Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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The Open, which finished this weekend, was played at Muirfield near Edinburgh in Scotland. I was stunned to discover that the course does not allow female members, and even more stunned at the way that the organisers of The Open chose to defend this policy. Basically, they said they are not going to interfere with the rules of the various courses where they rotate The Open (between about 11 courses) and that they will simply choose where The Open is played on the basis of which are the best golf courses. Ernie Els pretty much took a similar line, saying that he will play in the desert if that is where the game is being played and that the course members must explain the rules.
I think that the comments of The Open’s organisers have probably done more to change the situation, in their feeble attempts to defend it, than if they had given them a more wishy washy answer such as, “We are not happy with it and are going to look into it and have it sorted out” which would have bought them another 10 or 12 years before the tournament was back there. In their approach of open defiance, I think that they have just signalled that Muirfield will either change its rules, or be left off The Open rotation in future. It is ridiculous, especially for those of us who have grown up in a country with apartheid, for people to say they are not going to be interested in the policies of the people running the golf course but they are just going to look whether the golf course is beautiful. You could make a similar argument then for visiting Nazi Germany during the Second World War or for breaking the sports boycott in South Africa and we know that none of those arguments would stand. Will they next say that it is okay if the club that does not allow black members or Jewish members? The most shocking part of all of course is that this is the heart of Europe, it is meant to be so liberalised and yet we have a golf course in 2013 which does not allow female members and the organisers of The Open go ahead and make idiotic comments saying essentially that is of no relevance!
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Tuesday 23-Jul-13
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Comments
david said:
on Wednesday 24-Jul-13 07:18 AM
we should never have given women the vote....
Tanya - The T said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 04:46 PM
Time for a change? Time, more like embarrising golf course should be set on fire and all players beaten with their clubs. How about that time...
anicia said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 04:02 PM
That"s very funny!! What"s wrong with female golfers? Surely there"s something wrong with the course members and their rules.
Sorea said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 03:34 PM
Pfft ... golf should have stayed behind in the middle ages.
Safia said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 02:58 PM
Like some medieval place. I remember that joke about a sign on the door " dogs and women are not allowed ". such stupid rules wont survive for too long, the world is changing and hopefully soon there will be a sign " pigs and men are not allowed"
Yolandi P said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 02:02 PM
The organisers should have made a more deliberate stand by refusing to let them host The Open. Such level of discrimination cannot be tolorated in today's society anymore.
Cherise said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 02:01 PM
Anyone who would like to play golf should be able too, I dont see any reason as justifiable to not be able to play golf if you a women. Not that many women do play golf, but the few I heard about this weekend that do, are really good.
Brumilde said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 01:59 PM
Seems wrong. But i think they want it to be exclusive in that way
Lucretia said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 01:55 PM
The name GOLF stands for Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden. What I would love to see is a play off between the worlds best 5 gents and 5 best ladies. I would imagine that would shut a few mouths up. The name GOLF may be old but, times have changed and so has the game.
Jessica said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 01:54 PM
Well lucky for me I don't enjoy watching golf and tennis. So this doesn't upset me much. But it is still sexist.
moenisha said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 01:54 PM
Not one for golf anyway but i'm sure there are a lot of woman who do play and love it
Ashleigh said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 01:50 PM
Not a sport for me. Men prefer it to woman. I find it extremely boring to watch. Ive heard its better to play but I wouldnt even bother trying, its not a sport that could keep me entertained.
Alexis said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 01:49 PM
G - Gentlemen
O - Only
L - Ladies
F - Forbidden
Benita said:
on Tuesday 23-Jul-13 01:49 PM
I know a girl that plays better than most guys I know. I think it is sexist
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
