"If they feel the need to “modernize” St. Andrews they can give due consideration to modernizing their membership criteria."

Ken Willis reels off several fine lines in trying to understand the impetus for modernizing the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Not saying the place is old, but when da Vinci made a move to fix Mona Lisa’s smile, a friend interjected and said, “Damn, Leo, that’d be like adding a bunker to the Old Course.”

As for the women issue, maybe they’re lucky. Women can play the Old Course, and like others can even walk their dogs across the property to the beach. What they CAN’T do is sit in the grill room and listen to some self-absorbed 22-handicap explain how his 102 would’ve been a 98 if he hadn’t been taken hostage inside the Road Hole bunker. Pity.

I was wrong about the Old Course changes shining a light on the distance issue. Looks like it's the membership policies that will start getting extra scrutiny. Well done Chief Architect Dawson, well done!

Comments

[Jessica]

Frankly my dear you don't seem to have the correct information....AGAIN!
I have had the pleasure in listening to many self obsessed golfers in the St. Andrews Club, funnily enough both male and FEMALE.
Perhaps you should go back to your office and write some decent true information about the Old Course. Isn't it fascinating how you can blow things out of proportion with your false allegations towards membership policies.
Also the membership of the Old Course extends beyond the R&A, were you aware that since the days of Leo there are also 2 ladies clubs...
It's always advisable to research before publishing a load of cods wallop!

[Mark B]

@Jessica:

The quote in the blog title is taken from the questioner in the linked article. The questioner mentions the R&A and the Royal & Ancient as though they were one organisation. Ken Willis corrects the questioner to note the two are separate organisations. Willis then notes the bar on female members to the *Royal & Ancient*.

There's no reference to the St Andrews Club or for that matter any of the clubs beyond the Royal & Ancient . Additionally, Willis correctly notes the course is public.

I suppose a careless reader could infer Willis, in the second page of his column, refers to any of the clubs when he mentions the 'grill room', save for the fact in the opening paragraph of his response he writes of the 'ancient clubhouse' belonging to the Royal & Ancient.

Does that help?

[Ron Fortson]

The Saint Andrews Golf Club is a men's club but welcomes women into the bar and the dining room. As you know, ladies have two clubs in town.

[digsouth]

I thought the dreadlocks on football players as the most interesting read of the piece. Good point. Like those visors that have Ian hair, I wonder if some of the football helmets have hair extensions attached?


As to St Andrews and the rework going on; one can only hope great photos of ''before'' will be able to put it back the way it was.

[dsl]

It's all getting so ANGCish, isn't it? I always assumed the Brits/Scots were watching the debacle there and laughing. Maybe it turns out they were jealous?

The good news is, they'll eventually come to their senses and 'undo the Hootie' at St Andrews too. Of course, they'll call it 'releasing the Peter' or some such thing and we'll all have a good chuckle.

[Hare]

I love watching all you loser men having deep and heated arguments about women members of two clubs that will not ever, ever, ever let you in the front door. Or the back door. Or the side door. Or a window. What a waste of everyone's time.