IN view of the R&A's decision to exclude men-only clubs from hosting the Open championship, and Royal Troon's decision to bring forward its consideration of future membership rules concerning women to July this year (“Troon set to vote on admitting women golfers” The Herald, June 2), are we not in danger of setting the cart before the horse?

To exclude private clubs and therefore some of the UK's best championship courses from hosting the Open because they exclude women from their club is at the very least ironic. After all the Open championship itself excludes women from participating. Surely the R&A should first and foremost address its own policy of excluding women from its flagship championship before bringing pressure on private clubs to address their women membership policy.

Excluding some of our best championship courses from hosting the Open will only harm it in the long run and if the R&A truly believes the policy of inclusion for women is best for clubs then surely it must be best for the Open as well. We may be some years from a lady winning the Open but anyone who believes all the male competitors would beat all the female competitors in a championship that was truly “open” may be in for a surprise.

Douglas Martyn,

The Barn, Linnhead Farm, Sandilands, Lanark.