Why Should A Golf Club Be Barred From Hosting The British Open, Just Because It Doesn't Allow Female Membership?

[anotheoldgit]

http://nypost.com/2016/05/19/world-famous-golf-club-cant-host-tourney-until-it-lets-in-women/

[andy-hughes]

dannyk13 - //I can't see any problem in admitting women members.For many years I played at a club where women members were welcome. //

Indeed.

It appears that the objection here is that women potentially 'play too slowly' - with the obvious built-in inference that men's' time is far more precious and should not be wasted by a bunch of fillies pratting about when they should be at home getting the dinner ready.

I don't play golf, but I would have thought that the point of the game is pleasure and relaxation, so I wonder why anyone would be so anxious that they couldn't wait the necessary few minutes for a party of ladies to take their time and enjoy the game for which they also play membership and green fees.

This of course pre-supposes that there are no tardy male golfers who may keep ladies waiting - how silly a notion would that be?

[anneasquith]

Geez oh AOG. That would mean another vote. Doubt the old duffers are up for that.:-)

[sp1814]

AOG

The golf club has made a choice. They are not entitled to host the Open.

[agchristie]

AH > It appears that the objection here is that women potentially 'play too slowly'.

The Ladies' tees are further forward too!

Hmmm, I wouldn't dare suggest that to Laura Davies, it would probably result in s hook!!

[dannyk13]

Andy
In my experience women do not play slower than men,it is the Rabbits(high handicap players) who are likely to play slowly.In fact I have played together with some women who were faster than me and i was a 4 handicap golfer.

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

As you have admitted you don't play golf so you would not know how it is to be waiting to tee off, because a group of ladies on the next green, are chatting away, arguing who's ball is nearest the hole or even looking for their ball?

[Islay]

Sexist much?

[Old_Geezer]

The club has the right to be a single gender club. It's nice to get away from the opposite gender sometimes, and nice to be with them at others. There is an issue regarding facilities though if there are no alternative golf clubs within easy reach for those unable to join the one in question.

However those in charge of the British Open are perfectly within their rights to set reasonable criteria too. And it is fair enough that they want to award hosting to clubs which have a more open membership policy. Show preference for golf clubs rather than men's clubs that are mainly golf played/ themed.

[agchristie]

An interesting pin position....

[dannyk13]

AOG
That is total rubbish.

[sp1814]

AOG

You don't need to play golf to understand the concept of 'having to wait'.

It's something that everyone is familiar with.

[anneasquith]

AOG. Has a point. I don't think the ladies should be reapplying their mascara at the 9th hole.

[andy-hughes]

Danny - //AOG That is total rubbish. //

I do know enough to know that chatting, wasting time, getting in the way, and generally being a royal pain in the butt is not a scenario exclusively limited to the fairer sex - whether on the golf course or not!!

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// AOG

The golf club has made a choice. They are not entitled to host the Open. ///

Tell us something that we don't already know, the point of this thread is to point out that they have been banned from hosting the Open.

[Togo]

Haha aog the thing is it didn't work for the old Working Men's Clubs though. Of course the ladies of Muirfield l be feeling very satisfied this morning. But it seems to me to have the look of a somewhat pyrrhic victory. No open = no income from millions of spectators, TV rights, catering and accommodation businesses, transport and all the add on benefits of the World's media attention. Troon next no doubt. I wonder if Trump had any influence in the decision to remove the Open from the venue. He has quite a substantial holding in the golf course business and in view of his recent skirmish concerning a certain golf course in Scotland, he may have twisted a few arms or whispered into a few ears.

[agchristie]

This debate is like the greens at Augusta, you get plenty of different slants.

[andy-hughes]

sp1814 - //AOG

You don't need to play golf to understand the concept of 'having to wait'.

It's something that everyone is familiar with. //

I think you are missing a vital point which I referred to in a previous point -

a woman waiting for a man is far less important than a man waiting for a woman - for heaven's sake, don't you know how valulable a man's time is compared to a woman's? Being a man he has far more important, time-pressing essential things waiting to be done that mean he can't waste valuable minutes waiting for other tardy (which must mean female!) club members to get on with their game at a speed that does not impede his progress.

Where have you been?????

[Svejk]

There are more all-women golf courses than all men. Just saying.

[sp1814]

AOG

Yes...they've been barred from hosting the Open. But that's because they've barred women from being members.

The club can carry on with their 'no women' policy, and the Royal and Ancient can do what it pleases - and they've decided that they don't want to be associated with the club.

What's the problem?

[THECORBYLOON]

ANOTHEOLDGIT, each of the parties involved has its own rules. Do you agree they are free to enforce those rules?