a majority vote, the League is dissolved, then all monies, and monies realised from any assets held by, or on behalf of the League, shall be donated to the EGU/EWGA/Golf Partnership, The Golf Foundation, or any combination of those bodies, as shall be decided at the meeting.

Format of Matches
a) Each team consists of 6 players and the format is 4BBB match play.
b) The matches are played off handicap and do not go to sudden death.
c) Back marker to concede strokes to the other 3 players based on ¾ of the difference between the full handicaps.
d) Female players will receive course levelling shots equivalent to the difference in the men's and ladies' standard scratch at the club hosting the match. These shots are added after the ¾ difference in handicap has been calculated.
e) Active handicaps are required and the maximum is 28 for males and 36 for females.
f) Male and female players in the League will play from their respective medal tees.
g) Pairings to be the choice of the Junior Organiser, and the pairs will go out in order as per the match list filled in by the JO's prior to the match.

Points are awarded as follows : -
a) 2 points for the winning team, 1 point each if match halved. The total number of points determines the team's position within their Section of the League.
b) Should a club fail to produce a full team, that club will concede individual match/matches equating to the number of matches not played.
c) In the event of a tie at the completion of the League sections, the winner will be determined by the individual match wins. If a tie remains there will be a play off at a neutral venue.

Results
At the end of each match the home Junior Organiser will enter the results onto the web-site, by 6:00pm on the Monday following the match being played.

Two sections in the League
The winners of each section will play on neutral ground during the month of September/early October to decide the overall winner of the League and the George Gale Cup.
Format of matches as above.

In the event of a tie at the end of all three matches, one pair, (names to be placed in an envelope prior to the match and given to the referee) to represent their team in a play off. Play off to be match play over 3 holes. (Holes to be decided on the day by the referee and/or the host club) If still tied after 3 holes match will revert to sudden death, over same 3 holes.

Three sections in the League
Each of the winning clubs will host a match between the other two winners during the month of September/early October to decide the overall winner of the League and the George Gale Cup. i.e. A will play B at C's club, A will play C at B's club and B will play C at A's club.
Format of matches as above
In the event of a tie at the end of any match the result will be decided as in rules for two sections in the League, (see above).
In the event of all 3 teams having won one match, one player from each of the three clubs (names to be placed in an envelope prior to the last match and given to the referee) to represent their team in a play off. Play off to be match play over 3 holes. (Holes to be decided on the day by the referee and/or the host club) If still tied after 3 holes match will revert to sudden death, over same 3 holes.
All 3 teams should be present at the final match for the meal and presentation

Rules governing aforementioned League Matches.
a) All matches should be arranged by 28^th February of the year in which they are to be played. Each club is required to post the dates of its matches on the League web-site by this date.
b) All matches must be played by the last day of August.
c) Other than in exceptional circumstances, once the date for a match has been fixed it should not be postponed. Non availability of a club's best players is not an exceptional circumstance.
d) Junior Organisers: -The Junior
1) The Junior Organiser of each team, or a responsible adult substitute, must be present at each match otherwise the match will be cancelled and points awarded to the opposition.
2) The Junior Organiser of the home team must not allow juniors from a visiting team to play on their course if there is no Junior Organiser or responsible adult in attendance.
3) The Junior Organiser/substitute should have parental medical consent forms with them at each match..
e) The competition tee of the day will be used for all League Matches.
f) All matches will be governed by the Rules of Golf and any local rules in force on the day of the Match
g) In addition, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If a player uses a distance measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play, (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.

This rule prevails over any local rule relating to measuring devices.
h) Players can only play for one Oxfordshire Junior Golf League Club during one playing season. If any Club is found guilty of playing an ineligible player, the offending team will forfeit the points won in the match.
i) In all matches organised and run by the League, players participating will not be allowed caddies. Applications for exceptions should be made to the League Committee.
j) No person will engage in the giving of any encouragement or advice to any player by way of speech or sign so as to give that player an advantage. The seeking of such encouragement is also prohibited. Any normal show of appreciation e.g. "good shot" or applause is acceptable. Any breach will result in disqualification of the player, whether the player has incited the infringement or not.
k) Whilst the League wish to encourage the involvement of parents/relatives/friends, at no time will a player be accompanied by any of these persons, whilst that player is engaged in play. Spectating is permissible from the recognised positions, e.g. edge of fairways, fringes of greens. Any breach will result in disqualification of the player, whether the player has incited the infringement or not.
l) Following the completion of golf at each event, every player will be required to wear appropriate clothing in keeping with the standards of the League and the rules of the club of venue. The host club may waive such conditions at their discretion.