Malahide Golf Club

Junior Regulations

Policy Statement of Malahide Golf Club

Malahide golf club is fully committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of its members. Every member should at all times show respect and understanding for other members’ rights, safety and welfare and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the club and the guidelines contained in the code of ethics and good practice for children’s sport, and code of ethics for golf for young people.

In working with young people, our first priority is their welfare. We are committed to providing an environment that will allow participants to perform to the best of their ability, free from bullying and intimidation.

Adult supervision of all our under age members is a club requirement. All our volunteers are Garda vettedbefore they are permitted to supervise young children. The club ensures that each adult volunteer hasparticipated ina course or courses on child protection and code of ethicsprocedures.

Membership

At 1 February, a member whose age falls within the age range: 11 to 18, inclusive, is a junior member.

Junior membership is for 12 calendar months. The junior must reapply each year. Notification of such renewal, will be issued by the club, in advance of the year end. The onus is on the junior to make the reapplication, within a defined time scale, and failure to reapply by the end of the allowable period, will mean the junior has excluded himself/herself from membership.

It should be noted that reapplication does not automatically entitle a junior to renewal of membership. His/her participation rate and general behaviour, throughout the preceding year,is a factor in determining whether the junior will be readmitted. If participation is curtailed due to prolonged illness, injury, or for some other reason, the club should be informed, at the earliest possible time.

Membership fees are agreed at the club AGM, and must be paid by the due date. If the fees are unpaid after a set period of time, the junior will cease to be a member, unless family financial difficulties,of an exceptional nature, have intervened.

Junior members are not obliged to pay an entry fee.

Pre-season meeting

Each year, a pre-season meeting is arranged by the club, usually toward the end of March. All juniors are expected to attend.

Intermediate membership

Whenat 1 February a memberis 19, he/she will no longer be eligible to be a junior member. Subject to the junior having maintained a standard of participation and behaviour, he/she will be entitled to apply for intermediate membership. Intermediate members’ages fall within the age range 19 to 26, inclusive, on 1 February.

Dress code

Juniors are expected to abide by dress code regulations, as determined, from time to time, by the club. Golf shoes may not be worn in the clubhouse.

Members’ bar and snooker room

Juniors who wish to use the members’ bar or the snooker room, must be accompanied by an adult.

Juniors may use the lounge area and the restaurant facilities, unaccompanied.

Behaviour

Juniors are expected to behave in a manner, which is appropriate and reasonable. If any junior is found to be falling short of these standards,either within the club or on golfing trips organised by the club etc, he/she will be dealt with, in accordance with prescribed procedures.

Juniors aged 14 or less, must vacate the club and its environs by 7 pm. All other juniors, by 8 pm.

In certain circumstances, juniors may be permitted to remain beyond the stipulated times, at the discretion of the club.

Junior visitors

Juniors may bring junior members of other golf clubs, onto the course, or into the clubhouse, practice putting green, or practice area, provided they have paid a green-fee. In all other cases, permission is denied, unless, the express authority of a committee member has been obtained.

Junior competitions

Junior competitions are organised, as set out in the club diary, usually during school holidays (Christmas, Easter and Summer) and mid-term breaks. They are mostly held on Thursdays, with a tee reservation time of from 8 to mid-day.

Very young junior members, who are playing off club handicaps (max 54) are restricted to 9 hole competitions, and play off a shortened course. They are accompanied, as far as possible, by an adult volunteer.

Adult/junior/cadet competitions are over 9 holes, as set out in the club diary and are,usually, held on Sundays at 6 pm. They are held from mid-May to early September.

Score cards

Juniors playing in club competitions, are obliged to have a score card completed, on their behalf,by a fellow competitor in their group, and signed by the person completing it. The junior must also sign the card, having verified that the scoresare correct, or if not, having sorted out any discrepancies with the marker.

All completed cards must be returned, (entered in the computer and deposited in the appropriate box) even if the full course is not completed. Failure to return cards, could result in the junior member’s handicap being suspended.

Care for the course and etiquette

Each junior member is, within reason, and taking into account, in some cases, their age and experience, responsible for maintaining the course, in such matters as, the raking of bunkers, repairing divots (sand bags), and repairing pitch marks on the greens.

The club, together with the GUI and ILGU, being aware of the need to discourage slow play, strongly recommend that junior members when playing in competitions, keep up with the group in front of them, and not simply stay ahead of the group immediately behind.

Juniors are advised to park their golf bags on the side of the green nearest to the following tee box, in an effort to save time. They are also advised to vacate the green, as quickly as possible, to allow players coming behind to play into the green. It is recommended that they mark their score cards, at the following tee box, as opposed to doing so at the green.

Coaching

The club will arrange organised coaching sessions, for juniors, with the club professional. This coaching is ongoing and its cost is subsidised by the club. The junior member is expected to make up the balance of the cost.

The GUI and ILGU also arrange group and individual coaching for juniors,of a certain age and maturity, who perform above average, on a regular basis. The juniors chosen, would be regarded as potential candidates for representative honours for their country or province. The coaching is in Carton house, the home of the GUI and ILGU, in Ireland.

Adult competitions

Junior boys,with a GUI handicap, may play in men’s competitions. Junior boys, with a GUI handicap of 15 or over, may not play in such competitions, during the months: June, July or August.

The booking system for junior boys, who wish to play in men’s competitions, is restricted, to ensure ordinary (adult) members have priority of access. The designated time the booking system will go live for junior boys is Wednesday at 8 pm, or at such other time, as shall be determined,from time to time, and notified to the junior members by the management committee.

4 junior boys may not occupy a line on the time sheet. At least one of the 4 must be either an intermediate member or an ordinary (adult) member.

Junior boys may play in major club competitions, such as the captain’s prize or the president’s prize,by invitation only. A junior boy may not, however, win first prize.

Junior girls, with ILGU handicaps, may play in ladies’ competitions.

Junior girls may play in major club competitions, such as the lady captain’s prize. A junior girl may not, however, win first prize.

Giving way

Whether on the course, the practice putting green, or the practice area, juniors are expected to give way to adult members. The only exception, would be where the junior is playing in an official competition.

Ride on buggies

No junior may drive a ride on buggy.

Accessing and exiting the course

Junior members must use the main gate to enter or leave the golf course and/or the practice area.

Insurance

The management committee, recommend that all golfers arecovered for liability to third parties, while playing golf on the course or on other golf courses. Members of the GUI and ILGU may avail of the comprehensive insurance cover administered through the club.

Disciplinary Action

In the, unlikely, event of disciplinary action being required, it will be administered in accordance with rule 9 of the club constitution.

January 2016