BRITISH AND INTERNATIONAL GOLF GREENKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION AND RULES - JANUARY 2006

NAME

1 The name of the Association shall be the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, hereafter referred to as "The Association".

OBJECTS

2 The objects of the Association shall be:

a) To promote and advance all aspects of greenkeeping

b) To assist and encourage the proficiency of Members

c) To promote the welfare of greenkeepers

d) To arrange an International Annual Conference, exhibition, educational seminars, functions and competitions.

e) To raise money for the benefit of the Association

f) To provide a magazine and other publications

g) To collaborate with any body or organisation which may in any way

benefit the Association or its Members or with which there may be a

common interest

h) To acquire and sell, develop, exchange, lease or mortgage with or without consideration any legal and equitable estate or interest in land and any personal property which the Association may think necessary for the promotion of its objects.

i) To borrow or raise money for the purpose of the Association on such terms and on such security (if any) as may be thought fit.

j) To invest the monies of the Association not immediately required for its purposes in or upon such investments securities or property as may be thought fit subject nevertheless to such conditions (if any) as may for the time being be imposed or required by law.

k) To employ and pay architects, surveyors, engineers, accountants, and solicitors and other professional persons, clerks and other staff for the purpose of fulfilling the objects of the Association.

l) To carry out and perform any other duties or responsibilities which

shall be in the general interests of the Association or its Members.

ASSOCIATION OFFICES

3 The office of the Association shall be at such place as shall, from time to time, be fixed by the Board of Management.

REGIONS AND SECTIONS

4 England, Scotland and Wales shall be divided into the following Regions:

a) The Region of Scotland, comprising the Sections of Ayrshire, Central, East, North and West.

b) The Region of Northern England, comprising the sections of Cleveland, Northern, North East, North West, Sheffield and North Wales.

c) The Region of Midland England, comprising of the Sections of East Midlands, Midland, East of England, Mid Anglia and Berks, Bucks and Oxon.

d) The Region of South East England, comprising of the Sections of East Anglia, Essex, Kent, London, Surrey and Sussex.

e) The Region of South West England and South Wales, comprising of the Sections of Devon and Cornwall, South Coast, South Wales and South West.

f) Each Region shall be divided into such Sections as shall, from time to time, be determined by the Board of Management, who may amend Regional boundaries as considered necessary.

MEMBERSHIP

5 The following persons, at the discretion of the Board of Management, shall be eligible for the benefits of Full Membership:

5.1 a) Any person employed in the keeping of the green at a golfing establishment who has obtained a minimum qualification which shall from time to time be recommended by the Board of Management.

b) Any greenkeeper who has given outstanding service within the Association and has been a member of one or more of the previous Associations and this Association for a continuous period of twenty-five years or being a member who has reached the age of sixty may be elected a Life Member of the Association. Proposals for the election of a Life Member shall be made only by the Board of Management following Regional Board nomination and the election shall be by the Association in General Meeting.

Life Members will not be liable to pay subscriptions and will receive at no charge a copy of the Association's official journal. A Life Member shall have all the rights and privileges of the Association.

c) All greenkeeper members of the Association who do not come within the provisions of either 5.1 (a) or 5.1 (b) and who remain connected with the Association, greenkeeping or the fine turf industries. Such persons shall be allowed to hold office within the Association at the discretion of the Board of Management.

The following persons shall be eligible for Membership at the discretion of the Board of Management and shall be subject to such restrictions and advantages of membership as the Board shall from time to time determine:

5.2 a) Any Full member who ceases to be employed as a greenkeeper through retirement and is not engaged in alternative employment. These persons shall be known as Retired members. A Retired member may also apply to retain full membership benefits if he/she has been a Full greenkeeper member for a minimum of five consecutive years immediately prior to retirement and continues to pay such full membership fee for retired members as shall be set by the Association.

b) Any persons employed within a Trade connected with Greenkeeping or Fine Turf Industries. These persons shall be known as Trade Members.

c) Any persons connected with Greenkeeping or Fine Turf Industries but whose circumstances are such that they do not qualify in either the Full or Trade categories. These persons shall be known as Associate Members.

d) Any persons following a full-time greenkeeper training course at an approved college or any other student at the discretion of the Section committee. These persons shall be known as Student Members.

e) At the discretion of the Board of Management following Regional Board nomination any persons recognised as having contributed in an outstanding manner to the Association or profession. These persons shall be known as Honorary Members.

f) Any person employed in the keeping of the green at a golfing establishment who has not obtained a minimum qualification which shall from time to time be recommended by the Board of Management. Such a person shall be known as a Greenkeeper Assistant.

