As someone who spent the best part of ten years involved in the administration of two of the finest golf clubs in the west of Scotland in the seventies and eighties (at a time, by the way, when equal opportunities was an issue), I'm becoming increasingly weary of hearing assorted knee-jerk reactions to the controversy which has been generated by the choice of Muirfield for the recent Open golf tournament.
In one of the more recent outbursts, by suggesting that men-only golf clubs are 'stupid', the young lady-golfer could be accused of not being very smart herself. Her statement, "We're all people and no one is better than anyone else." implies that those who support men-only clubs have made such an audacious claim; which, of course is ridiculous. They do, however understand that men and women are different - as is recognised by the often ignored fact that there are women-only clubs (such as Formby Ladies Golf Club).
Furthermore, golf clubs are not alone in recognising that differences exist. The Womens' Institute, for example, who don't have male members (no pun intended), or The National Black Police Association who are unlikely to have many (if any) white members. However, as I have mentioned before, by far the strongest supporters for the retention of men-only golf-clubs were the members wives.
In one of the more recent outbursts, by suggesting that men-only golf clubs are 'stupid', the young lady-golfer could be accused of not being very smart herself. Her statement, "We're all people and no one is better than anyone else." implies that those who support men-only clubs have made such an audacious claim; which, of course is ridiculous. They do, however understand that men and women are different - as is recognised by the often ignored fact that there are women-only clubs (such as Formby Ladies Golf Club).
Furthermore, golf clubs are not alone in recognising that differences exist. The Womens' Institute, for example, who don't have male members (no pun intended), or The National Black Police Association who are unlikely to have many (if any) white members. However, as I have mentioned before, by far the strongest supporters for the retention of men-only golf-clubs were the members wives.