The dawn of a brighter future for golf ...

IREMEMBER whenAugusta National Golf Club set the ball rolling ahead of the US Masters in 2012. When the home of the US Masters opened its doors to their first female members the world took notice.

The Royal andAncient Golf Club of St Andrews have followedAugusta’s lead and taken the first steps towards ending its menonly policy. The committee deserves praise for recommending that their members vote on equal access after 260 years. This is the dawn of a brighter future for golf and very welcome as we open our doors to the world for the Ryder Cup in September.

Scotland is the home of golf andThe Royal andAncient is its heart – an authority to the rules of golf and custodian of the modern game. It’s clear that their decision is already having an effect on other clubs. When Muirfield announced on Friday that it was holding a consultation with their members on allowing women into their club, it was another sign the sands have shifted.

Let’s hope they also come to the right conclusion.

It is of course with an eye to the future that the R andA’s announcement should really be considered. Children are the future of the game and they should be welcomed with open arms by every club. Since 2003 the Scottish Government has ensured young people have had the chance to experience golf by putting a golf club in the hand of over 300,000 Primary 5 school children. As part of the club golf initiative boys and girls are experiencing a sport they can play for life.

Earlier this month, I was honoured to spend InternationalWomen’s Day speaking alongside the incredibly inspiring Scottish Olympic rower Dr Katherine Grainer for a lecture at Edinburgh University.

We agreed women’s sport in Scotland has come a great distance over the last decade but there is still much more to be done. Attracting talent and representation at the top level has been part of this problem.

As Katherine pointed out in her lecture, sport is an excellent springboard for change and women should be involved in making the most important decisions in all sports.

That is why there is even more at stake in the Royal andAncient vote in September. Members of the Royal andAncient Golf Club sit on the committees looking at matters ranging from the rules of the game to the locations of the Open golf tournament. By opening its doors the club is moving to give women a voice concerning important decisions affecting the game.

This year is proving to be a fantastic year for Scottish sporting women – we celebrated wonderful success with Eve Muirhead and her curling charges securing a bronze medal at theWinter Olympics in Sochi and this summer the Commonwealth Games will produce a host of female athletes who will inspire a generation.

By the time we tee off at this year’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles let’s hope the members of the Royal andAncient have voted “yes” to cap a memorable year for women in sport. Shona Robison, MSP Dundee City East, Minister for Sport, Equalities and the Commonwealth Games