GW Constitution

This Association shall be called “The Association of Golf Writers”.
The objects shall be:
1. To secure full recognition of the Association and its insignia by all bodies concerned with the government, control and promotion of golf.
2. To advise promoters, organisers and clubs of minimum standards of working conditions for efficient golf reporting and to ensure that such standards are maintained.
The Association will in no way endeavour to dictate policy, nor undertake the distribution of news nor seek to influence opinion in golf writing. Nor shall it have any concern with the policy of publishers or their relations with employees.
The affairs of the Association shall be managed by a Committee of the President, the Honorary Secretary, the Hon. Assistant Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer and nine members elected at the annual general meeting. Six shall form a quorum. The Committee shall elect any member of the Association as chairman for three years and shall have the power to co-opt a member if and when necessary.
Membership of the Association shall be in four classes – Life, Full, Honorary and Associate. Subscriptions and other dues applicable to Full and Associate members shall be determined at any annual general meeting and remain in force until amended.
Qualifications for the classes shall be:
- LIFE: The nominee shall have rendered long and honourable service to the Association.
- FULL: Membership shall be open to professional writers on golf for whom, in the Committee’s view, membership is needed for the execution of their job. The nominee shall be proposed and seconded by members of at least three years’ standing, each of whom shall write a reference in addition to signing the application form duly filled in by the candidate. The candidate, on acceptance by the Committee, will be placed on the Supplementary List for a minimum of one year before being considered for membership. The Committee must also approve all other names which appear on the Supplementary List. However, if in the view of the Committee the applicant is clearly known to be actively engaged in golf reporting the Committee can approve Full membership without the applicant needing to be placed on the Supplementary List.
- HONORARY: This will be offered to any individual, not necessarily a golf writer, who has made a significant contribution to the Association.
- ASSOCIATE: This will be offered to any individual who does not meet the criteria for Full or Honorary membership, but whom the Committee considers has made a contribution to the Association or whose professional duties impact on golf writing. The nominee shall be proposed and seconded by members of at least three years’ standing, each of whom shall write a reference in addition to signing the application form duly filled in by the candidate. The candidate, on acceptance by the Committee, will be placed on the Supplementary List for a minimum of one year before being considered for membership.
Each application shall be considered by a properly convened meeting of the Committee, which shall have the power to elect a candidate by a simple majority of those present and voting.
Details of all candidates must be circulated to all Committee members not later than one calendar month before the meeting at which applications are considered. Membership is not by qualification alone and candidates must be known to proposers and seconders.

Candidates for Life and Honorary membership shall be recommended by the Committee and elected at the Annual General Meeting. Election will be by a simple majority of those present and voting.
Only Full and Life members shall be entitled to wear membership badges which shall remain the property of the Association and only Full and Life members shall have the benefit of all other services as provided by the Association from time to time.
Any member allowing any other person to use the badge or in any other way transgressing the non-transferable rule, shall be liable to expulsion from the Association.
The annual subscription shall become due for renewal on the first day of January each year. Any member of whatever class in arrears with the annual subscription by the end of the Open Championship shall automatically cease to be a member of the Association. A member lapsing in this way may apply for re-election, but will be liable to payment of full arrears and, at the discretion of the Committee, to a re-admission fee of £100. Full members on reaching 65 will be exempt from paying any subscription.
Any member, on paying the entrance fee and annual subscription, shall be considered thereby to have submitted to the rules of the Association, and on these conditions is entitled to the privileges of the membership.
Any member wishing to resign from the Association shall give notice to the Secretary in writing, before the date fixed for the renewal of subscription; otherwise shall be liable to pay the subscription due.
Any member ceasing to fulfill membership qualifications shall notify the Secretary and offer his/her resignation. The Committee shall then consider this at its next meeting. Any member failing to notify the Secretary shall have his/her membership reviewed by the Committee, who shall be empowered to demand the return of the Association badge.
The Association shall elect a President, and any number of Vice-Presidents, who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. Nominations must be in the hands of the Secretary, in writing, not less than 10 days prior to the meeting.
The Committee shall have power to expel any member whose conduct they may consider prejudicial to the prestige and/or interests of the Association, and such member shall have the opportunity to appear before the Committee to state his or her case.
The Honorary Secretary shall be elected each year at the Annual General Meeting, and he shall keep the minutes of the Committee, and generally act under the instructions of the members of the Committee or Council. He shall retire annually but be eligible for re-election. A Deputy Hon. Secretary may be appointed under the same conditions.
The Honorary Treasurer shall be elected each year to manage the funds of the Associations, pay accounts, and receive money for entrance fees, subscriptions and other dues, and prepare accounts for submission to the Annual General Meeting. He shall retire annually but be eligible for re-election. The Association’s year shall end on December 31st.
A general meeting shall be held each year during the week of the Open Championship. Notice of the date and place of the meeting shall be sent to each member.
The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to elect the Committee and Officers, to consider and, if approved, adopt the annual report and balance sheet, and to transact such other business as may be deemed necessary by the Committee.
Eight members shall form a quorum at any general meeting and the chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
Only Life and Full members may attend the Annual General Meeting.
The Hon. Secretary, by order of the Committee or on receipt of a requisition signed by at least eight members, shall at any time call a special general meeting, and every member shall have 21 days’ notice thereof and of the purpose for which such meeting is called.
No business shall be transacted at any special meeting except the business for which the meeting was summoned.
No alteration of or addition to the existing rules shall be made except at a general meeting, and notice of such proposed alteration or addition must be given to the Secretary in writing not less than 10 days prior to the meeting.

July 2016