I WOULD like to applaud the members of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers for their decision to reject the opening of their membership to women (“Muirfield slams the door shut on women members” The Herald, May 20) especially given the backdrop of bullying and threats from the Government, senior politicians, the media and the golf authorities.

As we are all aware there are many female groups, societies and clubs in all areas of life and they are rightly accepted without question. In fact, we extol the virtues of many of these organisations because they are women-only and appreciate the benefits that a single-sex environment can bring to the fairer sex. Conversely, the idea of men choosing to enjoy the unique camaraderie of an all-male club is invariably viewed as worthless and regressive. Something to be mocked but more than anything changed. The amusing but dismissive characterisation of the golf clubs membership in your editorial is an excellent example (“Golf clubs living in the past with men-only membership”, The Herald, May 19).

The hypocrisy is quite clear to see. It is hypocrisy born out of a feminist grievance culture that places female virtues and rights above men’s in an attempt to redress a perceived inequality.

Who would have thought that the members of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers would be the one's standing up for genuine equality?

Richard Barber,

Melita,

Rowanshill Crescent, Stranraer.

I AM glad to see that history and tradition still matter in some segments of life. Members of Muirfield Golf Club have voted against women joining and should be applauded for deciding to maintain their male-only status.

In a time of increasing demands for gender equality” in the world and in the face of intimidation, intense pressure from women's rights groups, the PC brigade and even the R&A, a significant number of these honourable gentlemen stuck to their guns and had the bravery to say no. They can hold their heads high.

It's quite correct – women golfers are slow and, as I have experienced, can cause an afternoon's round of golf to stretch into dusk. As I understand it, women are still allowed on the course and in the clubhouse to drink in the bar as visitors.

So, the club, it transpires, will be banned from hosting another Open Championship (unless it changes its rules on women becoming members) but so what? There is a point in this life where honour and integrity rise above pettiness and incessant propaganda … including now from our First Minister, who had to get her tuppenceworth in on the story.

If Muirfield had allowed women to join would the female contingent be happy to use the same changing facilities as their male counterparts?

Thankfully, one of the last bastions of male sanity remains in Scotland's world of golf.

If only I could afford Muirfield’s fees, I'd be applying for membership.

NJ Hunter,

Caledonian Road, Stevenston.

I BELIEVE that the mockery in your editorial (May 19) directed at the principle of men-only clubs, was overdone. The problem which faced clubs attracting the Open golf tournament as a venue was that they were hosting a championship which is attended by a large number of women spectators, and the fact that this major event of international standing was supported by huge sums from large companies in sponsorship. The possibility of at least some of these sponsorship deals being withdrawn probably played a large part in such golf clubs considering a change to their rules.

There is nothing essentially offensive and outrageous, in my view, about men wishing to have their men-only sporting or social clubs and being prepared to accept, as a consequence, that they are not normally able to apply for assistance from public funds through subsidies and grants and, indeed, in a small number of cases, that they will not be allowed to host a large public event.

Members of such clubs need not, contrary to your purple prose, be reeking of Old Spice and Capstan cigarettes nor be partial to sipping Blue Nun while listening to the strains of Showaddywaddy or reading the Men Only. Nor is there anything dated or anachronistic, in my view, about ladies having their own clubs, and there are a few, if that is the wish of their members.

Ian W Thomson,

38 Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie.

STEPHEN Camley’s cartoon (The Herald, May 20) cleverly encapsulates the “caveman” attitude of the minority of Muirfield Golf Club members.

I have always understood that the existence of women’s Golf Clubs results from the fact that women have been excluded from the male clubs. What was the alternative for lady enthusiasts: to putt on the back green beside the clothes line?

Your correspondents (Letters, May 20) bolster their arguments by drawing on other clubs and societies that are gender specific. Analogies are only helpful up to a point. A man would be welcomed into a woman’s book club if he read women’s genres. It is the subject of interest rather than the gender that is the deciding factor. It was particularly offensive of Richard Lucas to label the African Women’s Club a “sexist dinosaur”. The cultural adjustments for these women surpass the Muirfield minority concern for lunch arrangements.

