GOLF NEWS: A golf club in England has been told its alcohol licence can only be renewed if it gives its women members the vote.

Magistrates have told the Royal West Norfolk Golf Club it will have to change its rules before the registration certificate is renewed.

Club secretary Major Nigel Carrington-Smith said the renewal has been put on hold until September so the 110-year old club has time to change its rules.

He said: "If you change the rules in a golf club you need to hold an extraordinary general meeting to get your members to agree. The committee hope the members will agree because we accept it is the right thing to do."

The club, plans to hold the meeting at the end of August. It has 750 adults, and 120 of these are women.

It has until September 5th to change its rules about women voting in its affairs said Carrington-Smith.

He said the club's existing licence will stay in force until September.

"We have to change our rules and we are quite happy to do this.

"The membership have to agree as a whole to go along this route and we don't see why golfers shouldn't have a drink after a game," he said.

It is understood the club has been told by the licensing officer for Norfolk Police that its rules have to comply with the 1964 Licensing Act, which said members of a licensed club should have equal voting rights.

A spokeswoman for the Equal Opportunities Commission said: "It's incredible that there are still clubs that think it is acceptable not to allow women voting rights.

"Perhaps having to make the choice between a dry bar and having women as equal members will help them decide to bring their rules up to date.

"Hopefully the magistrates' decision in this case will encourage other clubs to review their membership rules as well."

A Private Members Bill is currently before the British parliament seeking to give women equal membership rights of all private clubs.

If passed it would affect thousands of sports and social clubs.

In February Frinton Golf Club in Essex changed its rules to allow women equal voting rights, use the club bar at any time, and tee-off before 10 a.m.