To ban or not to ban?

[rickie prowler]

So I got filled in yesterday on a situation which emerged at my home club in the past few weeks by a committee member.
An infamous rule bender at our club was hauled over the coles for the 4th time in regards to some questionable behaviour.
When confronted, the guy didn't deny the allegation, instead he put it down to a mental flaw and he feels an incredible amount of embarrassment and shame doing it, but yet it happens.
To put this guy into context, he is a retiree, vastly overweight and plays off ~17. His rep proceeds him and the booking column is always empty beside his name. He only gets a game when he snipes a 3 ball late in the bookings.
He appealed for a fine of some sort but asked not to be banned as his wife would figure out what happened and he was too embarrassed to have this tag follow him home.
The committee decided on a leniency and where happy to impose a fine with an absolute final warning. When this was brought to the captain he went the opposite way and gave a 10 month ban. The committee has since seen 3 resignations due to this and another issue.
I can definitely see both sides of what's been said here and I am not exactly sure about what I would do here to be honest. I think golf is definitely a big part of this mans life and I think it is a little harsh to deny him that. All the same rules have to be applied as self regulation is one of golfs greatest hallmarks.

We are a small club, not very prestigious and not over populated with members clamouring for a game. Every membership sub is money that is very much needed.

I think possibly letting him book into the comp times but not actually letting him compete in said comp might have been a more subtle option.

[WBennett]

Watch him try to move to another club

[PerryGroves]

What incident precipitated him going from alleged cheat to 10 month ban, seems a massive overreaction, have seen blokes do 1/3/6 month suspensions but 10? Has anyone ever refused to sign his card?

Despite the size of your club, my own view is that disciplinary matters should remain within the committee walls, if a suspension happens, that can be advised to members not the particulars. What grinds me is committee members doing a run around on decisions to try and make themselves look better to the membership, "the captain gave him 10 months but I thought it was a bit harsh".

[goughy]

What exactly has he been doing, or caught doing?

[3Puttpete]

I assume he’s banned from comps but can still play social golf

[Hard_Pan]

Cheaters will cheat. We're going through this at my track. Been going on for years. The guy blatantly improves his lie and when called out simply says he can't help himself. Members have resigned because of him. He is still with us but after action was finally taken, he is on his 3rd warning. His membership was suspended for one month when he was first given formal notice. Three months the next time he cheated and next breach he's out for good.

[CobraSS]

We have had a similar individual at our club intermittently over the past 20 years, he has been a member at a number of other clubs in the zone and further north when not a member here for short periods until he falls foul at those clubs.

The bloke is a golf nut, a low marker, he would play 7 days a week if he could, a really nice bloke on and off the course, but has this mental flaw in his head that seems to make him cheat the numbers in various ways on occasions, that I just can't get my head around. Every club in the zone would know about him, he would know that every club knows about him and that most members know about his past and watch him like a hawk, but it still happens. He recently served a 3month suspension here came back for the remaining few months of our membership year, then didn't renew and is now playing at another club in the zone.
He has been suspended already a number of clubs in our zone

[sms316]

I assume he’s banned from comps but can still play social golf

Why? Conduct unbecoming - suspend him from the club.

[CobraSS]

Why? Conduct unbecoming - suspend him from the club.

As above, membership suspended, no playing rights at all, generally all other clubs in the zone/district are also informed in writing and they can't play there as well.

[rickie prowler]

Watch him try to move to another club

Doubtful, he lives course adjacent and drives his personal cart from his garage directly to the course. He is the kinda guy that has played 100% of his lifetimes golf at his home course.

[Webster]

Anything less than a lifetime ban from the Club is weak as piss.

[jimandr]

Sorry, anonymous golfer, but you have to go...to another club.

All the pleas for leniency don't apply here, because if we are talking about Canberra, there are plenty of alternative venues.

I've heard of this situation before at country clubs where they have taken pity on the offender because there aren't other venues closeby, and they have regretted it. Mainly because once the precedent has been set of being soft on cheaters, the word gets around.

I understand the mental flaw argument, because some people are so competitive (even if just playing against the course) they can't accept failure or defeat. But those people need to take up another sport. I've seen similar situations in low level local cricket.

[rickie prowler]

What incident precipitated him going from alleged cheat to 10 month ban, seems a massive overreaction, have seen blokes do 1/3/6 month suspensions but 10? Has anyone ever refused to sign his card?

Despite the size of your club, my own view is that disciplinary matters should remain within the committee walls, if a suspension happens, that can be advised to members not the particulars. What grinds me is committee members doing a run around on decisions to try and make themselves look better to the membership, "the captain gave him 10 months but I thought it was a bit harsh".

The bloke has served some short bans in the past, this was not a first offence.

This is the bit that had me raise an eyebrow. So a member has made the allegation, to which initially when asked the perpetrator admitted wrongdoing. (improving his lie) When this went on to be processed formally the person who made the allegation did not want to have his name attached to the incident and redacted his complaint. It all got very messy.

