Muirfield takes a stand....

[Iwastherein1969]

against getting bullied by the PC crowd. I'm so proud of their membership. Not even the threat of losing THE OPEN could make these men capitulate to the world-wide Left and give in to an outside movement creating policy for Muirfield. No sir, these men have nads and threw the middle finger to those who would say, "No women members, no more British Opens for you". Finally, a group of men with back-bone.  If there were only more men like these in the world today.      http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2016/05/19/muirfield-dropped-as-host-venue-british-open-after-club-votes-no-to-women-members.html     

[onebadrubi]

Only 36% voted no. They need to sway 3% or 23 members to get The Open back. I'd put my money in they will allow Women members within a year or two. Too much money, ego, notoriety, etc lost from not having The Open at "My" course.

In today's profit driven world, do you have more to gain by standing on your roots and saying no women which turns away one of the largest golfing events in the world?  Or is it more profitable to allow women members then welcome back The Open?  I think the latter will set in before too long and you will see Women members, right or wrong.

[JoeyCapital]

Only 36% voted no. They need to sway 3% or 23 members to get The Open back. I'd put my money in they will allow Women members within a year or two. Too much money, ego, notoriety, etc lost from not having The Open at "My" course.

In today's profit driven world, do you have more to gain by standing on your roots and saying no women which turns away one of the largest golfing events in the world?  Or is it more profitable to allow women members then welcome back The Open?  I think the latter will set in before too long and you will see Women members, right or wrong.

The assumption of your second paragraph is that profit is the driving force behind their decision making process. Sure, all too often that is the case but it sure seems like this is different.

Good for them for standing up for themselves. I don't think having an all men's club makes them sexist anymore than I think the NAACP's main agenda being the advancement of colored people makes them racist.

[Iwastherein1969]

My reasoning is as follows. Women need to create their own traditions. Build all-female clubs where the ladies can go to get the hell away from their husbands. I sincerely don't think men would object and demand to be a part of an all-female club. The vast majority of men would say to their spouses, "go right ahead and spend the time you feel necessary to create bonds with your female friends."  Nobody is preventing women from creating all female golfing, tennis, swimming venues where women can go and do the things that women do when they are together. So why aren't there more private clubs for the 'fairer sex' ?  I think it's because women do not naturally get along in groups. They find one another boring and without men around to compliment the club spirit, women just don't have a sisterhood anywhere near to a brotherhood. So women, instead of building their own bastions of 'women only, no men allowed", women choose to crash our party. Long story short, in the animal kingdom, the upper classes of animals, it is the female who revere the male as their protector. Same with humans. They just won't admit it, except for Hillary, she will readily appoint her husband as the Czar of the American Economy. So you see, even the strongest of women among us, still cannot go it alone, they must do whatever it takes to get the approval of the male of the species. Way to go Muirfield ! Where some traditions never die.
""

[pigture perfect]

I'm with Muirfield. It's a private club. They can do hat they want. I can't see the Masonic Lodge becoming coed.

[Wildhog]

I'm with Muirfield. It's a private club. They can do hat they want. I can't see the Masonic Lodge becoming coed.

I agree.

[Karma]

They have the right to take that stand. And the Open has the right to never come back.

[cosmodrum]

They have the right to take that stand. And the Open has the right to never come back.

[pigture perfect]

What group will petition to play there next? I'm for poor people. Give those that make less than 1000 pounds a week a free day a week.

[hobhog]

My reasoning is as follows. Women need to create their own traditions. Build all-female clubs where the ladies can go to get the hell away from their husbands. I sincerely don't think men would object and demand to be a part of an all-female club. The vast majority of men would say to their spouses, "go right ahead and spend the time you feel necessary to create bonds with your female friends."  Nobody is preventing women from creating all female golfing, tennis, swimming venues where women can go and do the things that women do when they are together. So why aren't there more private clubs for the 'fairer sex' ?  I think it's because women do not naturally get along in groups. They find one another boring and without men around to compliment the club spirit, women just don't have a sisterhood anywhere near to a brotherhood. So women, instead of building their own bastions of 'women only, no men allowed", women choose to crash our party. Long story short, in the animal kingdom, the upper classes of animals, it is the female who revere the male as their protector. Same with humans. They just won't admit it, except for Hillary, she will readily appoint her husband as the Czar of the American Economy. So you see, even the strongest of women among us, still cannot go it alone, they must do whatever it takes to get the approval of the male of the species. Way to go Muirfield ! Where some traditions never die.
""

Very well said.

Btw- My club still has a Men's Grill for men only that ruffles feathers. They have a women's only grill/bar too that rarely gets used, while the men's is one of the most populated and revenue producing areas of the club.

Private clubs should do as they please. If it's not liked or respected it will fail. Otherwise start your own damn club if you don't like it.

[The_Iceman]

They have the right to take that stand. And the Open has the right to never come back.

Muirfield shouldn't be forced to admit women, and the Open shouldn't be forced to play there.

We have Sororities and Fraternities on college campuses, and no one complains that one sex cannot join the other......at least not yet.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

Btw- My club still has a Men's Grill for men only that ruffles feathers. They have a women's only grill/bar too that rarely gets used, while the men's is one of the most populated and revenue producing areas of the club.

That's because they're all in the kitchen cooking!



Thank you.  I'll be here all week.

[GoHogs1091]

Why should the R&A be involved in this argument at all?  They should conduct the Open on the best courses in England, Scotland and Ireland - period.

