R&A to vote on admitting women as members

[Tommy Williamsen]

http://www.globalgolfpost.com/blog/royal-ancient-club-moves-toward-female-membership/?utm_campaign=3-26%20reminder&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=R%26A%20blog

[Jud_T]

and only 96 years after women got the vote in Britain.  Who said these guys weren't forward thinkers....

[Ben Malach]

I dislike the tenor around discussion around this R&A members issue. The R&A is a private club its membership issues should not be of public concern. Also if the R&A allow women will the St. Rule have to allow men? The clubs system in St. Andrews is beyond me but there seams to be less caring about the single gender clubs there as there is a mix of strong men's and women's clubs and this context is lost in most discussions about this issue.

[Jud_T]

Ben,

Not sure if you realize it, but the R&A is a bit more than a private mens club.  Once they started operating in the broader public domain they became fair game for public criticism.

[Bill_McBride]

Ben,

Not sure if you realize it, but the R&A is a bit more than a private mens club.  Once they started operating in the broader public domaine they became fair game for public criticism.

Think Shoal Creek and the Masters for US examples. 

[Ben Malach]

I understand where the R&A sits in the world of golf. But the R&A for me is two different things one of them is as a ruling body the other as a private club. There is some overlap of course but I see it as a private club unless when organizing championships or when it makes the rules. Which for the championships it only handles the men's side of the competition. I am in no way arguing for segregation but I am trying to give a more complete picture than the one given by traditional commentators who have not had the privilege of spending time in St. Andrews to understand the club system there. Which is run on gender segregated clubs. It is the context of the different way that the clubs cooperate and play matches against each other. Which make the town club system very different than any other golfing environment I have ever seen or heard about. It is in this light that my earlier comments emanate from. I hope this makes my point more clear to the reader.      

[Mark Chaplin]

Ben a senior R&A member was saying the other day of course R&A Ltd runs golf but all the committees are run by R&AGC of StA members. The seperation is more to do with personal liability for club debts. The feeling is it's about clearing Dawson's desk before he retires and is linked to the Olympics as well.

[Bob_Huntley]

My only question is, will the nonagenarians who have lockers in the Big Room be able to dress and undress in front of the new Lady Members?

Bob

[Bill_McBride]

My only question is, will the nonagenarians who have lockers in the Big Room be able to dress and undress in front of the new Lady Members?

Bob

What do you think?   

[Pete_Pittock]

this vote is also Thursday. No polling data. Odds?

[Bob_Huntley]

Tommy,

The writer reports as follows.

The R&A expect comfortably in excess of 300 members to attend the September business meeting where a two-thirds majority will be needed to make the historic change. That there is no provision for proxy or postal votes may worry some of the more progressive members who fear that it is the locals, the club habitués, who are the keener to stay with the status quo. - See more at: http://www.globalgolfpost.com/blog/royal-ancient-club-moves-toward-female-membership/?

He is either deaf or just a lousy writer.

The vote is not to be for the 300 or so in attendance but ballots have been sent around the world.

I sent mine in a couple of weeks ago.

Bob

[Steve Lang]

  is there a Tattenham Corner in the future for the Suffragettes?




http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/may/26/emily-davison-suffragette-death-derby-1913

[Mark Chaplin]

Bob of course they did originally opt for a personal ballot then changed to postal in response to disenfranchising most of the membership!

[Lyne Morrison]

From The Scotsman:
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/golf/top-stories/royal-and-ancient-set-to-vote-on-women-members-1-3544964

From Golf's 2020 Vision, the HSBC Report:
"The game is continuing to grow in popularity, broadening its international base, building new audiences and recruiting new players, in new markets, but needs to keep modernising to stay in touch with the times. For some in the game, this will be a challenge. But the only thing worse than change is irrelevance."

Lyne

[Bob_Huntley]

A good piece from the Daily Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/11104126/Lets-not-demonise-all-men-only-clubs.html

Bob

[Rich Goodale]

A good piece from the Daily Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/11104126/Lets-not-demonise-all-men-only-clubs.html

Bob

The vote is yes.  Well done to the R&A.

[Ruediger Meyer]

And comfortably. 85% voted yes

[Thomas Dai]

Is this likely to have any impact (through say precedent/embarrassment) on the likes of Muirfield, Troon, Sandwich, etc?

Indeed, I wonder how many of the 85% who voted 'yes' also happen to be members of 'men only' clubs?

atb

[Mark Chaplin]

Thomas I'd say no, the R&A represent the game and being men only was untenable. Private clubs are different, the test will be how much Sandwich, Troon and Muirfield want the Open in the future.

[Tony_Muldoon]

The Today Programme this morning on R4 said The Honourable Co of Gentlepersons and RSG were actively looking at this but Troon wasn't. They didn't cite their sources and I think Troon already have a Ladies Club with access rights.

If someone cares to offer me reasonable odds, I'll wager £100 each on the first two finding a way round this within 15 years. That is they will agree to admitt women members , form a Women's club or similar.   I've spoken to quite a number of peple who think this vote will make no difference at all to the clubs, so I say to them what odds will you offer for easy money?  If they're that confident 1:10 seems reasonable?


RSG are supposed to be on guard for a 2019 return if Portrush can be ready in time. The landslide on this can't have helped thier cause.

[Dan_Callahan]

What's the point of belonging to a club if there are no girls there to hit on? Voting to allow women is the biggest duh move of the century.

[Bill_McBride]

What's the point of belonging to a club if there are no girls there to hit on? Voting to allow women is the biggest duh move of the century.

Tell that to our old farts who insist on continuing the male only men's grill at my club.  I suggested to my spouse that the angry women utilize the Sabine trick of withholding sex.  She said, "What would be the point?"

[Sean_A]

I still can't quite figure out why anybody who is not a member of the R&A cares about the membership policy.  Strange that, but it seems many people can't help poking their noses...

Ciao 

[Jud_T]

The vote is yes.  Well done to the R&A.

Not sure this is the way I'd characterize it.  More like deciding to throw out the stagnant bath-water and not the baby with it.

[Lyne Morrison]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/18/royal-and-ancient-golf-club-women-ban

"This is a very important and positive day in the history of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club," said Dawson.


Lyne