Student, Honorary and Greenkeeper Assistant Members, together with Retired Members not paying the full membership fee for retired, shall have no voting rights at any meeting and shall not be eligible for appointment in any official capacity within the Association. Trade and Associate Members shall have no voting rights at any meeting however they may be elected to serve on a Section Committee with the exception of the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman or Vice Chairman. Any category of membership may, at the discretion of the Board of Management, be appointed in an honorary capacity, e.g. President, Vice President.

The Board of Management may at its discretion create other categories of membership which shall be subject to such restrictions and be entitled to such advantages of membership as the Board shall from time to time determine. Any member dismissed from employment will have his membership reviewed by the Section Committee who may confirm, suspend or terminate such membership.

5.3 The election of candidates for full membership shall be by the Section Committee to which application for membership is submitted. The Section Committee shall be entitled to refuse membership to any person without giving any reason for its decision.

5.4 Those persons in paid-up membership of the Association at the time of implementation of the revised Constitution by the membership in General Meeting and who do not meet the new criteria for membership as laid down in that revised Constitution, shall be permitted to continue in membership at the discretion of the appropriate section committee.

5.5 Each member will be provided with a copy of the Constitution and Rules upon request and all new members will be provided with a copy on joining the Association.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

6 a) The recommended annual rate of subscription shall be presented each year by the Executive Director to the Board of Management who shall then decide on the rate and publish it for the benefit of members.

b) Renewal subscriptions will be due for payment on the first day of the month following expiry of current membership.

c) Subscriptions for new members will commence on the first of the month following the month of approval.

d) The Board of Management shall have power to forfeit the membership of any Member whose subscription is more than one month in arrears. During that month the member shall not receive any of the advantages or privileges of the Association, vote on any question or compete for any prize.

THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT

7 a) The Board of Management shall comprise of five members elected in accordance with 7 (b) being one Member elected from each Region (with a nominated deputy) who shall serve for two years and be eligible for re-election. At the Regional Board's discretion re-election shall be for a one or two year period. In addition the Board shall comprise of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Past Chairman.

b) Elections for the Board of Management shall precede each Annual General Meeting and take place not less than two months prior to that meeting. Before the Annual General Meeting the newly constituted Board shall appoint a Chairman and Vice-Chairman from within the full membership of the Association who will formally assume office at the conclusion of that Annual General Meeting and who shall remain in office until the conclusion of the ensuing Annual General Meeting of the Association. The Chairman shall be eligible for re-election as Chairman for a further period of one year only. The Vice-Chairman shall be eligible for re-election as Vice-Chairman or election as Chairman.

c) Any vacancy upon the Board of Management (whether resulting from the retirement, death or expulsion of a member) shall be filled by the nominated deputy of the Regional Board and the person nominated shall serve for the remainder of the term of office of the person he/she has replaced.

d) A Board of Management member elected as Chairman or Vice-Chairman shall relinquish his regional representation on the Board of Management and the Region in question shall be entitled to elect an additional representative. The Chairman shall have no voting rights except in the case of a casting vote being required. The Vice-Chairman and Past Chairman shall have no voting rights.

e) The Chairman of the Association on relinquishing the position of Chairman shall become immediate Past Chairman of the Association and serve on the Board until such time as he is succeeded as past Chairman.

f) Members elected to the Board of Management shall serve for no more than five years consecutively unless appointed to the position of Vice-Chairman or Chairman in the fifth year.

g) A Board of Management member shall not be eligible to hold office as Chairman of the Regional Board within the Association.

