Constitution
Constitution
Constitution
Irish Blind Golf Constitution Effective 9th March 2024
1.0 Name
The name of the body is “Irish Blind Golf” (hereinafter referred to as “the body”.
2.0 Objectives
The main object for which the body is established is to encourage totally blind and visually impaired persons to participate in the game of golf and to encourage former golfers who have suffered loss of vision to renew their interest in the game.
This will be achieved by –
a. Promoting Blind Golf throughout the country of Ireland as a sport and recreation for blind
persons and visually impaired person. This promotion will occur, but not limited to, within
the blind and visually impaired communities and the golfing communities throughout Ireland.
b. Raising monies from membership subscriptions.
c. Organising fundraising events to financially support the activities of Irish Blind Golf.
d. Arranging every year an order of merit and Race To Royal Dublin competition for B1-B2-B3 category players with a WHS HANDICAP or IBGA HANDICAP.
e. Arranging every year a RACE TO ROYAL DUBLIN competition for B4A-B4F category Players with a WHS
OR IBGA INDEX HANDICAP.
e. To offer financial support, where possible, to the eligible members of Irish Blind Golf to participate in IBGA tournaments.
f. To offer financial support for golf coaching, where possible, to the members of Irish Blind
Golf to learn and develop their golfing skills.
g. To apply for national grant aid funding.
h. Where possible, to work with other organisations or committees to promote blind and
visually impaired golf as appropriate.
3.0 Membership
Membership of Irish Blind Golf will consist of blind and visually impaired golfers and their aide(s). New members must COMPLETE IBGA SIGHT FORM TO DETERMINE EYE SIGHT CATEGORY
IE. B1-B2-B3-B4A-B4F
Membership shall be open to all individuals, male or female,18 and over.
All new members who do not have an Active WHS HANDICAP must have 3 qualifying rounds with IBG in order to attain IBGA INDEX Handicap.
Application for membership will be deemed as understanding and acceptance of the body’s Constitution, Terms and Conditions of Membership, Rules and Regulations, Policies and Code of Conduct.
Associate Membership
IBGA events.
b. Players who do not declare Ireland as “HOME COUNTRY “ may apply for Associate Membership.
c. Associate members are responsible for paying their Green Fees.
d. Associate members will not qualify for IBG order of merit and other competitions within IBG.
e. Associate members cannot vote in IBG elections or run for any committee roles.
f. All score cards will be returned to IBGA HANDICAP Secretary.
4.0 International Blind Golf Association (IBGA)
For blind and visually impaired golfers who wish to seek financial subsidy to play in an IBGA golf events , the following conditions will apply:
a . A member must have paid their membership subscription in full; and
b. A member must satisfy the eligibility criteria required for entry to the IBGA event
being applied for; and
c. All NEW members must have One Year membership with IBG and a minimum of 3 rounds of golf in order to Participate in IBGA events.
d. The Management Committee of Irish Blind Golf will have the right to disregard above
mentioned clause c. where a member has not being able to play Golf due to injury or illness and will require a full medical report
5.0 Subscriptions
Membership fees are payable in full by the blind and visually impaired golfing members of Irish Blind Golf before the first order of merit round of the year. Aides do not pay a membership fee.
Membership fees are approved by the members at each annual general meeting.
7.0 Management Committee
The Management Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, Honorary Secretary, Treasurer, Captain and Handicap & Competition Secretary. Other positions may be created in order to fulfil the work of Irish Blind Golf, i.e. Assistant Secretary, Public Relations etc.
The affairs of Irish Blind Golf will be vested in a management committee, to be elected each year, at the annual general meeting, by the members.
The captain shall be an ex oficio officer of the management committee so as to advise the Committee, as required.
The quorum of the management committee shall be at least four members.
The management committee shall have the power to co-opt members and also to set up sub committees.
The management committee shall meet as and when required but not less than once a year.
Casual vacancies that occur through resignations or otherwise may be filled by the management committee as co-opted members until the next annual general meeting.
The members of Irish Blind Golf shall appoint a captain-for a two year period at the annual general meeting.
8.0 Meetings
8.1 Annual General Meeting
The annual general meeting shall take place within three months of the end of the financial year.
Members shall be given at least 14 days notice.
Proposals for amendments to the Constitution must be received by the Secretary at least 7 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting.
