A row is developing at one of the oldest golf clubs in the country over the failure to give female members a greater say.
Dooks golf club at the foot of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks overlooking Dingle Bay, has over 1,000 full members. They include siblings of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, a regular visitor to the club. Heart surgeon Maurice Neligan is former president.
Women make up a tiny percentage of full members at Dooks, although there are hundreds of associate female members. All female full members are allowed to vote, but only in the ladies' agm.
Most golf clubs now have a three-tier structure, helping them to comply with equality legislation. However, Dooks has failed to bring in a constitution which would allow for a mixed gender management committee alongside its existing ladies' and men's clubs. This means women are excluded from managing the club, although club officers say they consult with female members on plans.
Last Thursday night at the agm 10 female members were given voting cards but they had been advised they could not vote for the club management committee as it was in the men's agm. Under Golfing Union of Ireland rules men must vote for men at the men's agm and the women were advised the club risked expulsion if they participated.
"The result is men run everything. In reality, the lady captain has to consult with the men in the club about everything," according to one female member who did not wish to be named.
Another woman said the situation was "one of limbo". At the main agm women cannot vote because it is the male agm which elects the officers to manage the club.
The female members were promised a management committee three years ago but progress has stalled.
The Dooks club has recently undergone a €4 million revamp. Golf was set up there in 1889 when the Royal Horse Artillery introduced it to the local aristocracy.
Three months ago attempts to bring in a new constitution at an extraordinary general meeting failed, as the required three-quarters did not support it. However, concerns were raised about the tenure length of officerships as well as the overall make-up of the committee and number of women included from the ladies' committee.
Club secretary manager Declan Mangan, however, has defended the club.
Mr Mangan said women were allowed to be full members. The issues were not serious .
"We are revising our constitution at the moment," Mr Mangan said.
