The Essex Golf and Country Club adheres to a general policy framework based on fairness, equality, and respect, aligning with broader guidelines set by organizations like England Golf. 

Their policies ensure that no individual is discriminated against based on protected characteristics, which include gender reassignment under the Equality Act 2010. This means that transgender members, participants, or guests are protected from discrimination and should receive equitable treatment in all club activities, competitions, and events.

The club promotes inclusivity by monitoring diversity, ensuring fair participation in events, and making reasonable adjustments where necessary. If concerns arise about potential breaches of these policies, the club has procedures for reporting and addressing such issues, which may involve guidance from national bodies like England Golf.

This approach reflects a commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all members and participants, including those who are transgender. 

Buggy Policy

All Club Company golf courses have a number of ride-on golf buggies available to members, guests and visitors for a hire fee.

All persons renting a golf buggy must complete for each hire a Golf Car Hire Agreement and provide the appropriate payment.

For those users who have requested to use their own golf ride-on buggy a Golf Buggy Safety Policy Acknowledgement Form should be completed with permission for use at the premises granted at the discretion of the club manager.

Those persons who require the use of a golf buggy as a result of having a disability as defined within the meaning of section 6 of The Equality Act 2010 will be required to provide the company medical form completed by their GP or consulting medical practitioner. In addition, the appropriate forms will need to be completed detailed above and payment made if hiring a company rental vehicle.

The company's over-riding responsibility is to ensure golf buggies are used in a safe manner and has a duty of care to the user which may require the removal of golf buggies from the course for all potential users regardless of the individual needs, if it is deemed that the use of the buggy is unsafe on that that particular day.

Multi-purpose terrain vehicles used by greenkeeping staff should be assessed separately and are not covered by this part of the policy although many of the considerations highlighted will apply to their safe use.

Golf Buggy Safety Policy

The club has a duty of care to all users of the golf course. 

The topography of certain areas of the course is such that caution, and prudence must be shown by the user of a ride-on buggy. It is also necessary for the club to provide adequately safe means of access for all golfers including those given permission to use buggies. Moreover, the club has to ensure the safety of golfers who do not wish to use ride-on buggies but who might be at risk from a mechanically defective ride-on buggy or its careless use. This duty of care also applies to members of the public using the various rights of way.

To assist the safe employment of ride-on buggies all potential users (members, visitors and guests) shall comply with the following conditions:

Any person who operates a ride-on buggy on the golf course is deemed by so doing, to have the knowledge, training and skill to safely operate this vehicle and be fully accountable for their actions and the consequences thereof. 

Ride-on buggies must be operated with the utmost courtesy, care and consideration for the safety and convenience of pedestrians. Pedestrians must be afforded the right-of-way at all times. 

The signs and instructions employed on the course to warn buggy riders of potential danger areas or, areas forbidden to ride-on buggies because of concerns about danger or, the potential to cause unacceptable wear and tear to the course, must be followed at all times. 

Ride-on buggies must be operated and parked in such a manner that they do not impede or interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular flow on roadways, ramps or pavements. 

Ride-on buggy operators will be responsible for the security of ignition keys for the period that the buggy is on hire. 

No ride-on buggy will be operated in excess of 15km per hour. All speed limits must be observed. 

Ride-on buggies shall be used only between dawn and dusk. 

Ride-on buggies must be operated in compliance with the common rules of the road regardless of whether ride-on buggies are operated on pavements or roadways. 

Operators must stop the buggy at blind intersections and proceed with caution. 

The consumption of alcohol and/or the improper use of drugs are not permitted when using the ride-on buggy. 

The club manager has the authority to immediately prohibit any individual from using or being carried on a ride-on buggy. 

Children, i.e. those under 18 years of age are not allowed to drive a ride-on buggy 

Golf Buggy Safe Working Practice 

Before use: 

All users of club rental ride-on buggies must sign a Golf Car hire agreement form before 

they are allowed to drive the buggy.

For those users who have requested to use their own golf ride-on buggy a Golf Buggy 

Safety Policy Acknowledgement Form should be completed. 

This should be completed once for each golf season or should there be a change in vehicle or individual capability.

- Users must be aware of the safe operation of the controls of the buggy - ignition switch and immobilizer, accelerator, footbrake, parking brake and reversing control. 

- A ride-on buggy shall only be used for the number of occupants it was designed to carry and only by people who are authorised to use one. 

During use:

Do not move off until the occupants are seated. 

Always remain seated and hold on while the vehicle is in motion. 

Hands, feet and head must be kept inside the buggy at all times while the vehicle is in motion. 

Ride-on buggies must not be driven in prohibited areas. 

The vehicle must be used to progress the game and must not be driven up and down excessively, e.g. when looking for golf balls. 

The vehicle must not be used on tees, greens or the slopes leading up to them. 

The vehicle must not be used within 2 metres of any bunkers, ditches or ponds or slopes leading to them except when using the designated bridges. 

Check the area behind the vehicle before reversing. 

Set the parking brake before leaving the vehicle. 

Always consider the terrain, existing vehicular and pedestrian traffic conditions as well as environmental factors that may affect your ability to operate the vehicle safely: 

- Drive the vehicle only as fast as the terrain and safety considerations allow. 

- To avoid tipping over, drive the buggy straight up and down severe slopes. 

- Slow down before corners. 

- All turns must be executed at reduced speeds. 

- Avoid sudden stops or changes of direction that may result in loss of control. 

- Be extra careful when the course is wet and muddy. 

After use: 

When the vehicle is left unattended, turn the operating key to the off position, remove the key and engage the parking brake.

Specific Users of Golf Buggies:

Due to disability, some members, visitors, and guests may not be able to play golf without the help provided by a motorised ride-on buggy. A disability will have been defined within the meaning of The Equality Act 2010 and confirmed by the users GP or consulting medical practitioner using the company medical form.

In addition to medical confirmation the relevant hire agreement and rental payment or safety policy acknowledgement form for use of their own buggy must be completed.

Ride-on buggies may be used during closed and open competitions only by those suffering from a disability as defined and confirmed above and with permission of the club manager.

Should the medical condition or disability necessitating the use of a ride-on buggy alter or cease or, the conditions for the use of the buggy are not fully complied with the company reserves the right to withdraw the use of the buggy.

England Golf Notes:

Is it reasonable for clubs to provide golf buggies to golfers with a disability free of charge?

Discriminating is defined in the Equality Act 2010 as treating somebody less favourably on the basis of a protected characteristic. So, if Person A lives with a disability and requires a golf buggy, and their club charges players £10 to hire a golf buggy, that person has to pay £10 more to play a round of golf than Person B who does not have a disability. 

The Essex G&CC - Our buggy pricing is the same for everyone regardless in line with the above.

Whether or not a golf club can charge players with a disability to hire a golf buggy will depend on whether it would be reasonable, in light of all the circumstances, to waive the hiring fee. What is reasonable in any given situation will depend upon the specific circumstances. 

For example: 

- It would be reasonable to allow a competitor with a disability to use a golf buggy in a competition where the rules state that competitors must walk during their rounds.

The Essex G&CC - 

We would allow a competitor with a disability to use a golf buggy at the associated cost, in a competition where the rules state that competitors must walk during their round however if the use of Golf Buggies has been removed this would not be provided. Safety of our members will always be the overriding factor.

Another reasonable adjustment would be for the member to suspend their membership in line with the membership T&Cs for the period of buggy restrictions only on production of the documentation detailed above in the buggy policy.