R & A Follies

All the cool kids are having fun at the R&A's expense, and I see no reason not to pile on.  But to be serious for just a sec, there's this about the membership vote:

On Sept. 18 -- the same day on which Scotland holds its referendum on independence from

the United Kingdom -- the 2,400-strong membership of the game's ruling body outside the United States and Mexico will be given the opportunity to vote on whether or not to admit women. To do so, members will have to attend the R&A's annual Autumn Meeting. In other words, no postal or proxy votes will be allowed.

That's quite the coincidence, and I've no clue as to how that might affect the vote.  I've also no profound insights into the Scottish independence vote, though I'm reluctant to see anything happen that changes Scotland.  But that's a tourist perspective, and I'd be happy to have Elsie add her thoughts.

As an aside, that's from a John Huggan piece at Local Knowledge, the first time I've noticed his byline there.  He's written over the years for Golf Digest, but I do hope he still has his desk at The Scotsman.  

Also from Huggan's piece are these comments from Peter Dawson:

To pass, the proposal will need a two-thirds majority. Early indications from the members, according to Dawson, have been very positive. "But it is not for me to say what the result will be," he noted. "We've been talking about this for a while. And it is our governance role within the game that is the driving force behind making this happen. Society is changing. Sport is changing. Golf is changing. And I think it is appropriate for a governing body to take this step." 

What Dawson was not saying, however, is that a "yes" vote in September would automatically lead to an end to the British Open being held at all-male clubs. As things stand, three clubs whose courses are on the nine-strong rota -- The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Muirfield), Royal St. Georges and Royal Troon -- do not have female members.

Yes, but he doesn't need to say it now, does he?  It's obvious that he couldn't press the individual clubs terribly hard, because they could cast the public light back on the R&A's membership.  And let's not forget that these are in many cases the same individuals, i.e., the most influential members at these old line clubs are themselves likely to be R&A members.

Now to the fun part.  Shackelford leads by quoting PaddyPower odds that have Queen Elizabeth as a 3-1 favorite to be the R&A's first female member.  Shack clearly agrees, though he doesn't tell us if he's laid a bob or two on it:

The Queen certainly fits the Royal and Ancient membership profile: really old, really rich, really British and really likes gin. 

I still have my fingers crossed for Condoleezza Rice.

Well, Condi would be a twofer, if you get my drift, and therefore might be a bridge too far.  More importantly, can the Queen also hold her Kümmel.

Derek Lawrenson, writing for the Daily Mail, goes into the deep grass with this:

Remarkably, on that very day at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, another vote of seismic importance will also take place. One that will see an expected gathering of 350 or so male members who will decide whether or not to end their own independence and allow women to join. 

'The reason for holding it that day is that it is enshrined in our constitution that the business meeting takes place the day before the last day of Autumn Medal week. So you see our dilemma,' said Peter Dawson, R&A chief executive.

A good day to bury bad news should the members, who are predominantly past retirement age, remain set in their ways? Dawson is confident that will not be the case and there will be the requisite two-thirds majority, thus ending 260 years of men-only rule.

The independence vote as bad news dump opportunity?  I love it.  But back to planet Earth, where one assumes that Dawson has the votes or wouldn't have broached this radioactive subject.  He likely could keep his head in the sand for a few years more, but if the membership votes this down there'll be hell to pay, perhaps in the form of a U.K.-wide Lysistrata strategy.

Back to Huggan speculating on who might be first in the door:

Another likely to be considered is Lady Angela Bonallack, a past Curtis Cup player and wife of Sir Michael Bonallack, the only man to have been both R&A secretary and captain. But, as one prominent R&A member pointed out, the Bonallack residence may be a little too close to St. Andrews for comfort.

"Angela ticks many of the boxes," he said. "But she would inevitably be in and around the clubhouse far too often." 

We presume he was joking.

Funny, I presume just the opposite.