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT POWERS

8 a) The Board of Management shall be empowered to run the Association within the Rules of the Constitution.

b) The Board of Management may create sub-committees for any purpose and co- opt Members to serve thereon. The Board may at its discretion delegate powers to sub-committees within the Rules of the Constitution.

c) The Board of Management shall appoint an Executive Director to administer the affairs of the Association. They shall establish the conditions of the post and such other posts as shall from time to time be required to attend to the affairs of the Association. The Executive Director shall not be a member of the Board of Management but shall attend meetings of the Board of Management. He/she shall have no voting rights at such meetings.

d) The Board of Management shall determine the duties of the Executive Director who will act under the general instruction of the Board in administering the Association's affairs.

e) The Board of Management shall be responsible for all policy formulation and implementation in respect of the affairs of the Association.

f) The Board of Management shall control and apply the finances of the Association and exercise all powers referred to in Rule 2 relating to financial matters and pay expenses as may be deemed appropriate in connection with the Association's affairs.

g) The Board of Management shall, at its discretion, appoint a President of the Association and such Vice-Presidents as it deems appropriate.

REGIONAL BOARD

9 a) Each Regional Board shall be formed from one representative elected by each of the Sections within the Region. Each section shall also elect a nominated deputy who may attend Regional Board meetings but who shall only vote in the absence of the section's elected representative. Elections to the Regional Board shall take place in November of each year with a meeting of the Regional Board taking place shortly thereafter where a chairman shall be appointed. The Regional Board shall conduct management and development of its sections. The Regional Board shall meet not less than four times in each year, and at such other times as the chairman decides.

The Regional Board shall elect a representative (and nominated deputy who may attend Board of Management meetings at the discretion of the Board of Management in the absence of the elected representative), to serve upon the Board of Management who shall report upon the meetings of the Board of Management at Regional Board meetings. Any rules and regulations relating to Regions shall be stipulated by the Board of Management which will also determine any dispute arising in a Region.

b) The Board of Management shall appoint a Regional Administrator to coordinate administration within each Region. He/She shall also be responsible for preparing the accounts of his/her Region annually to the thirtieth day of September. The accounts are to be audited in such manner as the Board may from time to time determine. The Regional Administrator shall be responsible for submitting the accounts to the Executive Director. The Regional Administrator shall not be a member of the Regional Board but shall attend the meetings of the Regional Board. He/She shall have no voting rights at such meetings.

SECTION COMMITTEE

10 a) Each Section shall have a Section Secretary. He/She shall be responsible for the administration of the Section. He/She shall take minutes of all meetings and shall keep records of all transactions as required by the Board of Management.

(b) The Section Annual General Meeting shall elect each year a Section Chairman, Section Vice Chairman, Section Secretary and other Section Committee members it considers necessary together with a Regional Board Representative and a deputy Regional Board Representative. Any person retiring shall be eligible for re-election.

(c) Each Section shall accept the Constitution of the Association and bear allegiance to the Board of Management. Each Section shall be an independent unit of the Association, free to form its own bye-laws, conduct its own internal affairs, lectures, golf tournaments etc., subject to the scrutiny of the Board of Management.

SECTION ACCOUNTS AND ANNUAL REPORTS

11 The accounts of each Section shall be prepared annually to the thirtieth day of September. An Annual Report together with a certified copy of the accounts to the previous thirtieth day of September shall be forwarded by each Section to the relevant Regional Administrator of the Association not later than the thirty first day of October in any year. Such Annual Report and Accounts shall be forwarded as indicated for information purposes only and neither the Regional Administrator nor anyone else on behalf of the Association shall be responsible for scrutinising them or checking their accuracy.

GENERAL MEETINGS

12 a) The Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held as soon as practicable after the first day of January in each year and two months' notice of such a meeting shall be given to each Member. Eight members actually present shall constitute a quorum. Notice of resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to the Executive Director in writing not less than 40 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting which shall be circulated to the membership not less than 28 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

b) Extraordinary General Meetings of the Association may be called at any time by the Board of Management and shall be called within two months of the receipt by the Board of Management of a written request to call such a meeting signed by not less than 250 Full Members of the Association specifying the purpose for which the Meeting is to be called. Not less than 28 days written notice shall be given to Members of an Extraordinary General Meeting specifying the business of that Meeting. No other business shall be discussed or voted upon at the Meeting other than that specified in the Notice convening the Meeting.

c) With the exception of voting upon changes to the Constitution as provided for in Rule 18, any resolution shall be passed if it is supported by a simple majority of Full Members present and voting. In case of equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

BUSINESS OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

13 The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be taken in the following order:

1 Apologies

2 Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting

3 Annual Report

4 Annual Accounts and Financial Report

5 Alterations to the Constitution and the Rules and all other resolutions of which due notice has been given.

6 Appointment of Association Auditors

7 Any Other Competent Business

FINANCE

14 a) The Board of Management shall appoint Auditors of the Association. They shall audit all books, vouchers, etc of the Association and certify the Balance Sheet as at the thirtieth day of September each year. No person shall be appointed as Auditor of the Association unless a member of one of the following bodies:

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, or The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.

