LAST UPDATE | 2 Dec 2021
ROYAL DUBLIN GOLF Club have voted to accept female members, the last golf club in Ireland to do so.
The golf club, which was founded in 1885 and has hosted the Irish Open on six occasions, never explicitly forbade female membership but loyalty to a tradition has meant it has never had any female members.
That will now change, following a vote to enshrine “gender equality” in the club’s constitution.
The move brings the club in line with the governance principles of national body Golf Ireland.
“All genders are equally valued within the membership without discrimination and enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all membership categories and the opportunity to apply for membership, when open, is available to all genders”, read a club statement released to RTÉ.
Speaking on Thursday, Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly said, “We welcome the news coming from Royal Dublin today, that confirms the club’s adoption of the Golf Ireland governance principles. The club’s commitment to gender equality stating ‘all genders are equally valued within the membership’ is a very positive development. We look forward to seeing both men and women take the opportunity to apply for membership in the future.”
Royal Dublin is the last Irish golf club to allow female membership: Portmarnock ended its male-only membership policy earlier.
They’ll want the vote next
@Ave it: and drive. Where will it all end, wearing trousers will be the last straw!
@This time its personable!: But NEVER in the clubhouse bar!
@Ave it: Equality is essential. Unfortunately a lot of lady golfers refuse to accept that equality is a 2 way street because they refuse to complete their rounds in the same time frame that applies to men. Welcome, Royaller, to 5 hour plus rounds.
@Neil Neart: and scones shared four ways…..
@sean o’dhubhghaill: they don’t hit driver that far anyway so probably wouldn’t have done too much damage like!
Green keepers will be busier than usual so…..
The noise pollution in the north Dublin coastline will increase now. Like hens at dawn when you try to enjoy a round with the lads.
Must want the Irish open again.
A great bunch of lads !
@Sean Treacy: they will rue that decision, what are they at?
Now it’s time to try and get men into the Irish Countrywomen’s Assoc & to the Stitch & B1tch Clubs.
@Richard Ahern: seems like you are already a member of one. Your own personal club.
@Richard Ahern: Good one, Dick!
A pat on the back for the lads. Fair play to them.
Am I reading this correctly, it’s 2021?????
@martina loughlin: you are. It is. Surprising a case hasn’t been taken.
Now they just need 2 current members to vouch for them and pay an entry fee of 10k.
@Fergus O’Connor: I’d say at least €10k.
@Fergus O’Connor: I love the line “ when membership opens” basically I would suspect they are currently full and have a waiting list 7 years long so the new women members could be waiting a fair while to join. Depends on who leaves or kicks the bucket.
They’ll drop the royal handle next…
Woman have the same rights as men
@john: not when men were conscripted to go to war back in the day.
Imagine being made go to war!
@john: try getting out on the time sheet when the women have it booked for the whole day on a Tuesday. Women much more equal than men in my golf club.
@Kevin: Does the booking system confuse you? Ah that’s awful Kevin.
@Gav Murphy: Conscription? In Ireland? You need to actually read some history books.
@John Fagan: thanks for the tip buddy .
Amazing to see this in 2021, ??
I blame NEPHET and the government.
The Hooray Henrys to be joined by the Hooray Henriettas at Dollymount.
Boo! Down with that sort of thing.
White guys?
Anyone for a sammich?
(Except the old scared white guys messing everything up).
Will female members be known as the Royalettes ?
Oh no, are they running out of money….
That’s big of them!!
This place should be closed down.
Anything to do with wanting to host International Events? Gender discrimination would not go down well with most organisers.
Guys if you have nothing good to say don’t say it, woman have every right to play golf if they want ye are just been male shovist pig get a life would ye