Notice may be given in writing.
Notice may be communicated by email, and not by any other electronic means, for example via social media, website or phone applications.
Advance notice for proposals for non-constitutional changes is not required.
The quorum for the annual general meeting shall be at least half of the total membership of Irish Blind Golf.
Minutes of all meetings must be signed and kept as true records.
8.2 Extraordinary General Meeting
An extraordinary general meeting may be called by the management committee or by the secretary having received a request in writing to do so, by not less than one third (1/3) of the total membership of Irish Blind Golf.
Members shall be given at least 14 days’ notice.
Notice may be given in writing.
Notice may be communicated by email, and not by any other electronic means, for example via social media, website or phone apps.
The quorum for an extraordinary general meeting shall be at least half of the total membership of Irish Blind Golf.
An Extraordinary General Meeting deal specifically with the purpose for which it was called and no other business will be valid.
Minutes of all meetings must be signed and kept as true records.
8.3 Voting
Only those members who have paid their membership subscription in full during the previous year
and have not left or resigned during that year are entitled to vote at an (AGM)annual general meeting or (EGM)extraordinary general meeting.
Only one aide per golfer is entitled to vote at an annual or extraordinary general meeting, provided that the golfer’s annual subscription has been paid in full or has not left or resigned.
All members shall be entitled to a proxy vote in the event of their absence at an annual general meeting. Proxy must be delivered to the Secretary 7 days in advance of the date of the meeting either by post or email. No proxy voting will be permitted for Extraordinary General Meetings.
Any decision put to the vote shall be decided by a simple majority of eligible members, present and by proxy. In the event of a tied vote, the chairman shall be entitled to a casting vote.
9.0 Finance
The financial year shall be from January first to December thirty first.
The funds of the body shall be kept at a bank or similar institution.
All cheques shall be signed by the treasurer and one other office bearer.
The Treasurer shall keep proper accounting records and prepare accounts annually and at such intervals as the Management Committee shall direct.
A balance sheet must be presented by the treasurer at each management committee meeting.
Annual accounts shall be kept in accordance with statutory requirements and made available to the revenue commissioners or any institution on request.
10.0 Income and Property
The income and property of the body shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its main object and subsidiary objects as set out in this constitution. No portion of the societies income and property shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise, howsoever, by way of profit, to the members of the body. No officer, paid by salary or fees, shall be appointed to any office of Irish Blind Golf, or receive any remuneration or other benefit in money or moneys worth from Irish Blind Golf. However, nothing shall prevent any payment in good faith by the body of reasonable and proper remuneration to any member of the body for any services rendered to Irish Blind Golf.
Interest at a rate not exceeding five percent per annum on money lent by officers or by other members to the Society to the body.
Reasonable and proper out of pocket expenses incurred by any officer in connection with their attendance of any matter affecting the body. Fees, remuneration or other benefit in money or moneys worth to anybody of which an officer may be a member holding not more than one hundredth part of the issued capital of such body.
11.0 Discipline
If any member shall be guilty of any conduct which shall in the absolute discretion of the management committee be considered to be injurious or prejudicial to the character or interest of the body, then the management committee of Irish Blind Golf by a simple majority shall have the power to invoke disciplinary procedures as defined in the body’s Code of Conduct. In summary, these shall consist of three classes –
a) Conditional suspension
b) Full suspension
c) Termination of membership.
d) Immediate termination of membership will be applied without the right to be heard where a member willingly provided misleading or false information on their membership application form or sight form.
12.0 Winding Up
If upon the winding up or dissolution of the body there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, it shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of Irish Blind Golf. Instead, such property shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having main objects similar to the main objects of Irish Blind Golf. The institution or institutions to which the property is to be given or transferred shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income or property among its or their members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the body under or by virtue of clause 11 hereof. Members of the body shall select the relevant institution or institutions at or before the time of dissolution at a special general meeting, and if and so far as effect cannot be given to such provisions, then the property shall be given or transferred to some charitable object.
13.0 Additions Alterations or Amendments
No addition alteration or amendment shall be made to or in the provisions of this constitution for the time being in force unless the same shall have been previously approved in writing by the majority of members.
Proposed amendments to the constitution must first be submitted to the secretary in writing or to whoever the management committee have appointed