I hope it’s a Yes vote in women golf membership vote

A Yes vote for women would sent out an important message and put pressure on other clubs to comply.

Away from the Ryder Cup, we are only days away from what, hopefully, will be a watershed moment for the future of golf.

While the rest of Scotland is voting on independence, members of the R&A will be deciding about allowing women to become members.

I hope for, and expect, a unanimous ‘YES’ decision.

This is crucial for the sport. The game’s rule makers have to be seen to be open and fair, and female golfers should be part of that decision-making, both now and in the future.

Accepting women members into the R&A is the first step to stamping out the idea of elitism in golf, which has blighted it for too long.

Pressure can then be applied to private clubs, like Muirfield and Royal St Georges’, to alter their men-only policy too.