EQUALITY ACT 2010 & RALSTON GOLF CLUB
The Equality Act 2010 became law in October 2010 and Ralston Golf Club is required to make changes to the membership structure to comply with the Act. The following changes to the membership structure are proposed by your Council for approval at the AGM 2011.
| Membership Category | Target Fee | Playing Restrictions | Open To | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary | Full | No playing restrictions except when tee reserved | Gents & Ladies over 18 | yes |
| Half Life | 75% | No playing restrictions except when tee reserved | Gents & Ladies who satisfy the current Half Life Membership Criteria | yes |
| Life | 50% | No playing restrictions except when tee reserved | Gents & Ladies who satisfy the current Life Membership Criteria | yes |
| Playing Associate | 75% | Saturday – No Play before 2pm or 3pm on Competition Days Sunday – No play before 12 Noon or 12.30pm on Competition Days Tuesdays & Thursdays – No Play after 4.30pm Generally - No Play allowed when Tee Reserved. Entry to all Mixed Competitions allowed. |
Gents & Ladies | No |
| Youth | 50% | No playing restrictions except when tee reserved | Gents & Ladies between 18 & 25 years | yes |
Existing arrangements for Junior Membership will be unchanged.
The existing Ladies' Section will be renamed the Playing Associate Membership and the existing members of the Ladies Section will remain in this Category. Individual Lady Members will be able to opt out and take Ordinary Membership (this option has been available to Lady Members since 2001).
Gents in the Ordinary Membership will be able to apply for Playing Associate Membership.
The number of places in the Playing Associate Membership will initially be capped at 70. Any future applications to join this category will be on the basis of the date of application. The level at which numbers will be capped in future will be decided from time to time by the Council. (The Equality Act allows clubs to set levels for different categories and have waiting lists to which both men and women's applications are treated equally)
Ladies opting for Ordinary Membership will not be charged an additional joining fee in line with legal advice received.
All existing Lady Life Members and Lady Half Life Members will be slotted into the Life Membership and Half Life Membership along with the Gents presently in these categories.
The Criteria for Life Membership will be members over 65 years of age who have had continuous membership for 40 years which may include 10 years as a Half Life Member and membership in any other playing category, other than Junior Membership, prior to 2012.
The Criteria for Half Life Membership will be members over 65 years of age who have had continuous membership for 30 years which may include membership in any other playing category prior to 2012, other than Junior Membership.
After the AGM in 2012 any member in the Playing Associate Membership will lose their right to enter either life membership categories. (This would give anyone in that category a year to consider their options).
In line with legal advice Youth Members will have a vote at General Meetings of the Club.