If I were able to vote...
Two very important referendums are happening in Scotland today. The vote for or against independence for the nation, and also the vote for or against the inclusion of female members to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews.
Firstly, I hope that Scotland decide to remain as part of the UK as I am very proud professionally, to be associated with the heritage of the game, made so rich by the plethora of world beating courses both North and South of the border.
There is no doubt that Scotland is the home of this great game, but were it not for our British Union, then maybe it would have remained as an insular pastime, played only by a small minority north of the border. Thanks to our union and the ability of Scottish nationals to be able to travel through our vast empire, the game has reached all four corners of the globe, and that travel initially began through the rest of the United Kingdom. Heathland and linksland courses around Surrey and along the Lancashire golf coast are some of the best in Britain, if not the world, and they are there principally due to our expanding rail networks and our growing love of a game made popular through our union. A union which, I for one, hope remains.
Secondly, I hope that the R and A are able to finally open their doors to both men and women. The game of golf falls behind most others in its speed to adapt. The decision to hold a vote on the inclusion of female members at the R and A is already some ten years behind the majority of clubs nationwide that have grown to accept that inequality in a golf club should be removed. I am happy that this question is now being discussed, but the fact that it has taken this long is still disappointing, and the outcome of the vote may still prove that women may be rejected. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews should be blazing the trail, rather than bringing up the rear, and I hope that in the future, the R and A can once again be the club we look at to provide the example for what a golf clubhouse should be, rather than what it once was.



















