Mike, I've not heard of any Muslims playing golf in the UK, but it is popular with Sikhs and Hindus. For that matter, there are few Afro-Caribbeans, although we have a very active Afro-Caribbean member at Wilmslow.
A golf society I play with at various courses accross the north-west includes a black guy; I have to say he is the only black golfer I have ever encountered in person. He is noticably careful about which clubs he signs up to play at.
Integration has a long way to to go in England. I am sure that at Reddish Vale we would welcome new members of any hue or faith so long as their cheques were good, but the fact is that our membership is 100% white apart from one guy of Chinese descent. I don't suppose the situation at other local clubs is much different; for some reason ethnic minorities either do not play golf or do not apply to join golf clubs. With my marketing hat on I immediately see a large untapped pool of potential customers...
The villages to the south of Manchester are home to a lot of very wealthy footballers. Many are black, and a good number turn to golf as a way of filling the hours after morning training.
Woe betide however, any of these jumped up
arriveists who apply to join the prominent private members club in their immediate locality; one with an old course much admired by connoiseurs. 'Black-ball' is an unfortunate term in the ciircumstances - but apt! I have it on very good authority that even green-fees are turned away, although whether this is true for all footballers or just the black ones I'm not totally sure.
Needless to say, our golf society will not be organising any events at this particular club. The potential embarrassment to my friend would be unbearable to us all.