Copyright 2011
B & D Golf League
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Minutes of The Bristol and District League

Annual General Meeting 2012

Held at Filton Golf Club on Friday 16th November 2012

Present: R. Bennett (Long Ashton – Chairman), Mrs. B. Bennett (Secretary/Treasurer),           A. Hands (Match Secretary - Woodspring), M. Downs (Committee - The Players Club),            T. Glossop (Committee - Mendip), M. Priest (Committee - Knowle), P. Mason (Chipping Sodbury), W. Rowlinson (Clevedon), D. Wellington (Knowle), G. Morrice (Lansdown),            H. Purvis (Long Ashton), C. Fallows (Saltford), J. Stevens (Saltford), W. Hole (Shirehampton Park), R. Hughes (Thornbury), W. Thompson (Wells), A. Williams (Wells),

Apologies for Absence: A. Shore (President), R. Webb (Commitee), A. Hannan (Committee), Andy George (Mendip Spring), M. Oliver (Bath), V. Rose (Secretary - Long Ashton), K. Rix (Secretary - Shirehampton Park)

Absent: Bath (with apologies), Bristol & Clifton, Cumberwell Park, Farrington, Filton, Henbury, Kendleshire, Kingsdown, Mendip Spring (with apologies), Tall Pines, The Bristol, Tracy Park, Worlebury, Weston-super-Mare

Meeting opened 8pm

2) Minutes of the 56^th A.G.M held at Henbury Golf Club Friday 11^th November 2011 were approved no amendments:

Proposed: W. Rowlinson (Clevedon)

Seconded: W. Hole (Shirehampton Park)

3) No matters arising from the Minutes

4) Chairman’s Report

Congratulations to all this seasons divisional winners - this seasons First Division looked again for a long time to be between Saltford and Knowle until really out of nowhere came The Kendleshire to win the Championship and go on to represent The Bristol and District League in the Annual Interleague match played against the North of the County winners next season. I would also like to give a mention to Farrington Golf Club who came into the League this year and really walked Division 8 and I am sure in a few seasons will be up in the top divisions. I must thank all Clubs for finishing the season by 31^st August given the terrible summer we had weather wise and matches having to be re-arranged.

I again must apologise to any Clubs who were lucky enough to win their Divisions this season, but on League Finals day did not receive their Divisional Cup because the previous year’s winners did not return them as they possibly had not received it. The Committee are aware of this situation and are addressing this issue, and despite numerous e-mails and pleas, some are still missing.

I would like to thank Clevedon Golf Club for the Hi/Lo competition in May and Bath Golf Club for the League Finals in September. Both courses were in excellent condition on the day and the catering and bar facilities at both venues were also of a very high standard. A special mention to Mike Downs who organised both events on behalf of the Committee and I thank him for his efforts. Without his pre-event preparation I am certain the day would not run so smoothly.

As ever I must thank the Committee for their hard work over the season and as usual a special mention to Adrian Hands the Match Fixture Secretary who works very hard throughout the year keeping the web-site up-to-date with results and League tables as well as the Games Played page.

Bearing in mind the League is still running without any form of sponsorship and bank interest rates are, as I am pretty sure you are aware, very low, the League is in a very healthy position. This is in no small way down to the Treasurer who keeps a very tight rein on the League money.

5) Secretary’s / Treasurer’s Report

There being no questions regarding the Accounts:

Proposed: H. Purvis (Long Ashton)

Seconded: G. Morrice (Lansdown)

6) Election of Officers

All incumbent Committee members were unanimously appointed by those present.

Proposed: W. Rowlinson (Clevedon)

Seconded: D. Wellington (Knowle)

7) League Fixtures

The League Fixtures meeting was held at Knowle Golf Club on Thursday 12^rd September 2012.

9) Foursomes Championship (Hi-Lo)

To be held at Shirehampton Golf Club on Sunday 12^th May 2013.

10) League Finals

To be held at Wells Golf Club on Sunday 15^th September 2013.

11) Any Other Business

R. Bennett (RB - Chairman)

D. Wellington (DW - Knowle)

H. Purvis (HP - Long Ashton)

C. Fallows (CF - Saltford)

W. Rowlinson (WR - Clevedon)

A. Hands (AH - Match Secretary)

G. Morrice (GM - Lansdown)

P. Mason (PM - Chipping Sodbury)

DW brought up the subject of late Result Sheets, sometimes as much as 3 weeks late and suggested that this was just a small number of Clubs but would AH be able to contact the offending Clubs to enter the results as quickly as possible, ideally within 3 days of a match being played. This suggestion was further supported by CF.

WR suggested that Team Captains should be made responsible for submitting results. AH agreed that one person should be responsible but rather the Captain of the day. HP suggested that a Result not submitted with a certain time limit should result in the match being called a draw. However, RB pointed out that the Result sheet is still required for the purposes of any breaches of Rules 6 and 8 as well as for AH to be able to keep the Games Played page up-to-date.

In the end, it was agreed that Clubs not submitting Results in a timely manner would be chased up and at the 2013 AGM applying a strict three day rule should be applied.

HP expressed disappointment that some Clubs did not turn up to the Fixtures meeting and did not give prior notice that they would not be turning up. HP added that often these clubs are difficult to contact after the meeting.

RB replied that some Secretaries do not wish to turn up and prefer to organise fixtures via e-mail. Whilst accepting this HP added that often a “game of e-mail tennis” ensues whilst Clubs try to arrange a date and further added that if no agreement can be reached then the match is abandoned

PM suggested that arranging fixtures before the Fixtures meeting can give Clubs the pick of the dates.

GM suggested that it could be beneficial in trying to achieve full attendance to move the Fixtures Meeting to a weekend. RB made the point that Club Secretaries would not like a weekend Fixtures Meeting.

Finally, HP suggested that if one week after the Fixtures the Away Team has not been able to accept one of three dates given, then the Away Team should forfeit the match.

In the end it was decided, that things should be left as they are and reviewed at the 2013 AGM.

JS expressed a wish that all Teams are kitted out with Team Shirts, and suggested that Team photographs should be uploaded to the web-site as an encouragement for offending Clubs to fit out their players with Team Shirts. RB supported the idea but stated that the League is in no position to dictate to Clubs on such a matter.

PM brought up an issue with the wording of Rule 6G which states that “All players must be playing members of a member club and affiliated to the English Golf Union”. PM pointed out that the English Golf Union no longer exists and is now known as England Golf. PM further asked that does this mean Ladies may now play in the BDGL and further added if that Ladies are capable of playing off the Men’s White Tees then he sees no reason why they shouldn’t.

AH added that he has conversations with the County Secretary, Ian Watkins, on this matter and that Ian had suggested that there is no need to change the name of the League rather just pick Men. However, wording a suitable Rule would prove a challenge.

The final outcome of this discussion is that AH would again take up the matter with Ian Watkins with a view to altering the name of the League to “The Bristol and District Men’s League”.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 8:47pm.

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