The small town of St Andrews on the Scottish east coast is known across the world as the home of golf. Men and women from all over the world flock to the town to play the Old Course and the town’s economy is built on the hospitality and retail trade, catering for hungry golfers and their needs for food, sleep and men’s and ladies’ waterproof golf jackets.Equal Opportunities
The game of golf is said to have been developed in Scotland at the time of Mary Queen of Scots, but for centuries it has been an exclusively male preserve. More women than ever are now taking up the game, and in most clubs across the world women are welcome to join on equal terms to the men. Playing the courses of St Andrews is not limited to the men, and a ladies golf jacket is as common a sight in on the course as a man in his plus fours. Until now though, the Royal and Ancient golf club has remained firmly men-only.
Augusta
The club which is home to the US Open has recently bowed to public pressure and admitted women as members, and Lord Moynihan, chair of the British Olympic Association, has called on the Royal and Ancient to do the same. The Olympics demonstrated that women athletes can achieve just as much as men can, so perhaps if the Royal and Ancient takes notice of the changing public attitude we will finally see some progress in the golfing world too.
