More golf clubs are offering full membership rights to women, but many players do not seem interested, an Irish Times survey has found. The survey shows that 66 per cent of clubs in the State offer full membership to women, compared with 52 per cent four years ago. But of the 41,000 women players registered with the Irish Ladies Golfing Union, only 5,782 have become full members.
The survey found an increasing move towards total equality, especially in the provinces. Of the 261 clubs surveyed, 175 have offered equal rights to women, 84 limit women to associate membership, while Portmarnock and Royal Dublin are men-only clubs. However, of the 49 clubs surveyed in Dublin city and county, only 13 have offered equal status.
But even in clubs where equal rights are available, a large number of women players have decided not to take up the offer. Tuam Golf Club in Galway is a case in point. When the club granted equal status in 1992, a small number of women associate members took up the offer but all have since returned to the associate category. "They saw no real benefit for paying the higher subscription just for a vote," explained Ms Fionnuala Kearney, lady captain in Tuam. And one club secretary at a provincial club in Leinster explained that women were entirely happy with their associate membership status. "Here we say every day is ladies' day, but Thursday is ladies' only day," he said.
Further evidence of an apparent reluctance by women in some clubs to take up full membership is found in Bray, Co Wicklow, which granted equal status in 1995. However, just two women out of 152 took up the offer. The rest are content with associate membership.
The survey excluded clubs in Northern Ireland because of the disparity in the legal positions on either side of the Border, and - apart from Dublin - there is a clear majority of clubs in each province offering equal status.
Although most Dublin clubs still only offer associate membership, a number have established committees to examine the position. Other clubs are awaiting guidance from the Golfing Union of Ireland, which is drafting a new constitution for clubs to cover the changing situation. The reluctance of many Dublin clubs to offer full membership is rooted in the problems metropolitan clubs face in terms of weekend tee-times - but many could also be watching developments at clubs such as the Island, in Donabate, north Co Dublin, which agreed in principle to accept women as full members at an annual general meeting three years ago. Ms Deirdre Nolan, who is lady vice-captain at the Island, said: "When I go to my club, I want to be an equal member with the opportunity of making a positive contribution to the life of the club and the game of golf. This will only happen when I am a full member."