Pollok GC’s only lady made ‘very welcome’

• Pollok’s first lady member delighted at welcome
• The club overturned male-only membership last year
• “I have been made to feel an integral part of the club”

In the wake of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers’ decision not to admit women to their membership on Thursday, the first and only lady member of Pollok Golf Club has spoken about how well received she has been since joining.

In September 2015, the Glasgow club voted to admit women for the first time in its near 125-year history, with secretary of the Renfrewshire Ladies’ County Golf Association, Carol McNally, admitted as the club’s first lady member in late March.

And after almost two months at Pollok, Carol has been delighted with how comfortable members have made her feel in her short time at the club.

Read more -> Muirfield should be ‘entirely excluded’

“I have been extremely warmly welcomed,” she said. “I have been made to feel an integral part of the club and membership and it was everything that I hoped joining another golf club would be.

“My home course is Williamwood which has a healthy Ladies’ section but I was looking for a second course to play for the love of the game, for another course to enjoy and also to try and embrace the change that Pollok was offering,” she said.

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“While on the east coast there has been a very negative report, on the west it’s been fully embraced and I’d be delighted to give any assistance at all to ladies who may be willing to join Pollok.”

A prominent figure in the Glasgow ladies’ golfing community, Carol, who has a handicap of eight, weighed in with her thoughts on Thursday’s Muirfield decision, which she described as ‘very sad’.

Read more -> Muirfield secretary: Decision is a ‘blow’

“It was very disappointing for Muirfield itself and indeed worldwide coverage for Scottish golf. The events we hold here hugely publicise our beautiful country and the opportunity for people to come to Scotland and the benefits that brings for tourism and the general econonmy.

“To have this level of negative press across the world is so disappointing. I think it’s very sad and I would hope that it is something that can be reviewed and turned around. We’ve demonstrated here on the west coast of Scotland that it’s not a part of life and it’s very much the opposite of that. These days are past. We’ve moved forward and it’s great to do so.”

bunkered.co.uk contacted Pollok Golf Club. They declined to comment.

Pollok Golf Club :: Your thoughts

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