The Island Golf Club in North County Dublin have been discussing equal rights for a number of years. Three years ago the annual general meeting agreed in principle to accept women as equal members. Deirdre Nolan is lady vice-captain at The Island and she says that the reason that she would like to be an Ordinary Member is the same reason that men like to be Ordinary Members.
"In other words, when I go to my club, I want to be an equal member with the opportunity of making a positive contribution to the life of the club and the game of golf.
"This will only happen when I am a full member," says Nolan. "Too often in the on-going debate about playing rights, voting rights and fees, the injustice of the discrimination against women in golf clubs is overlooked.
"I'm confident, however, that The Island will offer me full membership, and I hope that other clubs will follow,' added Nolan.
The Island's women were to the forefront of getting the ILGU to back clubs in their quest for equal status when their motion at this year's annual general meeting was carried by a huge majority.
The Island is unique in that the affairs of the club were run by a syndicate up to the early 1950s. The first men's captain was elected in 1953 but the first lady captain was 49 years earlier in 1904.
"A special committee has been working very well this year in drawing up a new constitution for the club and when this is in place, hopefully, those ladies who wish to transfer to ordinary membership will be given that chance," says the lady vice-captain.
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