(b) All Regions and Sections of the Association shall be financially and fiscally independent and except to the extent provided by Rule 11 shall not be accountable to the Board of Management of the Association for any funds raised, received or collected and shall be treated as in all respects separate entities for these purposes.

(c) Notwithstanding Rule 14 (b) all monies received on account of subscriptions donations and money raising activities, interest on capital and monies from any other source whether received at Board of Management, Region or Section level shall be applied in carrying out the objects of the Association and in paying the expenses of the Association at the appropriate level and according to the Rules of Association.

(d) So much of the funds of the Association whether at Board of Management, Region or Section level as shall not be required for immediate use or to meet the usual accruing liabilities shall be invested in such a manner as the Board of Management, Region or Section as appropriate shall determine.

(e) All Regions and Sections shall appoint their own independent auditors. No other Region or Section nor the Board of Management shall have any liabilities, duties or responsibilities to any independent auditors so appointed but shall offer reasonable assistance to them where appropriate.

(f) The Region and Sections shall maintain all financial records in good and complete order and ensure that all books vouchers etc, are available for its auditors as and when required. Each Region and Section shall be responsible to discharge its own auditors fees in respect of its audit requirements.

OBLIGATIONS AND DISCIPLINE

15 Membership entitles Members to enjoy the benefits and privileges of the Association. Members shall observe the Rules of the Association and all regulations which may from time to time be made by the Board of Management. Members shall at all times abide by the Code of Ethics of the Association.

Each Member shall observe the Rules of Etiquette of the Association and of any establishment which hosts a function or activity in which the Member is participating. Each Full Member shall be encouraged, when attending any Association event, to dress in tie and jacket of the Association and to follow the guidelines on shoes, slacks and shirt. Any member representing the Association at an international or national event or on official duties will be obliged to wear the designated Association uniform.

If any Member shall be guilty of conduct likely, in the opinion of the Section Committee, to injure or discredit the character or interests of the Association, or of wilful or persistent violation of any of the Rules of the Association, the Section Committee shall have power, after affording the Member the opportunity of being heard within 28 days of the alleged offence coming to light, to reprimand, suspend or expel the member. To expel such a Member a resolution must be passed by a majority vote of the Section Committee summoned for that purpose and shall be final unless the Member appeals in writing to the Board of Management within seven days from receiving notification of expulsion.

The Chairman and Vice Chairman, acting on behalf of the Board of Management, shall be empowered with regard to the membership to take such disciplinary action as they consider necessary from time to time in the interests of the Association. Such action shall be subject to ratification by the Board of Management who shall have the power to reprimand, suspend or expel a member. In the case of expulsion, a member shall have right of appeal to the Board of Management.

TRUSTEES

16 a) The Executive Director and a member of the Board of Management who will normally be the Chairman shall be appointed trustees on behalf of the Association and shall sign all documentation appropriate to the business of the Association.

b) The Trustees referred to in 16 (a) above shall be indemnified against all claims, costs, proceedings and all other matters arising from administration and implementation of the Association's business.

GUARDIANS

17 (a) The Association shall elect two Guardians who shall have no voting rights and may not hold any other office within the Association. The Guardians shall be fully conversant with the Constitution and its interpretation.

(b) The Guardians shall be entitled to the benefits of the Association. Guardians (either individually or collectively) upon invitation may attend any Regional Board or Section Committee meeting to advise upon any matter whatsoever and to assist with the interpretation of the Constitution and Rules of the Association.

(c) Guardians shall be elected at Annual General Meetings and shall serve for a term of two years. Nevertheless, of the first two Guardians appointed, one selected by ballot, shall retire from office after one year. A retiring Guardian shall be eligible for re-election.

ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION

18 To repeal or amend any of the Rules or create new Rules in this Constitution, it shall be necessary that such repeal, alteration or addition be passed by a two thirds majority of the Full Members present and voting at a General Meeting of the Association.

DISPUTES