NEW rule books, produced by the Irish Ladies Golf Union for distribution among their affiliated clubs, contain a significant addition to the objectives of the organisation. In future, the ILGU shall "actively support and promote equal status legislation and, in particular voting rights for women in golf clubs."

This is to comply with a controversial motion, which was passed by a large majority at the union's annual general meeting in Dublin on January 23rd of this year. And in accordance with ILGU rules, it comes into effect later this month after a lapse of three months.

So, women's ongoing battle for equality in Irish golf clubs, has reached a further, significant stage. Whether it will be sufficient to bring them the ultimate prize, however, remains very much in doubt.

As it happens, this latest move coincides with some interesting developments in the Department of Equality and Law Reform. It is expected that Minister Mervyn Taylor's Employment Equality Bill and Equal Status Bill could both become law by the end of this month or early May.

Discrimination in golf clubs will be covered in the Equal Status Bill and, as I suggested in these columns earlier this year, one of the threatened sanctions on offending clubs is the non renewal of their liquor licence. Legal opinion, however, is of the view that this would be contrary to Article 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to free association.

But there is another, fascinating element to the proposed legislation: the appointment of a Director of Equality Legislation. According to Gerry Hickey, press officer to the department, this appointee will have the authority to deal with all allegations of discrimination, without the need of recourse to the law.

When I mentioned Article 40 of the Constitution in the context of these proposals, Hickey replied: "It is open to anyone to challenge the constitutionality of any piece of legislation and this one is no exception."

Last December, officials of the ILGU knew that they were in for a particularly lively a.g.m. So, they sought guidance from their male counterparts in the Golfing Union of Ireland. "We were anxious because we felt it was outside our own rules to consider the proposition in question," said Anne Tunney, life vice president of the ILGU. "The upshot of it all was that the GUI told us they couldn't interfere."

This view was reiterated by GUI honorary secretary Gerry O'Brien when I spoke to him about the matter after their a.g.m. in February. "We cannot interfere in the activities of a golf club and it would be a gross impertinence to do so," he replied.

"In our dealings with the clubs, we believe in informing, not interfering." Yet O'Brien also indicated that the GUI would be willing to listen to "approaches" from the ILGU on the matter.

In the event, the ILGU have decided to go it alone, at this stage, though they made representations to Mervyn Taylor's department requesting that, the relevant motion from their a.g.m. be considered in the framing of the new legislation. They also formed a special committee comprising: Eileen Singleton, chairman, (The Heath), Pat Tierney (St Anne's), Aideen McCarthy (Muskerry), Helen O'Boyle (Bray) and Deirdre Nolan (The Island).

The Island and Beaverstown were the two Leinster clubs which took the lead in seeking change at their union's a.g.m. And when I suggested in these columns that the motion's success was a triumph for the "Women in Golf" pressure group, certain members of The Island took exception.

So, at this stage, it may be no harm to lay this particular issue to rest. The fact is that in the buildup to the a.g.m., "Women in Golf" sent a circular on headed notepaper and signed by their chairperson, Marguerite Martin, to the lady captains of the various clubs, urging them to support the motion.

The final paragraph of the circular read: "This meeting may prove to be a very important milestone in the history of women's golf in Ireland. Please give it your urgent attention. The truth is that "Women in Golf" have done splendid work in keeping the issue before the public and in my view, they are entitled to credit for the January success.

In December 1991, the results were issued of a comprehensive survey, commissioned by the ILGU, on the status of women in golf clubs in Ireland. The findings augured well for the future while it was hoped that "this movement (for change) will continue in cities as well as in small towns and rural areas."

The survey also concluded that: "... there are restrictions on women in golf clubs and while many may not want full membership, it is the principle that causes offence, rather than the lack of rights or facilities that they enjoy."

"I have always held the view that the principle of equality should be conceded," said Ms Tunney. "At the moment, it would appear that a majority of women in our Western, Midlands and Southern Districts have been offered equal rights but the position in Leinster and the North is unclear."

With that in mind, the ILGU decided, prior to their a.g.m., to update the 1991 survey. And in the light of events since then, the matter has obviously adopted a greater sense of urgency.

Ms Tunney is quite correct, in my view, in highlighting the principle of equality. When the matter of equal status for women is raised at the annual general meetings of male dominated golf clubs, all sorts of red herrings are invariably thrown into the argument, such as playing rights and the prospect of both sexes playing in the same competitions.

I'm sure Seve Ballesteros must bitterly regret the statement he made to the El Pais newspaper in Madrid back in 1980, when he was but a lad of 23. Addressing the issue of women in golf, he said: "You women want equality, but you'll never get it because women are inferior to men in all sorts of ways - physically, intellectually and morally. There are exceptions, but on the whole, women are inferior to men."

It can be assumed that Ballesteros no longer holds such andediluvian views. But remarkably, his words are frequently echoed by otherwise enlightened men at golf club meetings up and down this fair land. In my view, they should discard their prejudices, accept the principle of equality and then work out the nuts and bolts at a later stage.

Meanwhile, despite frustration among the more active women, things are changing. As Anne Tunney recalled: "Back in 1982, Women in Golf called a meeting in the Montrose Hotel. We in the ILGU attended, and the GUI was represented by the then honorary secretary, Des Rea O'Kelly who pledged "to do everything in our power to help."

She concluded: "That was 15 years ago. We knew then that change wouldn't happen overnight and the truth is that we have made significant progress. Indeed I'm sure that in another 15 years, when men and women are happily sharing the same facilities and the joys of a great game, we'll wonder what all the fuss was about."