Augusta reigniting the gender debate

Why Masters venue inviting female members shouldn’t mean others have to

Criticism: Muirfield has endured calls to end male-only membership after the recent decision at Augusta

With the carefully timed news emerging amid Ryder Cup hubbub that Augusta National has allowed a pair of female members to slip into its hallowed Green Jacket for the first time, it is less than surprising the dispute over single-gender clubs has arisen once again.

Muirfield, as the venue to host the 2013 Open, is in the firing line on this occasion, taking over from Royal St George’s whose turn it was to take the hit ahead of the 2011 championship.

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman, who introduced the Equality Act to give women more power in work places and social settings in 2011, was one of the first to speak out. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, she said, is “completely wrong,” “old-fashioned,” and “out of touch”.

Scottish actress Elaine C Smith went further (ironically in a somewhat sexist manner). “I’m appalled by Muirfield on so many levels but I suppose outside of a gay disco or circus, this is the only place men can wear a lavender V-neck and tartan trews without being laughed at by women,” she said.

Harman, however, best illustrated the confusion permeating this argument, adding, “If Augusta can open its doors to women members, it would be embarrassing if Muirfield didn’t follow suit.”

Let us explain why she’s wrong and, to give you a clue, it comes down to the fact that Muirfield simply isn’t Augusta.

It would be naïve to think it is simply coincidence that Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore have been added to the membership list at this moment in time. Not least because it means Augusta has been able to somewhat bury a story that had always invited criticism from the over-zealous American press, but also because the decision comes under the stewardship of chairman Billy Payne.

Having assumed his current role in 2006 in place of the outgoing William ‘Hootie’ Johnson, Payne – the investment banker who successfully brought the 1996 Olympics to Atlanta – would have been forgiven for thinking taking the reins at the globally-adored Augusta would be a welcome reprieve. What he found was a club in need of a wake-up call.

Set on Tiger-proofing his pride and joy by lengthening and strengthening the course, many said Johnson had ripped the heart out of Augusta. “It’s not what it used to be,” said Tiger Woods ahead of the 2009 Masters. “There are not really any roars out there any more.”

Payne made it his mission to bring them back. The last two editions have surely proven he’s returned the magic to the major.

Simultaneously, he set in place a plan to transform his club. He’s increased its television coverage and online offering, broadened its reach and influence in golf’s emerging markets – handing invites to players from the Far East rather than star names, most recently Ernie Els – and even paved way for the Dr Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones-designed course to feature in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters video game. Additionally, he was one of the very few of golf’s notable administrators to openly criticise Woods in wake of his well-documented personal scandal.

Payne is dragging this vehemently private and conservative club into the 21^st century and inviting the first female members is part of his mission. It took some convincing, but he got there.

In this gender debate, Payne is a very important character. Payne is the difference. Muirfield may have no Payne and neither does it necessarily need one.

As revered a club as it is, and in golf there are fewer more respected, Muirfield has a lesser role to play in the governance dissemination and growth of the game. Why? Well, for one thing, its membership doesn’t include some of the richest people in the world who have the power to assert their influence in the good name of golf worldwide.

What it is, is a male-only club that has the same right as your local Girl Guides outfit has to turn away scouts, whether you agree with it or not.

Indeed, it has the same right adopted by the St Rule and St Regulus clubs of St Andrews when they agreed only women members would be admitted.

We’re not saying male and female segregation in sport is a good thing. It’s the very opposite. If anything, the Olympics proved what can be achieved with the promotion of sport equally: a whole generation, both men and women, inspired to greatness.

Golf has been slow to address the gender imbalance – in Scotland we still cannot agree than men’s and women’s amateur golf should be governed by one unified body even in the face of losing government funding – but steps are being taken.

Boys and girls are being encouraged to take up the sport equally in schools through programmes like ClubGolf and there are ladies’ and girls’ only initiatives being rolled out on regional and national level.

But suggesting Muirfield is holding back the game’s popularity is almost as ridiculous as arguing ladies-only gyms contribute to male obesity.

In spite of those saying Muirfield is under pressure now (it’s not), it is probable the club will have a decision to make in the future.

At some point it is possible the R&A – the governing body not the men-only club, that’s the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews – will move to banish any imbalance in the sport by withdrawing the Open Championship from single gender clubs.

Only if that happens, we think, will Muirfield give any serious consideration to changing its policies, and who could blame them if they simply decide to walk away?

We’re not saying the club is right or that we agree with gender segregation – somehow it’s being confused as discrimination – but why should it be any different to any club of any sport, hobby, craft or related to any diversion men like to participate in only with other men or women with other women?

The truth is, it shouldn’t. It’s a club after all. But if that’s what you really believe, then the women reading this be warned, the end is nigh for your swimming nights, fitness classes and social evenings. Ladies, here come the boys.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered