The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Welcome progress for golf
LA ST YEA R’S Open was one of the best there has been for ages. I was walking the course on the Friday for The Courier, following Rory McIlroy’s group, and it was in absolutely immaculate condition.
It was the perfect test — really hard but not unfair. On top of that the tournament got a thrilling finish and a great story in Phil Mickelson at last winning the Open.
A nd the sun shone! What’s not to like. I certainly really enjoyed being there and then watching it on TV on the Sunday.
But, there’s no getting away from the fact that the main topic of discussion before, during and after the championship was women not being allowed to join Muirfield and the R&A .
It was a real shame, and a lot of people think the issue affected the lower than expected crowd figures.
Scotland has the best golf courses in the world and the most knowledgeable galleries, so for the focus to be taken away from that in the most important week of the golfing year can’t be good.
So I’m really glad that the R&A have now taken the step to accept female members for the first time, if it is voted through.
Golf ’s a bit like curling — sometimes things take a bit longer to change than a lot of people would like. But the main thing is they are going to get there in the end.
A nd, also importantly, it isn’t just going to be a token gesture.
A ugusta National seemed to be let off the hook when two very high-profile women were co-opted into their club, but how much difference has it actually made? It hasn’t exactly opened the floodgates.
From what I can gather, the R&A are proposing something much more significant.
There will be no limit on how many women will be allowed to become members. That’s an important principle.
It will be intriguing to see who gets voted in, and how many.
A nd as someone who is thrilled to get the chance to play on the Old Course, if there are any R&A members who want to propose and second me, I would be only too happy to accept!