Dear golfing friends:

Many golfers in the Balearics who, whether natives or foreigners, are full-time a seasonal members of a golf club ask the following question:

Being a full-time or seasonal member of a Balearic golf club associated with the Royal Golf Association of Spain (R.F.E.G.), is it necessary to be an associate (in possession of a federative license) in order to practice the sport or play in a club of which I am a member if I don't play in tournaments and merely practice the game at my club? The answer can be found in the statutes of the R.F.E.G. and in the response as given by the Higher Board of Athletics (C.S.D.)

Article 11.1 of the R.F.E.G. statutes states: "For the R.F.E.G. to grant a federative license to clubs and other associations, these must agree to demand the presentation of a license valid in Spain from any and all persons, regardless of nationality, who wish to use the facilities of the above practicing the sport as well as for giving golf instruction".

The C.S.D. is an administrative, autonomous body attached to the Ministry of Education and Culture, within whose  competence falls, among other matters, the approval of the statutes and rules of sports federations.

The R.F.E.G. in due course and in view of the doubts concerning the aforesaid obligation (article 11.1) has asked the question of the CSD of whether it is obligatory or not to be in possession of a federative license to practice golf in the federated clubs.

The interpretation of the CSD in that such a requirement is not in violation of constitutional principles or the law itself and that therefore the R.F.E.G. may demand from the clubs associated with it that they fulfil a series of requirements, such as making federative license-holding mandatory, for Spanish citizens as well as for foreigners, and for the practice of the sport as well as merely for the use of the facilities.

Conclusion: All of the Balearic golf clubs that have been granted a licence by the R.F.E.G. by means of the autonomous federation must require their full-time and seasonal members to be in possession of a federative licence.