I completely agree with you on committee members playing to the crowd, transparency is great but manipulating stories to be viewed favourably is poor form. Our captain and now former vice captain had a spikey relationship to say the least. This was an issue they butted heads on.

[rickie prowler]

I assume he’s banned from comps but can still play social golf

NO Pete, club suspension.

[rickie prowler]

What exactly has he been doing, or caught doing?

Improving his lie mate, his standard MO over the years would be to scurry off in his cart and "find" his ball before the blokes walking reach the scene. He has been known to park his cart between his ball and group members also.

[sms316]

Improving his lie mate, his standard MO over the years would be to scurry off in his cart and "find" his ball before the blokes walking reach the scene. He has been known to park his cart between his ball and group members also.

This isn't a former state cricketer who plays at Yowani by any chance?

[Captain Nemo]

Go big Kev!

[rickie prowler]

This isn't a former state cricketer who plays at Yowani by any chance?

No, but now Im intrigued in who that is!!

[markTHEblake]

If he is suspended properly, this is recorded on his Golf Link number preventing him from joining another club.

There are people who live in their own world of lies that IMO they beleive them. So to them they are not lying or cheating. When confronted they will give excuses like drinking too much, on medication etc, and make it out its nothing serious.

We had a similar incident at my club, very popular guy and socialiser, ckub did not managed well, fractured the club, 2 board members resigned, and some more. He transferred his membership away before teh club could suspend him.

This guy went through about 5 clubs before us that we know of, and 2 more after, and has since offed himself.

[markTHEblake]

Rickie. if your club is an incorporated association, then you have a constitution that includes the rules on how to discipline a member. These rules must be followed, or shit will go down.

and IMO a golf club is not a social work councillor service. Deal with everyone the same way. And make sure the suspend his golf link number.

I have been involved in 3 different cheating incidents, and none of them have been an enjoyable experience for all sorts of reasons.

[rickie prowler]

Rickie. if your club is an incorporated association, then you have a constitution that includes the rules on how to discipline a member. These rules must be followed, or shit will go down.

and IMO a golf club is not a social work councillor service. Deal with everyone the same way. And make sure the suspend his golf link number.

I have been involved in 3 different cheating incidents, and none of them have been an enjoyable experience for all sorts of reasons.

This is basically what the whole matter boils down to alright. Personally, I feel a little bit sorry for the old shagger but the rules have to be followed.

[BUSHY]

NO Pete, club suspension.

We had a cheating incident a few years ago where an individual improved his lie and/or replaced with another ball as if lost 5 times during a major comp - with 3x juniors and their parents no less.
After reviewing our constitution, code of conduct and talking to GA it was deemed to be a suspension from the club for 3 months and a ~6.5 month suspension of their GolfLink (the 6.5 was to the end of the major tournament season).

It's the $h!t part of being on a committee BUT it has to be done if the action warrants it.

I agree with PerryGroves though - two faced committee members trying to make themselves appear different in public are toxic and not helpful in any decision making process.

[Bruce]

I'm curious as to why you feel sorry for him?
He broke the social compact first. What has he done to deserve sympathy? Multiple incidents shows a complete lack of remorse or accountability. He is taking you and everyone else for a ride.
Being likeable is no excuse for taking advantage of every other member.

[goughy]

Not making any excuses for him, but by improving his lie, is he pushing down grass, or moving his ball to a better spot, or dropping a ball etc? Has he ever done anything like recording the wrong score on a hole etc?
Again, don't get me wrong, I'm not making excuses for him at all, mental health or not, there still has to be accountablitity.

Golf is an unusual sport where it's seen as very much up to the individual to hold themselves to the rules of the game! To be honest, when I play I'm enjoying myself so much and talking so much I wouldn't know what the heck is going on (or off on my own looking for my ball!!!).
Most sports out there have people trying to "get away" with something when they can. Just look at cricket and the controversies at even the highest of levels. Catches claimed that they know they must have dropped, batters not walking when knicking the ball, bowlers/fielders with sandpaper...... But golf, we set a bar much higher for ourselves and assume everyone else does too. But simply, people can be pretty shit much of the time and just worried about themselves.

If he's already had several smaller suspensions, then maybe it's time his wife did find out he won't be allowed to play for quite a while.

[markTHEblake]

After reviewing our constitution, code of conduct and talking to GA it was deemed to be a suspension from the club for 3 months and a ~6.5 month suspension of their GolfLink (the 6.5 was to the end of the major tournament season).

In our constitution (former, we are no longer a club) the requirement to suspend a member, required first hitting them up with a letter to front the committee, to give opportunity to explain himself. Obviously if he fails to appease the committee he can suspended. Or if he fails to show, he can be suspended.
my club messed their process up, by suspending him first, the board members argued, obviously one side was correct, then served the letter on him, then he transferred hcap to another club the morning he was to front the committee.

I dont know what is the procedure for verbal or written warnings. They may or may not be necessary depending on the level.

Emerald Lakes has a brillant list of Misdemeanours and the penalty on their website under the membership section. A club would be smart if they plagiarised that. https://emeraldlakesgolf.com.au/golf/golf-membership/