Most public organisations are open to any one. Many affluent golf clubs are by invitation only – and therefore exclusive – which makes the R&A decision to ban Muirfield from hosting the Open even more commendable. The minority decision at Muirfield reneges on the wider movement towards parity and acceptance in modern sports. But it is typical that money should appear the strongest argument to admit women; the damage to the “Muirfield brand” and local revenue. It is likely economics factor rather than ethics will eventually win the day.

I am bemused by Richard Lucas’s reference to “feminist dogma” and his spiteful jibes at our First Minister. Feminism is largely passé, having achieved many of its aims since its 1970s heyday. The cognoscenti speak of “Feminisms” – Black, Radical, Christian and so on – if at all, and it would be a tad unusual to find raving “feminists” down the golf club. Most people are well aware that golf clubs are about much more than golf. Perhaps if there were more women in senior business positions the fellas would be more amenable to female company.

Finally, David Miller might like to know that although the WI remains women only, the WRVS changed its name to the RVS in 2013 to accommodate male volunteers. And he wouldn’t need an invitation to join either.

Anne McKay,

11 Cedar Crescent, Hamilton.

I AM a member of a women-only gym and I would be outraged if the PC brigade came after us and insisted we must allow men to join.

However, I feel for the people who have small businesses in Gullane, as they will definitely lose out on a very lucrative few weeks before and during the Open.

Celia Judge,

Finnick Glen, Ayr.

ROYAL Troon Golf Club has a unique association with what may be loosely called our sister club, namely Troon Ladies Golf Club.

The members of the Ladies Club, apart from their membership of the Portland course, have free playing rights on the Championship Course on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays after 3pm. They also have two major competitions on the Old Course.

The members of the Ladies Club have no interest in becoming members of Royal Troon Golf Club, if for no other reason they may lose these playing rights. Why would they lose these rights? New lady members would pay approximately £4,800 for first year entry to Royal Troon and £1,600 per annum thereafter. These new members will not be best pleased if members of the Ladies Club play free for half of each week.

Our two clubs have several mixed events, including golf and dinners. Do people really wish to destroy this happy relationship for political reasons?

If any lady wishes to play golf in Troon let them join the Ladies Golf Club and they will enjoy three and a half days golf on the Old Course free and will enjoy the camaraderie of the Ladies Golf Club.

I am a member of Royal Troon Golf Club but I do not speak on any official capacity.

Craig Miller,

53 Bentinck Drive, Troon.

NO matter what one's personal view might be some will find it ironic that the R&A, as a recent convert to women membership itself, has chosen to punish Muirfield members for their decision not to admit women by removing Muirfield as a venue for future Open championships, the R&A's flagship event – which itself does not admit women.

Douglas Martyn,

The Barn, Sandilands, Lanark.

PERHAPS the clue is in the name. Muirfield is the name of the course, but it is home to The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, indicating that a very large proportion of the all-male membership comprises the capital’s establishment elite, including the still male-dominated legal fraternity and those at the top of the financial and business worlds.

To be fair, this is a private club entirely owned by the members and, just as with one’s private home, they have the every right to decide who to allow in, either as guests or as full members. But the adverse publicity is more important and extremely damaging, not just for the golf club but for the whole of Scotland, as the withdrawal of the Open Championship from Muirfield will certainly make headlines around the world. And of course the narrow vote will be have serious economic consequences for the local area, which relies so much on the tourism industry and especially on the five-yearly Open Championship.

We are constantly told that even the revered Augusta has now admitted women members, but after the first two celebrity names were announced some years ago we have never been told how many more female playing members there now are there. And to be honest, I am not sure how many women would want to join either Augusta or Muirfield as playing members, since these long and difficult courses would be beyond the golfing ability of all but the female professionals and some very low handicap lady players.

Iain AD Mann,

7 Kelvin Court, Glasgow.