I guess since the R&A itself just recently voted in 2014 to allow female members in the R&A, the R&A feels that individual Clubs (especially, The Open Rota Clubs), should allow female members.

I would like to see The Open Course Rota be the following 9 courses.

The Old Course at St. Andrews

Carnoustie (Championship Course at Carnoustie)

Royal Dornoch (Championship Course at Royal Dornoch)

http://www.royaldornoch.com/courses/championship-course

Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie Course at Royal Aberdeen)  If possible, may need to add around 175 to 200 yards.  It was played at 6,867 yards (Par 71) for the 2014 Scottish Open.

http://www.royalaberdeengolf.com/page.aspx?pid=12450

Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland (Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush)

http://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com/courses/#dunluce

Royal Birkdale

Royal Lytham & St. Annes

Royal Cinque Ports

http://www.royalcinqueports.com/hole_1

http://www.royalcinqueports.com/scorecard

Royal Porthcawl in Wales   Par will need to be reduced from Par 72 to Par 71 (the 8th Hole will need to be a 474 yard Par 4).

http://www.royalporthcawl.com/pages.php/course_hole.html/76838414-5ad7-102c-9079-001ec9b331b2/1.html

http://www.royalporthcawl.com/pages.php/page/bfc5f0b2-cc88-102c-9079-001ec9b331b2/view_section.html

[Jackrabbit Hog]

I guess since the R&A itself just recently voted in 2014 to allow female members in the R&A, the R&A feels that individual Clubs (especially, The Open Rota Clubs), should allow female members.

I would like to see The Open Course Rota be the following 9 courses.

The Old Course at St. Andrews

Carnoustie (Championship Course at Carnoustie)

Royal Dornoch (Championship Course at Royal Dornoch)

http://www.royaldornoch.com/courses/championship-course

Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie Course at Royal Aberdeen)  If possible, may need to add around 175 to 200 yards.  It was played at 6,867 yards (Par 71) for the 2014 Scottish Open.

http://www.royalaberdeengolf.com/page.aspx?pid=12450

Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland (Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush)

http://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com/courses/#dunluce

Royal Birkdale

Royal Lytham & St. Annes

Royal Cinque Ports

http://www.royalcinqueports.com/hole_1

http://www.royalcinqueports.com/scorecard

Royal Porthcawl in Wales   Par will need to be reduced from Par 72 to Par 71 (the 8th Hole will need to be a 474 yard Par 4).

http://www.royalporthcawl.com/pages.php/course_hole.html/76838414-5ad7-102c-9079-001ec9b331b2/1.html

http://www.royalporthcawl.com/pages.php/page/bfc5f0b2-cc88-102c-9079-001ec9b331b2/view_section.html

What, no Turnberry?  Tom Watson is rolling over in his....well, he will be someday.

[EastexHawg]

What, no Turnberry?  Tom Watson is rolling over in his....well, he will be someday.

They can't have an Open there.  Trump owns the course and he is tired of so many immigrants pouring into his country unchecked.  That kind of racist attitude will never go over in Great Britain.  They as a nation would never decide to become immigrant-unfriendly.

Oh...wait.

[GoHogs1091]

What, no Turnberry?  Tom Watson is rolling over in his....well, he will be someday.

With Trump now being the owner, I just don't see the R&A wanting to take The Open to a Trump owned course. 

Regarding Royal Porthcawl in Wales, a person on another message board has created his own plan for Royal Porthcawl and The Open.  The person made some hole modifications, and some hole sequencing changes.  The result is a very strong Scorecard for Royal Porthcawl that would be a demanding test for the Tour Pros.  The course as of right now is already a very good test, and it took other worldly/clinical play by Bernhard Langer for him to score low on the course.   

Here is the person's proposed Scorecard and a link to a diagram he created and posted on another message board.

Hole 1   430 yards   Par 4
Hole 2   375 yards   Par 4
Hole 3   480 yards   Par 4
Hole 4   460 yards   Par 4
Hole 5   220 yards   Par 3
Hole 6   610 yards   Par 5
Hole 7   430 yards   Par 4
Hole 8   185 yards   Par 3
Hole 9   470 yards   Par 4

Out   3,660 yards   Par 35

Hole 10   400 yards   Par 4
Hole 11   350 yards   Par 4
Hole 12   185 yards   Par 3
Hole 13   595 yards   Par 5
Hole 14   435 yards   Par 4
Hole 15   170 yards   Par 3
Hole 16   470 yards   Par 4
Hole 17   450 yards   Par 4
Hole 18   490 yards   Par 4

In   3,545 yards   Par 35

Total   7,205 yards   Par 70

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,56752.msg1319308.html#msg1319308

Only 2 sub 400 yard Par 4 holes (#2 and #11)

One 460 yard Par 4 hole, two 470 yard Par 4 holes, one 480 yard Par 4 hole, and a finishing 18th hole that is a 490 yard Par 4.  A stout collection of Par 4 holes.

A 220 yard Par 3 hole, which is a stout Par 3.

A 610 yard Par 5 hole, which is 9 yards longer than the 601 yard Par 5 6th hole at Royal Troon, which is currently the longest hole in Open Championship golf.

Here is a good photo tour from 2010 of Royal Porthcawl, with the current already in place routing.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45933.msg1011401.html#msg1011401

Here are some larger photos in the same thread.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45933.msg1011624.html#msg1011624

Langer's play at Royal Porthcawl in 2014 was golf of a historical high-quality.