Association Rules

TITLE
1. The name of the Association shall be “HSBC GOLF ASSOCIATION”

MEMBERSHIP
2. Membership of the Association shall be open to all serving members of staff of HSBC Holdings and
its subsidiary companies in the UK [the Bank] - (Category A).
An existing member may retain his/her membership when leaving the employ of the Bank if he/she
is in immediate receipt of a qualifying HSBC pension or has transferred to cash or an alternative
provider. Also, membership of the Association shall be open to any former members of staff in
receipt of a qualifying HSBC pension, or one transferred to cash or an alternative provider
(Category B).

Past members of the Association who have left the employ of the Bank and who are not in
immediate receipt of pension, may apply to re-join the Association as an HSBC Affiliate Member
(Category C), subject to the discretion of the Standing Sub-Committee.

Any person previously employed by the Bank, not in immediate receipt of pension and not
previously a member of the Association, may apply to join the Association as an HSBC Affiliate
Member (Category D), subject to the discretion of the Standing Sub-Committee.
Members reaching the age of 60 before the commencement of the Annual Golf Meeting shall be
deemed to be a ‘Veteran’ Member and hence qualify to play for the Veteran’s Challenge Trophy.

MANAGEMENT
3. The Management of the Association shall be in the hands of a Committee, who shall have full
powers.

OFFICERS
4. There shall be a President, any number of Vice Presidents, an Association Captain, an Association
Vice-Captain, a Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, and a Membership Secretary / Treasurer. Once
elected in General Meeting, Vice Presidents are not then subject to subsequent re-election. All
other Officers shall be elected in General Meeting and, except for Vice President’s, shall serve for a
period of two years. All officers are eligible for re-election.

COMMITTEE
5. The Committee shall consist of the Officers and additionally up to 15 members each of whom
should normally serve for 3 years. Members retiring after their three-year term of office shall be
eligible for re-election. There should be a minimum of seven Committee members to form a
quorum.

SUB-COMMITTEES
6. The Annual General Meeting or the Committee shall have power to appoint any Sub-Committee for
specific purposes. The ongoing management of the Association, particularly during the period
outside of the Annual Golf Meeting, shall be conducted by a Standing Sub-Committee consisting of
the Association Captain, Association Vice-Captain, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer /
Membership Secretary. Ideally, one member of the Standing Sub-committee should be currently
employed by a company within HSBC and shall be given the additional title of Team Captain. Failing
that, the Standing Sub-Committee shall have the power to appoint any member currently
employed by a company within HSBC, as Team Captain, or for any other specific purposes or in the
absence of any member of the Standing Sub-Committee.

FINANCES, FINANCIAL YEAR & AUDITS
7. The Financial Year shall commence on 1st January. The financial accounts should be the subject of
an annual audit, prior to being adopted at the Annual Meeting. The audit responsibilities shall be
undertaken by the serving Vice Captain. The bank mandate and authorities allow “any one officer
to sign” on the account and the Treasurer is the ‘Primary User’ of all aspects of Business Internet
Banking.

SUBSCRIPTIONS
8. The Subscription shall be £5, payable annually on 1st January, only by Standing Order. For newly
joining applicants, the £5 subscription is payable at the time of the application and membership will
be accepted or confirmed only upon receipt of the subscription. Any member whose subscription
is unpaid by the date of the Annual Golf Meeting shall be deemed to have resigned and is therefore
ineligible to take part in the Golf Meeting or in competitions.

ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS & CRITERIA
9. In the event of there being no more than the maximum entry number, all applicants will be
accepted as firm entries for the meeting immediately after the closing date as indicated on the
entry form.

If the maximum number of entries is exceeded, once the closing date is reached, places will be
allocated based on the following tiers of priority: -
1) Current and Past Officers of the Association
2) Current Committee Members of the Association
3) Former Winners of the Bank Championship, Venture Cup or Veteran’s Challenge Trophy
4) Existing Category A, B, C & D Members certifying their attendance for 5 days.
5) Existing Category A, B, C & D Members certifying their attendance over 2 days.

Individuals within each tier of priority will be ranked according to their attendance history:
a) Highest number of attendances in the last 10 meetings.
b) Highest number of attendances in the last 5 meetings.
c) Highest number of attendances in the last 3 meetings.
d) Attendance at the last meeting.

In addition, 8 new members applying to attend golf week for the first time will be drawn by ballot,
with those applying for 5 days taking priority over those applying for 2 days. All new applicants not
successful in the ballot will join the waiting list with the 5-day applicants ranking below previous
attendees applying for 5 days and those applying for 2 days ranking below previous attendees
applying for 2 days. The waiting list for previous attendees is ranked as above.
Where after the closing date for entries, we are under subscribed, late entries will be accepted, at
the discretion of the Standing Sub-Committee, up to one week before Golf Week starts, at the very
latest.

However, where the maximum number of entries is exceeded at the closing date for entries, any
late entries received will be accepted only at the discretion of the Standing Sub-Committee. Also,
any accepted will be ranked last on the waiting list, irrespective of membership category, or their
standing in the tiers of priority outlined earlier in this section.

ENTRY FEES
10. Where possible, the appropriate Entry Fee for the Annual Golf Meeting will be determined by the
Standing Sub-Committee and announced at the prior year AGM. The Entry Fee is payable at the
time of entry but doesn’t guarantee entry until the closing date is reached and the total number of
applicants assessed. Any refunds for withdrawals after 1st March will depend on the circumstances
of the withdrawal and shall be at the discretion of the Standing Sub-Committee.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
11. The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the period of ‘Golf week’. Any decisions put to the
vote shall be decided by a simple majority with the Captain as Chairman of the meeting, having a
second casting vote.

MATCHES AND COMPETITIONS
12. Matches and Competitions shall be held at such times, and under such rules and conditions, as the
Committee shall from time to time determine. Members are permitted to use “single seat”
buggies, or “buggies” for hire by the host clubs, where available, in competitions during the Annual
Golf Meeting, except in the Bank Championship, Venture Cup and Veteran’s Trophy competitions.
A “medical certificate” may be required, at the discretion of the Standing Sub-Committee.

REGULATIONS FOR PLAY
13. The regulations for play shall be as follows: -
(a) The rules of the game shall be those of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, together
with the local Rules of the Course upon which such matches and competitions are played. The
Committee has power to make any special rules which may vary the rules in force.
(b) All members playing in the Annual Golf Meeting must have an official WHS Handicap Index,
authorised by the golf club of which they are a member or by the “England i-golf facility”. In all
handicap events, members shall use their official WHS Handicap Index, at the start of play to
determine their Course and Playing Handicap on each day.
(c) The Committee shall decide the maximum permitted Playing Handicap or WHS Handicap Index
for competitions.

DISPUTES
14. All disputes shall be referred to the Standing Sub-Committee and / or the Committee, whose
decision shall be final.

ALTERATION OF RULES
15. No alteration of the Rules shall be permitted except at a General Meeting of Members

NOTICE OF RESOLUTIONS
16. Any Resolution to alter the Rules of the Association, or the Programme of the Meetings, which the
Committee or individual members may wish to submit to the Annual General Meeting, shall be
handed to the Hon. Secretary and placed on the Notice Board at least 24 hours prior to the Annual
General Meeting

PROVISION FOR REFERENDUM OF MEMBERS
17. As Special General Meetings of the members are not practicable, matters of exceptional
importance may be dealt with by postal referendum if it is agreed by at least two-thirds of the
Committee or at least twenty members, having firstly signed an appropriate motion. The
referendum should be arranged through the Secretary of the Association.

Approved by General Meeting – 13 May 2026