Club Rules and Procedures for Proposing New Members  

A Synopsis

The rules and procedures have been established over many years to ensure that the standards expected at Liphook Golf Club are maintained in all respects. The same process applies to anyone wishing to become a member of the Club.

Full and Intermediate (18-28 years old) Playing Membership

1. The proposer completes a Membership Application form (obtainable from the Secretary).

2. The seconder countersigns the form.

3. The proposer and seconder both write letters of recommendation confirming their knowledge of the candidate and submit these with the form to the Secretary. Candidates with handicaps at, or close to the appropriate limit, may be requested to submit 3 score cards for rounds played at Liphook.

4. The Secretary places the form in the membership applications file in the entrance hall where it may remain for up to 6 months. All members should review the contents of this file regularly in case they wish to support, or advise against, someone known to them who has made an application without their knowledge.

5. The proposer seeks the support of at least two members who have played with the candidate at Liphook and who are prepared to sign the form.

6. A supported candidate is invited to be “played-in” by two members of the Committee. If the game proves satisfactory, the candidate and proposer or seconder are invited to drinks with all members of the Committee.

7. The Committee takes a secret vote on the application at their subsequent Committee meeting, following which the Secretary informs the candidate of the result in writing. The names of successful applicants are posted on the main Notice Board and their membership of the Club normally starts on the first day of the month following the Committee meeting.

Temporary Membership

Temporary Membership is available to non-golfers and to former golfers who are no longer members of a golf club and are unable to meet the handicap requirements. It is intended for candidates who are expected by their proposers to progress to Full Playing Membership in due course. It is not available to established golfers (whether a member of a club or not) who do not meet the Club’s required playing standards.

The submission of an application (and the rules pertaining to it) follows the first three stages of the procedure described for Full Playing Membership. When the candidate achieves the appropriate handicap, their application form is placed in the file in the entrance hall and the procedure resumes towards Full Membership.

Temporary status is offered initially for a period of up to 18 months but may be extended in extenuating circumstances. During this period the aspiring golfer is expected to arrange a series of lessons with the Club Professional or his assistant. The proposers are expected to monitor their candidate’s progress and to introduce the candidate to other members.

When offered Full or Intermediate Playing Membership, temporary members become liable to pay the Entry Fee applicable at that time and the appropriate full subscription for the remainder of the Club’s financial year.

Country and Overseas Membership

Members may not propose applicants for this class of membership. At the moment it is only available to existing full members who become eligible because of a relocation of their main residence outside a 50 miles radius of the club (measured as the crow flies).

Social Membership

The rules for application for this class of membership, and the procedures followed, mirror those for full membership but without the handicap restrictions and the “playing-in” process.

Aftercare

All new members receive a short introductory briefing from the Secretary that touches on competitions, roll-ups, matches and other means of becoming active members of the Club. Notwithstanding this, all proposers have a continuing obligation to ensure that their successful candidates become known to other members and become fully integrated into Club life.

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