Gosforth Golf Club [“the Club”] realises that social media and networking websites have become a regular part of everyday life and that many people enjoy participating on such sites. However, the Club is aware that these sites can become negative and care must be taken not to bring the Club into disrepute, not to breach confidentiality and not to offend or cause disrepute to any member, visitor, staff member and others, when using these services. This Policy only applies to Club related issues and is not meant to infringe upon an individual’s rights and freedoms.
For the purposes of this Policy, social media is any type of interactive online media that allows parties to communicate instantly with each other or to share data in a public forum. This includes online social forums such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Social media also covers blogs and video & imaging sharing websites such as YouTube and Flickr.
Club members and members of staff should be aware that there are many more examples of social media that can be listed here and this is a constantly changing area. Club members and members of staff should follow these guidelines in relation to any social media that they use
The absence of, or lack of, explicit reference to a specific website or service does not limit the extent of the application of this Policy. Where no Policy or guidelines exist, Club members and members of staff must use their judgement as to what is and what is not appropriate use or comment on such sites. Club members and members of staff should consult with either the Secretary or the Management Committee if they are uncertain.
Making Defamatory or Derogatory Comments
Club members and members of staff must not make derogatory comments about the Club, the golf course, staff, or members via social media.
• Breach confidentiality, for example by:-
o Giving away any information relating to Club members or staff.
o Discussing the Club’s internal workings or its future business plans that are not public knowledge.
• Breach copyright, for example by:-
o Using someone else’s images or written content without permission; or
o Failing to give acknowledgement where permission has been given to reproduce something.
o Using the Club’s logos and trademarks without written consent.
• Do anything that could be considered discriminatory against, or bullying or harassment of, any member or member of staff, for example by:-
o Making offensive or derogatory comments or discriminating or inciting others to discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex/sexual orientation.
o Using social media to bully another member or member of staff or visitor or supplier.
o Posting images that are discriminatory or offensive or links to such content.
• All Club members and members of staff, should bear in mind that information they share through social networking applications, even if they are on private spaces are still subject to copyright, data protection, freedom of information and other legislation.
• If a Club member or member of staff believes that there has been an offensive comment on social media about the Club, another member, a member of staff, a visitor or a supplier then they should report this to the Secretary immediately. If a Club member or member of staff thinks that another member or member of staff is being bullied or someone has posted a comment that may offend/upset a member or member of staff, then they should report this to the Secretary as soon as possible so that the matter may be investigated.
• If a Club member or member of staff makes a complaint that they know to be untrue, or gives evidence that they know to be untrue, this may lead to disciplinary action being taken against them.
Guidance on Use of Social Media
When using social media in their personal life, Club members and members of staff should:-
• Ensure that privacy settings on their profiles are set so that only people they have accepted as friends can see their content
• Regularly review who is on their “friends list” on their personal profile.
• Ensure personal blogs have clear disclaimers to the effect that the views expressed by the author are theirs alone and do not represent the views of the Club
• Make it clear that they are speaking for themselves and not on behalf of the Club.
• Ensure that information published on the internet does not breach confidentiality and complies with the Club’s Data Protection Policy.
Use of Club Accounts
The Club operates a number of accounts on social media websites for the promotion of activities and events, and as a communication method.The following outlines the limits of their use:-
• An official account on any social media website may only be set-up with written consent from the Management Committee.
• Only authorised members may use these accounts to post online and access to the account should be strictly limited.
• All information published on the internet must not breach confidentiality and must comply with the Club’s Data Protection Policy.
• Copyright laws must be respected, with references or sources cited appropriately.
• Any Club member or member of staff who becomes aware of social networking activity that would be deemed distasteful should make the Secretary or a member of the Management Committee aware, as soon as possible.
All Club members and members of staff using official accounts must adhere to these guidelines. Breach of this Policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of membership/dismissal.
Termination of Membership/Dismissal
On termination of membership/dismissal, however caused, if a Club member or member of staff has access to any social media account on behalf of the Club, they must give up all paperwork and passwords relevant to the site and agree not to make further posts or comments in respect of any matter pertaining either to their personal situation or to the running of the Club.
Website Privacy Policy
This privacy statement outlines the way in which Gosforth Golf Club ("the Club") gathers and uses information relating to users of the Club website. The Club respects each site visitor's right to personal privacy. To that end, the Club collects and uses the information throughout our website only as disclosed in this privacy policy.
Information Automatically Collected
When you visit a website, certain personal information about you can be collected automatically. When you browse through our site, read pages, or download information, the Club collects certain information to measure how many visitors come to the different parts of the site so that the Club can make the site more useful. For every visitor, the Club collects and temporarily stores the following information:
Your computer's Internet Protocol (IP) address, a number automatically assigned to your computer when you go on the Web;
The domain from which you access the Internet;
The website address from which you came to our site;
The date and time you arrived at our site and how long you spent there;
The name and version of your computer's operating system and browser;
The pages you visited.
The website may contain links to other sites, and you should be aware that if you access another site through a link provided you are subject to the privacy policy of that site. The Club is not responsible for the contents of any pages referred from its website.
Information you supply to us
The Club may use your personal information, such as your name and contact details, if you choose to supply such details, for the following purposes:
To perform the services that you have requested, which may involve contacting you by post, by telephone or by email, including sending you the Club's e-newsletter;
To allow us to promote the Club’s events and activities;
To make parts of the website easier to use by not making you enter your personal information more than once;
For the detection of fraud and for market research purposes; and
For other reasonable purposes, always acting within the limits of the Data Protection Act, 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
Security
The Club has endeavoured to take appropriate measures to prevent and minimise risks of unauthorised access to personal information. However, the Internet is not a totally secure medium and you acknowledge and agree that we shall not be responsible for any authorised use, distribution, damage or destruction of personal data.
Accuracy of Data
The Club will on its own initiative, or at your request, rectify or erase any incomplete, inaccurate or out of date personal data retained in connection with the operation of this site.