Equal chance for all to shine

WHEN THE R& A announced they’d vote on women members, scrutiny intensified on the three clubs who host the Open Championship but don’t have open memberships.

Muirfield and Sandwich both said they would re-examine their membership policies but the third club, Royal Troon, expressed the view they had no need to change.

Secretary David Brown cited their “close relationship” with Troon Ladies, which is based in perhaps Scottish golf ’s couthiest clubhouse beside the 17th green of the great Open course, as the key difference — neither Muirfield nor Sandwich has an alternative club for women.

But if that somehow creates the impression that everything’s fine and it’s a partnership that’s separate but equal at Troon, you’d be wrong.

Connie Jaffrey, 17, is a Troon Ladies member and the Scottish girls’ champion.

On Sunday she finished second in the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Championship, held every year at Troon, shooting a careerbest four-under 71 on the Open Championship course.

However, Connie gets to play the famous links at most twice a year.

I can’t think of any other club in Scotland, other than Muirfield, that wouldn’t embrace an outstanding young local talent like Connie and give her the run of their facilities.