Sir, - In response to your recent article on full membership for women in Irish golf clubs, it would appear that little has changed. Apart from the newer golf clubs which are offering women full membership, presumably on economic grounds, the situation remains deplorable, particularly in the Dublin area where none of the established clubs have changed their tune.
I was interested to see the various reasons given by the clubs (probably by a representative of the members' committee) for failure to offer their female associates full membership. Many clubs cited "no demand", as in the case of my own club. However, this is not a true reflection of the situation. My own club reached the conclusion that there was no demand for full membership among the women, on the basis that the majority of women said that they would not avail of full membership if the option was open to them.
There was a significant minority of professional women, often younger, who would jump at the opportunity of becoming full members. However the demographics of golf clubs is such that the members, both male and female, are often middle-aged or older. Many of the female members have not pursued careers outside the home, and hence can play golf at many times during the week. As a result, there is a general apathy amongst female golfers regarding the issue of full membership, as the current situation does not directly affect them personally. They feel that they would merely find themselves paying higher fees without many other benefits.
For myself, the weekend is the only time at which I can play golf, and with the prevailing situation, I find that there is only an hour or so put aside late each day for female members to play. This can be availed of in summer, but is not much use in winter.
To change the situation, women must realise that the right to full membership is as fundamental as the right to vote. Perhaps all will not avail of this right, but this is not justification for excluding others from enjoying it. Male golf club members, in turn, must abandon their current entrenched tribal stance against female golfers; not all women are hackers or slow; indeed many can even play better than their male counterparts! I too am guilty for having put up with the situation for so long, and until women can become full members, they cannot hold their heads high when they enter a golf club. I suggest that a survey should be done of all female golf club associates, and this should ask two simple questions. Firstly, "do you feel that all women should have the right to optional full membership? Secondly, "if full membership was offered to you, would you avail of it?"
I think (hope) this would reveal that most women would be strongly in favour of optional full membership, although they may not exercise that right personally. It is not acceptable that a significant, and ever-growing minority of women should be penalised in this way. - Yours, etc.,
Sandymount, Dublin 4.