Despite the split ruling by the Irish Supreme Court, when the Learned Judges decreed that gender discrimination is acceptable at Portmarnock Golf Club, if dressed in the guise of social fraternization, golf has come a long way since the days of plus fours, hickory shafts and tweed. The game, once played on wind-swept sheep mown grass by gentlemen accompanied by their hobnail- booted caddies and golf professionals eking a living, has now become a global sport.
Every time Golf Pros travel in their private jet and change their shoes in a wood panelled locker room, they should offer up a silent prayer to American golfer, Walter Hagen. ‘The Haig’ worked hard to raise the status of professional golfers. He once hired a limousine for the British Open and parked it outside the club house at Royal St. George’s in Kent. He used it as a changing room when he was refused entry to the locker room and how sweet must have been his victories when he won the Open in 1922/24/28/29. Thus do golf Professionals of today bestride the fairways, and occasionally the rough, like Colossus.
Women’s golf has also taken giant strides on both sides of the Atlantic since Mary Queen of Scots took up the game. continue reading…
