1. INTRODUCTION
The Bedwell Park Club is a membership club operating under the
control of Hatfield London Country Club Limited (the Company). The
Company operates a 36-hole golf course with pitch and putt and provides
a service to ordinary members of the golfing public, golf societies,
members of the Hatfield London Country Club Member Course and now to
members of the Bedwell Park Club as well. 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors shall be those duly authorised to serve as
directors of Hatfield London
Country Club Limited (the Company). 3. OBJECTS OF THE BEDWELL PARK
CLUB
The objects of the Club are to promote the game of golf, to
establish, maintain and conduct a golf club for the benefit of its
members and to provide facilities for other activities consistent with
members of a golf club. This object would be subject to the discretion
of the Company given its obligations to safeguard its commercial
interests with regard to its clients without the Bedwell Park Club.
4. CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP
The Club shall consist of Full, Five-Day, Individual and Corporate
Members and such other categories of Members as the Company shall from
time to time, determine. All categories of membership shall be open to
either sex. The number of Members of each category and the number of
male and female members in each category shall be limited in such manner
as the Company shall from time to time determine. The Company at any
time may in its discretion define further categories of Membership 5.
PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP
The privileges set out in this section are subject to such conditions
and restrictions as may be reasonably imposed by the Company. Full Members are entitled to use the Clubhouse whenever it is open and
to play golf on any day that the course is open subject as always to
availability. Five-Day members are entitled to use the Clubhouse whenever it is open,
but to play golf from Monday to Friday inclusive only when the course is
open. Five-Day members may only play golf on Saturdays, Sundays as
guests or visitors. 6. PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS
The Company has decided that these posts will not be available to the
Club. 7. THE CAPTAIN AND THE VICE-CAPTAIN
The Captain and Vice Captain (each of whom must be a Full or Five Day
Member) shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting to hold
office until the next following Annual General Meeting. Every third
year, however, the Company shall itself appoint members to the positions
of captain and Vice Captain, subject to the written consent of those
members. 8. THE COMPANY
The freehold title to the Clubhouse, the Course and surrounding land
and buildings belongs to Tokyo Leisure Development Company Limited,
(TL), a company incorporated in Japan. Hatfield London Country Club
Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of TL and under the terms of a
lease from TL, operates the golf course business at Essendon in
Hatfield. Up until October 2002, the company operated two Clubhouses,
the Public Course Clubhouse and the Members Course Clubhouse. Following
the sale of the Public Course Clubhouse to a property developer, the
business now operates out of the Members Clubhouse. HLCC Ltd has seven directors, three of whom are resident in the U.K.
Some 13 years ago, a Japanese corporate Members Club was also
established at Essendon and continues to operate from the same
Clubhouse. 9. FINANCIAL YEAR
The financial year of the Bedwell Park Club shall be 12 months
commencing on 1st April. 10. ENTRANCE FEES AND ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
Members shall be liable to pay entrance fees and subscriptions which
shall be determined from time to time by the Company. 11. CHAIRMAN
The Board of Directors of HLCC Ltd shall appoint the Golf
Administrator as Chairman of the Committee. 12. COMMITTEE
There shall be a Committee which shall consist of at least five fee
paying members (whether Full or Five Day) and two employees of the
Company, namely the ClubHouse Manager (or in his absence his Assistant)
and the HeadGreen Keeper (or in his absence, his Deputy). For reasons of
practicality, the position of Club & Handicap Secretary will be occupied
by the Clubhouse Manager and the position of Greens Secretary will be
occupied by the Head Green Keeper. The Professional Golfer will also
serve on the Committee as Chairman under the terms of an independent
Agreement with the Company. Notwithstanding, the outcome of any of the Committee’s proceedings, the
Company shall have the power of veto in respect of such decisions that
the Company may consider contrary to its best commercial interests.
The Committee shall be responsible for: a) the arrangement of golf competitions and matches and of club social
functions, subject ultimately to the powers of the Board of Directors. b) handicapping of golfing members c) enforcement of codes of conduct and standards of dress for all
Members in the clubhouse and on the course. d) such other responsibilities as may be delegated to then by the Board
of
Directors from time to time as agreed by the Committee. 13.
COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall have the following six posts – Captain, Vice
Captain, Chairman, Treasurer, Club/Handicap Secretary and Greens
Secretary. 14. ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE
The election of members to the Committee shall take place at the
Annual General Meeting in the following manner. Thirty-five days notice of the forthcoming election shall be given on
the Bedwell Park Club notice board in the clubhouse. Such notice shall
state the number of vacancies and any nominees of the Board of Directors
or of the Committee. In addition to any such nominees any four Members
of the Club shall be at liberty to nominate another Member to serve on
the Committee, having previously received that person’s consent in
writing. The name of each nominated Member shall be sent in writing to
the Clubhouse Manager at least twenty-one days before the Annual General
Meeting, together with the names of the proposer and the seconder. The
list of nominees with their proposer and seconder shall be posted on the
Clubhouse notice board in alphabetic order at least 14 days before the
Annual General Meeting. The names of the candidates together with in each case their proposer
and seconder
shall be circulated to all the Members along with the notice of the
Annual General Meeting. If there are more candidates than vacancies then
provided that the meeting is attended by 70% in number of the Members on
that date, an election may take place at the meeting. If not, the
Company reserves the right to make the appointments from the list of
nominations.
If there are an insufficient number of nominations to fill the
vacancies, then the Company reserves the right to make its own
appointments in respect of Members who are willing to serve but for
whatever reason have not secured a proposer and/or a seconder. If in an election, two or more Members receive the same number of votes,
the existing Committee Members shall select by ballot from such
candidates. Each year two Committee Members who are Members of the Club shall retire
at the Annual General Meeting and shall not be eligible for re-election
until the next following year’s Annual General Meeting. Since the Committee is represented by Members of the Club and by
representatives of the Company either as employees or consultants,
situations may arise when differences of opinion between those
protecting the interests of the Membership and those protecting the
wider interests of the Company. Thus, to avoid problems whereby Members’
loyalties could be compromised, members of the same family or partners
will not be permitted to serve on the Committee simultaneously. 15.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee shall meet for the dispatch of its business and
regulate its meetings as it thinks fit. Three Members shall represent a
quorum, two of whom must be representatives of the Company. In the event
of a tie in a ballot of the Committee members, the Chairman shall have
the casting vote, subject as stated elsewhere in these Rules to the
power of veto by the Company. 16. REMOVAL OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Any member of the Committee, other than the representatives of the
Company, may be removed from office at any time by a resolution of a
General Meeting duly convened in accordance with the relevant rule
herein, carried by the votes of a majority of not less than two thirds
of the members present and entitled to vote. Those members of the Committee who are representatives of the Committee
may only be removed by the Board of Directors and the Committee Chairman
may only be removed under the terms of a separate Agreement with that
member. 17. BORROWING
The Committee shall not have any powers of borrowing. 18. ELECTION
OF THE MEMERS TO THE BEDWELL PARK CLUB
The election of Members shall be vested in the Committee, sitting
with at least two Company representatives, and shall have the power to
elect or refuse admission without assigning a reason. A candidate for Five-Day or Full Membership must be proposed by a Member
and seconded by another Member of the Club. Both the proposer and the
seconder should be personally well acquainted with the candidate and
should be responsible for the candidate’s eligibility. The candidate
shall complete the Club’s application form which together with the
proposer’s letter and the seconder’s letter shall be forwarded to the
Club Secretary. The names of all current candidates together with the
names of their respective proposers and seconders shall be posted in the
Clubhouse at least fourteen days before the meeting of the Committee to
consider such applications by way of ballot. However if the Company so
directs, the period of 14 days may be reduced to 2 days. A Member of less than one year shall not be eligible to stand as either
a proposer or a seconder and no Member may propose or second on more two
occasions in any one-year of the Club, unless as otherwise agreed with
the Company. 19. RESIGNING and REJOINING
Any Member wishing to resign membership from the Club, shall give
notice in writing to the Club Secretary of his intention to resign at
the end of the financial year. Any such Member having previously resigned in accordance with the above,
may re-apply to join by applying directly to the Committee without the
need for a proposer or seconder. 20. TRANSFERS
If a Member wishes to transfer from one category of Membership to
another, that Member should notify the Club Secretary in writing for
inclusion of that Member on the appropriate list in respect of the next
financial year. 21. DEATH OF A MEMBER
If a Member dies, a reimbursement on a pro rata basis will be made to
that Member’s estate. 22. REMOVAL AND SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS
If any Member shall have: a) been adjudicated bankrupt or shall either individually or as a
partner in a firm have made any composition or arrangement with his or
her creditors under the Insolvency Act 1986 or otherwise or have a
receiving order made against him or her or execute any deed or document
for winding up or carry on his or her business under inspection; or b) been convicted of a criminal offence; or c) made any false statement on his or her application form or at an
interview for membership; or d) if the conduct of any Member (either in or out of the Club) shall in
the opinion of the Company or the Committee be injurious to the
character or interests of the Club or ultimately to the Company. The Committee shall give notice in writing to the Member of its
intention to either expel or suspend that Member and the reasons for
doing so. The Member shall have the right to be heard by the Committee or to make
written representations to the Company within ten days after such notice
has been given. Upon the expiry of the 10th day, the Committee shall
meet to discuss the case of the Member. If the complaint against the
Member is upheld, the Committee may expel, or suspend that Member for a
period of up to 6 months effective from the date of the decision. The
Company reserves the right to review such a decision and if there are
other reasons as to why expulsion or suspension may not be appropriate,
the Company has the right to overturn such a decision. If the complaint is not upheld, the Company also reserves the right to
review the decision and if in its opinion, there is case to answer, the
Company has the right to expel or suspend that member as if the
Committee had upheld the complaint in the first instance. Any Member expelled in accordance with this Rule, or indeed otherwise
ceasing to be a Member of the Club, shall forfeit the right to or claim
upon the Club or the Company. An expelled Member shall not be admitted to the Club or Company premises
either as a guest or a visitor. During the period of suspension, a suspended Member shall not be
admissible to the Club or Company Premises, the Course or Practice
Ground and shall not be entitled to any reimbursement of any fees paid
in respect of the period of suspension. 23. GENERAL MEETINGS
All Members shall be entitled to receive notice of and to attend at
General Meetings.
