FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By OLIVER BROWN
As Muirfield officials prepare for a deeply uncomfortable week of scrutiny
over their ban on women members, the Open’s hosts appear to be taking their
first steps behind the scenes to modernise.
It is understood that after the championship this week, long-serving secretary
Alastair Brown – who declared last summer that female membership was “not
even on the agenda” – would be replaced by Stuart McEwen, formerly of
Kingsbarns and a figure widely regarded as a reformer.
The wheels of change grind slowly within the Honourable Company of Edinburgh
Golfers, but this latest appointment offers the clearest sign yet that the
most intransigent institution in sport is being forced into action.
McEwen, who more recently served as director of golf at Gleneagles, has drawn
widespread praise for his innovative work at Kingsbarns on the Fife coast
since its founding in 2000, adding to the sense of a possible shift in
Muirfield’s controversial position towards women.
One source close to the process said: “The notion of women members is talked
about openly now, rather than in whispers. It is not a case of if any
longer, but when.”
Smith’s retirement to make way for McEwen is believed to form part of a
pre-arranged succession plan. Here at the Open,
however, the continued refusal to consider admitting women is already a
looming embarrassment.
Already Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister, and Culture Secretary Maria
Miller have insisted that they would boycott the tournament.
Defending champion Ernie Els, the last winner at Muirfield in 2002, has
described the club’s outlook as “so weird”, and he shifted uncomfortably in
his chair when pressed on how he might try to explain such a philosophy to
his daughter Samantha.
“She’s a hotheaded girl, just like my wife – I would have to choose my words
carefully,” the South African replied.
“It’s a hard one. The club has been around for over 150 years and they have
never thought about changing their policy. We play the Open at this
wonderful course, and I am not going to miss it for the world – even though
it adopts, unfortunately, the policy it has. But I will go and play in the
Sahara Desert if I have to.”
Muirfield’s idiosyncratic ways were on display on Monday, when even the great
Tiger Woods was banned from teeing off at the 10th before 7am. But it is its
attitudes towards women have remained resolutely archaic.
In 1992, when Nick Faldo secured his second Open triumph on this stretch of
East Lothian coast, one lady found her path to the smoking room blocked by a
uniformed policeman. “Sorry ma’am, not this way,” she was told. “Gentlemen
only, thank you.” Faldo stonewalled any mention of the subject on Monday.
Asked by Telegraph Sport if he found the continued policy of exclusion
curious, he replied, curtly: “That’s for the club to decide.”
To help fend off the firestorm of criticism, Muirfield have handed over their
public relations exercise to Glasgow-based company 3x1. In a statement, the
club responded to the action by Salmond and Miller by saying: “We are
disappointed that some individuals feel unable to attend this year’s Open
staged by The R&A at Muirfield.
“As a club we conform to the Equality Act 2010 and any change in the
membership would be for the members to decide. At this moment there are no
plans to change the current membership status.”
Ahead of their 16th staging of the Open, club are at pains to point out that
women are still welcome to play the course as guests, and that they have
previously hosted the Curtis Cup. But eyewatering tales continue to
circulate.
Perhaps the most outlandish tale – that the resident blazers once refused to
let the local police investigate a break-in because a female officer turned
up – belong in the realm of apocrypha.
But one notorious story requires no
extra embroidery. A particular tale records the supercilious manner in which
former secretary Paddy Hanmer set about a would-be visitor to the course.
The well-heeled gentleman is said to have arrived at Muirfield bearing an
ornate letter of introduction, whereupon Hanmer barked at him: “Which
colleges?”
“Oxford and Cambridge,” came the reply. “Service?” “Duke of Glendon’s Light
Infantry. Won the Victoria Cross.” “Are you a member of a club?” “Yes, I
belong to three clubs in London.” “Handicap?” “Twelve.” “All right, then.
You can play nine holes. The back nine, of course.”
It is the apparent relish taken in its exclusionary position that
distinguishes Muirfield, and which explains why women face such a struggle
to gain acceptance.
Peter Lederer of Gleneagles argued, at last month’s KPMG Golf Business Forum
at St Andrews, that the men-only philosophy at Muirfield inevitably had an
adverse bearing upon how the game was perceived.
“This conversation frustrates me,” he argued. “If Richard Branson or Bill
Gates were making the golf industry today, would they make it as it is? They
would think to ask,
‘What are women looking for?’ ”
Dana Garmany of Troon Golf claimed he was exasperated that Muirfield-style
clubs were even in existence, let alone hosting majors. “It’s so backward
that it is even being talked about,” he said.
However, a spokesman for the Honourable Company countered: “Muirfield is
inextricably linked to the Open and its heritage. The club welcomes women to
play either as visitors or guests year round with full use of the facilities
– as will be the case throughout the championship.”
That is unlikely to be sufficient to placate the gathering band of detractors,
however. The elephant in the room is ready to rear its head.
Labels: OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
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