A move to allow women into one of the last bastions of men-only sporting privilege has been welcomed by Huddersfield’s lady golfers.
Some 260 years after it was founded The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has finally announced it will recommend women be allowed to join the club.
The club is “strongly in favour” of the rule change and is asking its 2,400 existing members to vote for it.
Joan Webb, who took over as lady captain of Huddersfield this week, has welcomed the proposal and she said: “It is a very good thing and long overdue.
“There are now just a few of the old clubs left which do not let ladies in. Allowing women in is good for men, for women and for the game itself.
“Clubs like the Royal and Ancient should be paving the way, rather than being behind the rest of us.
“ I believe we are very forward thinking in this area and, in the matter of equality, it is us who are leading the way and the Royal and Ancient which is following our example.”
Susan Gillespie, Woodsome Hall’s Ladies’ Secretary, agrees, although she thinks that even if the proposal is passed, it may not all be plain sailing for the new lady members.
She said: “It is a good move and will be a huge step forward for them up at St Andrews.
“I like tradition as much as anybody else, but sometimes we do have to change things for the better to move forward, and I’m all for that.
“Like most clubs, Woodsome Hall had some teething problems working out the Equality Law, but the club has embraced it. The sticky points have been ironed out and I would say it is working pretty well here, improving all the time. Everybody is doing their bit here to make it work.
“There are just a few people who struggle with it, but younger members in particular realise it has to happen if clubs are to survive and move forward.
“I do, however, think that some of the women may have an uphill battle at St Andrews. They may feel uncomfortable playing there, it could take up to a generation before that changes.”
Clubmate and vice-captain concurs: “If St Andrews agree to take women, it will be interesting to see if and ladies want to join.
“I think we have got it right at Woodsome, we have just two categories for everybody: six and seven-day membership, and that seems to work for everybody. Most of the ladies choose the six-day membership.”
Local golf clubs have been subject to the Equality Law since 2010 and, while there were initially a number of issues which had to be solved, not least of which was how to all ow access to everybody on a Saturday, traditionally the men’s competition day and busiest time of the week.
Clubs have generally organised their own local arrangements which more or less conform with the law. Although most clubs hold mixed competition, the idea of holding one Monthly Medal or competition for all members, as some Irish clubs do, has yet to be embraced.
The St Andrews vote will take place on September 18 and requires a two-thirds majority.
It follows intense pressure on the club, especially during the Open Championship at Muirfield last year. Ex-sports minister Hugh Robertson and culture secretary Maria Miller turned down invitations to attend Muirfield, which is one of the three courses on the nine-strong Open rota to not allow women members.
The Huddersfield, Halifax and District Ladies’ Winter League, played at Crosland Heath, was contested by 52 couples from 15 clubs played in foursomes format.
Results: 1 Doreen Dewhirst and Jan Forster (Meltham) 36 points; 2 Jenny Priestley and Linda Gul (Elland) 36 (back three countback); 3 Anne Robinson and Kate Morley (Crosland Heath) 36; 4 Nancy Lightowlers and Sue Kaye (Crosland Heath) 34; 5 Lynn Lande and Jan Speight (Crosland Heath) 33 (countback); 6 Elena Abbott and S Howker (Bradley Hall) 33 points.
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