GULLANE, Scotland — A hot-button issue that has been raging all week at this British Open has been the fact Muirfield — much like Augusta National until recently — is a single-sex club that does not allow women members.
In yesterday’s annual state-of-the-game press conference with the Royal & Ancient officials, the topic was discussed at length with R & A chairman Peter Dawson, who addressed some political protests that have been taking place in the UK.
“I think at the R & A, we’ve been through over 250 years of existence without getting into political comment, and I don’t really intend to break that rule here,’’ Dawson said. “Obviously the whole issue of gender and single-sex clubs has been pretty much beaten to death recently. And we do, I assure you, understand that this is divisive. It’s a subject that we’re finding increasingly difficult, to be honest.
“Single-sex clubs are in a very small minority in the UK. Half of them are women only, half of them are men only. They’re perfectly legal. In our view, they don’t do anyone any harm. And we think the right of freedom of association is important. And we’ve explained our view that we think they have no material adverse affect on participation.
“On the other hand, the media are, with seemingly boundless energy, I think, and enthusiasm, giving out the message that this is an issue, and that such clubs should be condemned to extinction, and we shouldn’t be using one to stage the Open Championship.
“We understand that view, too. We’ve got politicians posturing, we’ve got interest groups attacking the R & A, attacking the Open and attacking Muirfield. To be honest, our natural reaction is to resist these pressures, because we actually don’t think they have very much substance.’’
When Dawson was asked what the “moral’’ difference between a single-sex club and one that discriminates for race, he said, “Oh, goodness me, I think that’s a ridiculous question, if I may say so. There’s a massive difference between racial discrimination, anti-Semitism where sectors of society are downtrodden and treated very, very badly, indeed. And to compare that with a men’s golf club I think is frankly absurd. There’s no comparison whatsoever.’’
Players have been very reluctant to address the topic.
Rory McIlroy, for example, went stone silent when asked to comment on the controversial single-sex golf club issue.