The Annual General Meeting shall be held within 2 months of the end of
the financial year, at the Clubhouse. Thirty days notice of the Annual
General Meeting shall be given on the notice board in the Clubhouse.
24. ALTERATION OF THE RULES
No rule of the Club shall be repealed or altered and no new rule
shall be made except by agreement with the Company. The Company, itself,
reserves the right to amend these rules from time to time as it sees
fit. 25. ADDRESSES
Each Member shall communicate his or her address or that of his agent
from time to time by the Club Secretary and all notices sent to such
addresses shall be considered as duly delivered. 26. GUESTS
Any Member is entitled to introduce guests to the Clubhouse and
grounds, provided the Member accompanies them and discharges any
liability incurred by them. The introduction of guests is subject to the following conditions: a) payment of the requisite fees. b) the name of every guest must be entered in the book kept for that
purpose, and the entry signed and dated by the Member introducing such
guest. 27. DISSOLUTION OF THE CLUB
The Company shall have the right in exceptional circumstances or for
reasons beyond its control to dissolve the Club. 28. INTOXICATING
LIQUOR
The hours during which intoxicating liquor may be purchased shall
from time to time be decided by the Company but in any event shall not
exceed the hours permitted by the relevant authority under the Licensing
Acts or other applicable law. 29. RULES AND BYELAWS OF THE CLUB
In the proper exercise of its powers the Company shall have the power
to make such ByeLaws and Local Rules for the regulation and conduct of
the Club as they may from time to time consider necessary. Such ByeLaws
shall remain in force unless altered or rescinded by the Company. All Members shall be bound to submit to the Rules and Bye-Laws of the
Club and to such additions thereto and modifications thereof from time
to time be made in accordance with the provisions of these Rules and
shall accept as final the interpretation thereof and decisions thereon
by the Company. Moreover, if certain circumstances arise which may not covered by these
Rules, then all Members will be bound by the Company’s decision on such
matters. 30. COMPLAINTS
In no instance shall a Member reprimand anyone employed by or for the
Club. Any such complaint by a Member shall in the first instance be made
to the Clubhouse Manager or Head Green keeper as appropriate. All other
complaints should be addressed in the first instance to the Committee
Chairman. 31. MINUTES and ACCOUNTS
The Chairman of the Committee shall be responsible for the keeping of
full and correct minutes of all proceedings of the Club. The Treasurer of the Club shall be required to produce an annual
statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet made up to the financial year
end. If necessary, such accounts shall be audited by a suitably
qualified accountant, prior to being circulated among the Members
together with notice of the Annual General Meeting. 32. GENERAL RULES
No Member shall injure, take away or permit to be taken away from the
Clubhouse, under any pretence whatever, any property of the Club or the
Company. No paper, notice or placard, written or printed, shall be put up in the
Clubhouse or grounds without the permission of the Company. All Members are required to settle every expense they incur in the Club
before they leave the Clubhouse. Other than guide dogs, no dogs shall be brought into the Clubhouse or
onto the Course except with the consent of the Company. No Member shall exploit membership of the Club for business purposes
without the consent of the Company. No Member or guest may bring refreshments to the Club for consumption in
the Clubhouse. 33. RULES OF THE GAME
The Rules of the Game of Golf shall be those adopted from time to
time by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew’s subject only to
such additions and modifications as the Company may consider necessary
to meet the requirements of the Hatfield London Country Club. A list of
such additions and modifications which shall take effect as Bye-Laws,
shall be posted in the Clubhouse together with a copy of the Rules of
Golf as played by the Royal and Ancient Club. |