1. The name of the Club shall be " Ranelagh Farm ".
2. The address of the Club is Ranelagh Farm, Crouch Lane, Winkfield,Berks SL44TN
3. The object of the Club shall be to foster and encourage the game of polo, in particular in Low Goal and for this purpose to maintain such polo grounds as the Committee shall consider desirable and to provide such other facilities as required.
4. (a) The management of the Club shall be in the hands of a Committee consisting of a Chairman and not more than eight, nor less than two other Members of the Club. At the Annual General Meeting of the Club, all Members of the Committee other than the President and the Chairman shall retire from office and at every subsequent Annual General Meeting one-third of the elected Members of the Committee or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three, the number nearest to one-third, shall retire from office; but if there is only one Member who is subject to retirement by rotation, he shall retire. The Members to retire by rotation shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or re-appointment but as between persons who become or were last re-appointed on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree amongst themselves) be determined by lot. The retiring Members of the Committee shall be eligible for re-election. If the Members of the Club do not in General Meeting fill any vacancy, the Member of the Committee concerned shall, if will to act, be deemed to have been re-appointed unless at the meeting it is resolved not to fill the vacancy or unless a resolution for the re-appointment of the Member is put to the meeting and lost. Members of the Club in General Meeting may resolve to appoint any Member of the Club who is willing to act to be a Member of the Committee either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Member of the Committee. Nominations proposed and seconded in writing, other than in the case of Members of the Committee who are retiring by rotation, shall be given to the Club Secretary no later than one week prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting.
(b) The Chairman shall be elected by members of the Committee annually at their first meeting following the Annual General Meeting. The Chairman shall not be eligible for re-election for one year, having served for four years. During those four years, he will be an ex-officio member of the Committee.
(c) The Committee shall co-opt such additional Members of the Committee as it considers desirable for the effective running of the Club.
(d) The Committee shall be empowered to appoint an Executive Sub-Committee for the daily running of the Club and a Finance Sub-Committee responsible for the financial affairs of the Club.
(e) A Club Polo Manager, a Secretary and a Treasurer may be appointed by the Committee and may also be appointed ex-officio to the Committee, in which case they shall not be subject to retirement by rotation but shall remain as Members of the Committee on such terms and for such period as the other Members of the Committee shall from time to time determine.
5. (a) Members of the Club shall be elected by the Committee by ballot or otherwise as a Committee may from time to time determine. Every application for membership shall be made to the Secretary accompanied by the name of the proposer and seconder. Names of candidates for playing membership shall be notified to the Members of the Committee not less than seven days before the election is made.
(b) Upon election and before a member may play in any organised game, including practice chukkas, he must lodge with the Club a signed declaration to be bound by the Rules, Regulations, Orders and Directives from time to time in force of the Club and the Hurlingham Polo Association.
6. (a) The annual subscriptions for playing and non-playing Members to be paid on or before 1st April shall be as laid down by the Committee and notified to Members.
(b) New Members joining shall pay a joining fee, as laid down by the Committee.
7. (a) The Committee shall have the power to elect Honorary members on payment of a nominal subscription on such conditions as the Committee shall think fit and to allow them the same or other privileges as ordinary members, always provided the total number of Honorary members shall not be significant in proportion to the total Membership of the Club.
(b) Playing Members of the Clubs affiliated to the Hurlingham Polo Association will be admitted as Honorary Members for Club Tournaments and Matches.
(c) Honorary members shall not have a vote at a General Meeting of the Club.
8. Any Member intending to resign his Membership of the Club shall give notice in writing to the Secretary on or before 1st April in any year of his intention to do so, otherwise he shall be liable for subscription for that year.
9. The Committee shall have the power to expel any Member, or visitors, who shall be guilty of conduct which in the opinion of the Committee shall justify such action. Any person so expelled shall not be allowed to enter the Club or use its facilities.
10. (a) If a Disciplinary Incident (see Blue Book for definitions) occurs on the Club grounds or on a ground for which the Club is normally responsible, then the Committee (three or over forming a quorum) are required to hold a Disciplinary Enquiry. If the Committee finds that the Disciplinary Incident involves misconduct on the part of the Person Charged, it may impose the following penalties:-
i) a warning;
ii) a censure and / or
iii) suspension from playing any organised game of polo including practice chukkas at the Club for such period as they deem appropriate and / or
iv) expulsion from the club and / or
v) a fine of up to £5000 and/or
vi) refer the matter to the Stewards at the H.P.A. in which case the Committee may suspend the person charged from playing in the remainder of the tournament and / or from the Club pending adjudication by the Stewards.
(b) Any hearing before the Committee shall follow the same form as that outlined in the H.P.A. Regulation 5. The Club will inform the Chief Executive of the H.P.A. of any disciplinary actions taken, whether referred to the Stewards or not.
11. (a) The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held during the Spring, or early summer, in each year on a date to be decided by the Committee, (but in any event on a date not later than fifteen months after the date of the previous Annual General Meeting) for the purposes of:-
i) approving the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting;
ii) receiving the Annual Report and Statement of Accounts;
iii) electing Members to the Committee;
iv) transacting any other business of the Club.
(b) An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Club may be called at any time by the Committee, or upon a requisition being sent to the Secretary signed by at least one fifth of the total ordinary Membership of the Club and stating the purpose of the Meeting. The Secretary shall call a meeting accordingly, which shall be held within fourteen days of the receipt of the requisition.
12. The duties and powers of the Committee shall include the following:-
a) To meet when necessary for the conduct of Club affairs.
b) To appoint a Sub-Committee of at least three members to make recommendations for the handicapping of players.
c) To appoint a member of the Club to be the Club's Polo Pony Welfare Officer, who will liaise with the H.P.A. Polo Pony Welfare Committee.
d) To elect members of the Club.
e) To make and vary bye-laws as they may consider necessary for the well being of the Club.
f) To buy, lease or make any other arrangements they think fit for the use and preparation of the grounds on which polo may be played, or for using any other premises permanent or temporary, apparatus or equipment for the purpose of the Club, including the sale of refreshments (alcoholic, subject to licensing laws, or non-alcoholic) or for any other purpose.
g) To make whatever arrangements they think fit for the playing of matches, the admission of the public, the parking of vehicles, the charges to be made and any other matters.
13. No gratuities are permitted to be given to grooms or other servants of the Club.
14. Alterations of these rules shall be made only at the Annual General Meeting of the Club and after written notice of the proposed alteration has been given to the Secretary at least two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting, so that the same may be printed in the circular calling the meeting. The Committee may however alter any rule of the Club to become effective immediately until such time as approved or otherwise at the General Meeting of the Club.