Golf and Ethics

Enjoy exclusive benefits, club events and a vibrant golf community.

Ethical sportsmanship is something that we, like the golf federation, attach great importance to.

In this way, investments are made in ethical standards and values to enable quality sports activities.

Within Golf & Ethics, Fairplay is a very important theme.

Golf is known for being played 'almost' always without a referee. The game is based on the integrity of the player, who is considerate of others and plays by the rules. The spirit of golf means that, no matter how passionate a player is, one must behave courteously and sportsmanlike under all circumstances. This is also described in the etiquette of golf.

Panathlon Declaration

In June 2021, we signed the Panathlon Declaration, a Charter on the Rights of the Child in Sport.

All children have the right to:

Sports activities
Fun and games
A healthy living environment
A dignified treatment
Guidance and training by skilled people
Training adapted to their age, individual rhythm and possibilities
Matches against children of the same level in an adapted competition
Exercising in safe conditions
Rest
The chance to become a champion – or not

Within our operations we do everything we can to ensure that these rights are ALWAYS respected.

Reporting point for inappropriate behavior

Do you need a listening ear? Have you seen or experienced something and don't know how to deal with it?

If you have a question, concern, suspicion, discovery or report of inappropriate behavior, you can contact us confidentially through the following channels:

Contact the helpline number 1712 ( www.1712.be ). Experienced care providers are ready to help you. They will give you information and advice or refer you to further help. You can call them on the free number 1712, every working day from 9am to 5pm.

Children and young people can go to Awel ( www.awel.be ) for a listening ear. You can reach Awel daily by phone on number 102 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., or chat between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., except on Sundays and public holidays. You can also send an e-mail or ask your question on the forum.

For children and young people there is also the chat option on www.nupraatikerover.be . You can chat anonymously with a specialized employee on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7 pm to 10 pm.

You can also contact Tele-Onthaal ( www.tele-onthaal.be ) on number 106, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or every evening (and Wednesday afternoon from 3 p.m.) via chat.

Stop it Now! ( www.stopitnow.be ) wants to offer preventive help to people with pedophile feelings and their loved ones. Are you worried about your own feelings or behavior, or about that of someone in your direct social environment? Call Stop it Now! on 0800 200 (Tuesday 3pm-7pm, Wednesday 9:30am-12:30pm & Friday 1pm-4pm) or contact them by e-mail: vragen@stopitnow.be.

Do you want to report something within Golf De Palingbeek? Then you can contact Tine Fournier via e-mail.

Physical and Sexual Integrity

Many children and young people experience beautiful sports moments every day. This preferably happens in a safe way. An important aspect of this is physical and sexual integrity.

As sports coaches, we must provide minors with an environment in which they learn to interact with each other and develop. After all, children and young people also develop sexually, and as adults we are expected to ensure that this can happen in a healthy way. We owe this first and foremost to the children and young people, because their well-being is above all other interests. We also owe it to the parents who entrust their children to our care. But as sports clubs, we are also obliged by our own status to do everything possible to protect the physical and sexual integrity of our young athletes. In this way, sports clubs can be safe, healthy havens for the adults of tomorrow.

To get started with this, the sports sector offers various instruments for sports clubs. For example, a manual for sports clubs and a Flag System.

“Physical and sexual integrity: a handbook for sports clubs” contains concise information that clubs can use immediately. The flag system “sport, a game with boundaries” is a useful tool for club managers, sports coaches and athletes to consciously learn to deal with physically or sexually transgressive behavior in sports. Using six criteria, you will learn to correctly assess transgressive behavior. For example, you can assess a situation with a green, yellow, red or black flag. This color also indicates how you can respond appropriately. An accessible way to make the topic discussable, or to get to know it better yourself.

All information can be found at www.sportmetgrenzen.be , also via http://www.ethicsandsport.com/sport_met_grenzen .

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Doping

It is very likely that as an athlete you will be called upon to undergo a doping test one or more times during your career. The possible consequences of a positive test are often very far-reaching. It is therefore absolutely necessary to consider this subject well in advance.

As an athlete, you should always be aware that when you use medicines, supplements, vitamins or whatever, these products should absolutely not be on the doping list. Also, having prohibited products with you (think of the riding hall that is searched) is punishable and is considered equivalent to a positive test result. So be careful with leaving medicines lying around. The personal cupboard in the changing room is not a home medicine cabinet. Therefore, never use something that you do not know or of which you are not 200% certain that you are not running any risks.

If you think you need something (medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, etc.), always ask permission from the club doctor. If in doubt, you can always obtain information in advance via the doping line: Tel 078 15 35 45. You can also always visit the website of the Flemish Community https://www.dopingvrij.vlaanderen/ .

It is also good to remember that many seemingly harmless products sometimes contain prohibited substances. So be careful with “a painkiller”, “something for itching”, “something for inflammation” etc. Also many food supplements, slimming pills, cough syrup, energy drinks etc. are not harmless at all.

If it goes wrong accidentally and in good faith ("I couldn't sleep and took a pill without thinking"), report this immediately to the club doctor and bring the packaging if possible. This also applies to medicines, vaccines, etc. that you received in an emergency (for example during an accident abroad).

The pros and staff at Golf De Palingbeek are always ready to help you. Please note that it is very difficult, if not impossible, for these people to help you if they are only informed of this “one-time intake” after a positive test.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.

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Healthy Eating

Anyone who wants to exercise healthily probably also thinks about their eating habits. Should you eat extra when you exercise? Are sports drinks useful? Why are carbohydrates so important?

Sports and nutrition

Healthy exercise also means healthy eating
Why are carbohydrates so important for athletes?
Vegetarian and athlete, a good combination?
Are nutritional supplements useful?

Sports and drinks

How much should you drink while exercising?
Are sports drinks useful?
Sports and alcohol, do they go together?

Read all about it at https://www.sport.vlaanderen/slim-sporten/voeding/

Food & Drinks While Golfing

Of course you take food and drinks with you on your 18-hole round of golf. But not everything is equally good. A Mars bar is tasty and Cola thirst-quenching, but both provide less energy than you think. Quick energy, but not long-lasting energy.

A banana and plain water are just as tasty and much better.

Integrity Contact Point = Club API

Within every golf club there is dissatisfaction among coaches, athletes, parents, administrators, etc. A good conversation can often solve a lot and improve cooperation. Sometimes, however, a good conversation is not enough and further steps are needed.

“I am the Integrity Contact Person (API) within Golf De Palingbeek. As a golfer, parent, trainer, manager or other volunteer within Golf De Palingbeek you can contact me as API with a question, suspicion or complaint about inappropriate behavior.

You can send me an email at tine@golfpalingbeek.be. Of course you can always contact me personally.

As an API, I listen to your question or story, handle your report with complete discretion and advise you on possible next steps or referral.”

Tine Fournier