Captaincy Consultation
West Byfleet Golf Club
Captaincy Consultation
Summary of Member Responses and Board Conclusions
Summary
The consultation has not produced a clear mandate for structural change:
- 132 valid responses were received, representing 21% of the membership.
- No structural option received majority support.
- No alternative option was close to the 75% threshold required to amend the Articles.
- The responses identified a number of concerns that can potentially be addressed within the current structure.
Only responses from members who provided their name have been considered.
Themes identified in written responses
- Different understandings of how the current structure operates
- Concerns about accountability and clarity under alternative structures
- Concerns about representation and the focus on men’s golf
Board Conclusion
There is no clear mandate for structural change.
The Board has therefore decided not to pursue structural change at this time. Instead, it will focus on practical improvements to role clarity, transparency and the organisation of golf activities within the existing structure to address concerns raised during the consultation.
The remainder of this document contains further information from the consultation and the next steps that the Board will take to address the concerns raised.
Who Responded
Key observations
- 21% response rate is low
- 80% of respondents would attend a meeting
The low response rate means the views of the members who responded cannot be taken to be indicative of the views of all members.
| Metric | Number | % |
|---|---|---|
| Total members | 630 | 100% |
| Opened the email | 548 | 87% |
| Did not open | 82 | 13% |
| Valid responses | 132 | 21% |
| Removed (no name) | 5 | <1% |
| Added (email response) | 1 | <1% |
Would you attend a meeting?
- Yes 80%
- No 12%
- Blank / not stated 8%
Whilst 80% of those responding would attend a meeting, the Board has considered this alongside the limited overall response rate, the absence of a clear preference for structural change, and the resources required to prepare for a further consultation process. It is clear that a meeting would not realistically lead to a mandate for change. The Board has therefore decided that further consultation is not justified and hence no meeting will be arranged.
Question 1
Which of the three structures do you prefer?
- a Current structure 33% (43)
- b Two captains of equal standing 36% (47)
- c A Club Captain and two vice-captains 27% (36)
- Other 5% (6)
Key observations
- Option b was the most popular option, but it was supported by only 36% of respondents and was only marginally ahead of the current structure.
- No alternative option received sufficient support to provide a clear mandate for pursuing constitutional change.
- The combined options of a and c represent a total of 60% of respondents preferring a single captain model.
Question 1 — notes
Which of the three structures do you prefer?
Other: 2 gave no clear preference, 2 said only 1 captain regardless of gender, 1 said single captain plus ladies’ captain if captain is a man, and a men’s captain if the captain is a woman
A change to the Club’s Articles of Association would require 75% support from members attending and voting at a General Meeting, either in person or by proxy. No option came close to this threshold.
Percentages are rounded and may not total 100%.
Question 2
Do you believe the current structure provides fair representation for all members?
- Yes 52%
- No 36%
- Other / not stated 12%
Key observations
- A majority of respondents believe the current structure provides fair representation.
- A significant minority do not believe the current structure provides fair representation.
- The written responses indicate that concerns relate to both how the structure operates in practice and how it is perceived by members.
Improving transparency and clarity may address some of these concerns without requiring structural change.
Themes from written responses
Key observations
- Supporters of Option a value simplicity, clarity, and continuity
- Supporters of Option b see it as the fairest and most modern structure
- Supporters of Option c value the single leader with dedicated support
- Concerns about confusion and accountability were raised by critics of Options b and c
Themes from written responses
Option a (current structure)
Main advantages cited
- Single point of contact
- Clear accountability
- Works well / has worked for years
- Avoids unnecessary legal costs
- Women can already become Captain
Main concerns cited
- Historical perception of male dominance
- Lack of focus on men’s golf through no dedicated Men’s Captain role
- Perception of division between sections
Themes from written responses
Option b (two equal captains)
Main advantages cited
- Equal representation
- Modern and inclusive
- Adopted by some other clubs
Main concerns cited
- Lack of single leader / accountability
- Potential for disagreement
- Clarity of shared responsibilities
Themes from written responses
Option c (Club Captain + 2 VCs)
Main advantages cited
- Single point of leadership
- Focus on men’s and women’s golf
- Retains ambassador role
Main concerns cited
- Too many chiefs / cumbersome
- Confusing in practice
- Unclear succession pathway
Questions and clarifications arising from the consultation
The responses indicate that members have differing understandings of the current structure. The Board will therefore seek to improve the clarity and accessibility of information about roles, responsibilities and eligibility, including through the publication of role descriptions.
“The Captain role is only open to men”
The role is open to all 7-day Voting Members; we have a female Vice-Captain / a female Captain in waiting
“The Board is forcing change”
The consultation was a commitment from the AGM – the Board has no pre-determined outcome
Questions and clarifications arising from the consultation
“Option b is the England Golf recommended option”
England Golf’s governance guidance sets out two captaincy structures — a single Club Captain or equal-status Men’s & Ladies’ Captains — favouring neither. All options considered in the consultation comply with the 2 models England Golf suggests.
“All women are in favour of 2 captains of equal standing”
The question has not been specifically raised with the Ladies’ section but there are women who do not support the structure of 2 captains of equal standing
Next steps
Although the Board are not taking the consultation forward, the Board will attempt to address some of the concerns raised regarding the current structure such as:
-
Publishing role descriptions
Not just for the Captain but for all elected roles within the Club. The Nominations Committee is nearing completion of this work, and the roles will be posted on the website shortly.
-
Improving the transparency of election of members to leadership roles
The Nominations Committee was established at the start of the year to do this and is already advertising roles and improving the clarity of who is eligible to apply for them.
-
Improving the focus on everyone’s golf
To strengthen the focus on men’s golf and reduce the work of the Ladies’ Committee, the Board and Captain’s Committee are considering expanding the current Golf Group into a Match, Competitions and Handicaps Committee with increased responsibilities.
Conclusion
The Board would like to thank those people who took the time to read the consultation papers and respond to the consultation via the online response form.
For the reasons set out above, the Board does not intend to take the consultation forward any further at this time. The results do not suggest a clear mandate for change, and the Board is satisfied that the consultation process has been thorough and transparent. The Board will instead focus on practical improvements within the current structure to address concerns raised, including clearer role descriptions, improved transparency, and enhanced focus on golf activities for all members.