Women's status in Irish golf: In his final segment on the role of women in golf Shay Keenan finds there is a general consensus that attitudes are changing for the better.

In the many changing facets of golf in recent times one of the most momentous changes was the move by the Royal and Ancient golf club of St Andrews, in a reorganisational plan, to open its doors to women, young people and greater representation from around the world.

The historic changes were approved by the R&A's membership last September after a three-year consultation process. "There's no going back now," revealed Peter Dawson, the secretary of the R&A. "This is the end for the old ways."

While there is no prospect of the private club - which has been men only since 1754 - admitting women members in the near future, the R&A has moved to eliminate the damaging anomaly whereby a men-only organisation was administering the rules of the sport around the world for both men and women.

Now women, as well as men, will make those rules. And R&A club members will no longer vote on any rule changes.

"Yes, we support equal rights, but, no, we don't see the need for all clubs to be the same," said Dawson.

"If we had an issue, it was in our governance role where we make the rules. I do feel this reorganisation takes that problem away. Let's say we now go to the European Golf Association looking for two people to sit on the rules of golf committee.

"It will be up to them to recommend the best people for the job irrespective of gender, age or nationality."

Changing times indeed, and in Ireland the changes have gathered at pace since the introduction of the Equal Status Legislation in 2000.

"A lot of progress has been made in recent years, and attitudes have definitely changed," said Ita Butler, President of the Irish Ladies Golf Union.

"What was once an aspiration is now a fact and I'm looking forward to more and more women availing of the opportunity of becoming full members in golf clubs. It can only be for the good of the sport in the years to come."

However, while the positives may outweigh the negatives, some women do not see full membership as the be-all or end-all of the their sporting past-time.

Ann Clancy, lady captain of Ballybofey and Stranorlar Golf Club, was one of the first women to avail of full membership. However, she is only one of eight women who have taken full membership at the Co Donegal club. Some 100 plus associates decided to remain in that category while a couple reverted to associates after a year as full members.

"There is an excellent relationship between all members at Ballybofey and Stranorlar." said Clancy. "Discrimination was never an issue. Men and women have always played golf here, seven days a week.

"We have a large number of family memberships and as such can enjoy our golf at a reasonable fee."

In the Northern District, where full membership is slowly gathering momentum, there are wide ranging differences in the opinions and needs at different clubs.

At Cairndhu, the 164 women have turned down full membership. Discussions are ongoing at Co Armagh where there are 400 associates. At Balmoral, with an associate membership of 170, agreement has been reached in principle.

There was no choice at Cushendall, where all 147 women now enjoy full membership after a decision taken four years ago, while Lurgan offered full membership to the women, but had no takers.

One club where gender is definitely not an issue is Hollystown Golf Club in Dublin. They have equal membership for men and women on offer to suit all, whether by cost or time to play.

Hollystown offers three different memberships to suit the playing requirement of those who wish to play on a casual basis or over five/six or seven days.

One of the main factors preventing women from availing of the full membership is often the cost of transferring from the associate category where there is no benefit to be gained as in many clubs outside the major cities where women already enjoy seven-day playing rights.

However, while support for full membership is now nationwide, there are still clubs where full membership does not always equate with equal status.

Some have given full membership, but still have no women representation on the club committee, while many do not involve women in decisions on major capital expenditure.

"Complacency and that full membership is a done and dusted issue in many clubs is one of the risks for women," said Sinead Heraty, Chief Executive of the Irish Ladies Golf Union.

"It will be some time before there are equal numbers of men and women in golf clubs, so awareness must be maintained as it's a long journey, but women have come a long way in recent years and hopefully will continue to be more and more involved in the clubs."

Irish amateur golf has come a long way in the last 10 to 15 years as is evidenced by this week when both the men's and the women's international teams will be defending the "Home" titles at Prestwick and Royal Porthcawl Golf Clubs.

However, as much has been done recently to improve the facilities for all golfers, the next golfing generation will see things differently again and more changes will be made.