Equal playing rights

[tonybobo]

I understand the new laws relating to equal rights relating to course access, does anyone have a view or an opinion on the following;

Some ladies would like access to the course during say a mens monthly medal however would like to retain exclusivity to the course on ladies day (every Tuesday). Seems to me that the two approaches are, all members have access to the course on an equal basis all of the time or the matter is settled by negotiation. So if the ladies were to vote to relinquish access to the course on mens medal days in return for retaining their ladies day (by democratic vote) would this be equitable and legal.

 

[Slab]

Not sure if you're allowed to negotiate away from the laws but there's a few members here who are on committees so perhaps they'll see your post

Also, do they want to play in the monthly medal or just have access to the course and do men have access to the course during the monthly medal if they don't want to play in the monthly medal

 

[FairwayDodger]

It's complicated!

Most courses with separate men's and women's competitions have block bookings for those comps, effectively preventing the other gender from playing, so perfectly legal I would suggest.

Is it equitable? Well, how long would the course be closed to women for men's comps and how long closed to men for women's comps? At most clubs, I suspect, the women would have much longer times where they couldn't access the course. Are men's comps at the weekend and women's midweek? If so, that's hardly fair for women who work in this, the 21st century.... Even if a majority of retired ladies vote it through.

 

[Ethan]

The only equitable solution is not to have gender restricted times. At any time

At Bearwood Lakes the medals are open to men, women and others. But the women's comp is blocked out for women only. Likewise the seniors comp is blocked out for oldies only.

PS. No spring chicken myself.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

The only equitable solution is not to have gender restricted times. At any time

At Bearwood Lakes the medals are open to men, women and others. But the women's comp is blocked out for women only. Likewise the seniors comp is blocked out for oldies only.

PS. No spring chicken myself.

How can that be 'fair' then?

Why do we have to have access for all at all times, I'm afraid the move away from Men's/Women's only days/times are a retrograde step IMO.

 

[FairwayDodger]

How can that be 'fair' then?

Why do we have to have access for all at all times, I'm afraid the move away from Men's/Women's only days/times are a retrograde step IMO.

I have to disagree. These were only ever any good for women that don't work since the "women's day" is always midweek and the "mens day" at the weekend.

Times have changed, most working age women work nowadays and (as I always say) equal access to the course at the weekend is the only true measure of equality at a golf club.

 

[Hobbit]

All comps are open to all... sorted.

 

[patricks148]

isn't it a bit of a chicken and egg situation? less working women play so lack of need for clubs to change and offer play on Saturdays.

 

[duncan mackie]

So far this thread seems to be confusing equal opportunity legislation with club rules procedures and possible implications to fairness....should run a good 1000 pages if it continued

Might help is respect of the original post if there was clarity over exactly which piece of legislation was being referenced as 'understood'?

 

[FairwayDodger]

isn't it a bit of a chicken and egg situation? less working women play so lack of need for clubs to change and offer play on Saturdays.

Not really. If women don't have the opportunity to play they're not going to join. Clubs need to assess whether they really want to increase female participation and membership (I'm sure many don't) and, if they do, they need to create the environment where that is possible as a very first step. But that's only a first step and not enough on it's own.

 

[tonybobo]

My question is really what is the situation if the ladies and me agree by democratic vote that they would like exclusive rights to the course on certain days / times and reach a compromise.

 

[bladeplayer]

All comps are open to all... sorted.

Popcorn , get ur pop corn here

 

[FairwayDodger]

So far this thread seems to be confusing equal opportunity legislation with club rules procedures and possible implications to fairness....should run a good 1000 pages if it continued

Might help is respect of the original post if there was clarity over exactly which piece of legislation was being referenced as 'understood'?

Can't we just all pile in with our own prejudices and ill-informed comment?

 

[DCB]

Think this thread is a Club Rules issue. Easy to resolve if the club is forward thinking or progressive... there's a word I heard somewhere

No reason why all cant get a fair crack of the whip.

 

[FairwayDodger]

My question is really what is the situation if the ladies and me agree by democratic vote that they would like exclusive rights to the course on certain days / times and reach a compromise.

I think you might have a problem if you restricted access to the course on gender-lines and someone who wants to play at the time restricted for the opposite gender chose to pursue a complaint; even if a majority voted for it.

But, of course, I'm not a lawyer and just enjoy passing ill-informed comments on a golf forum! In fact, I believe all laws should just boil down to what I think is right and proper!

 

[DCB]

I've never understood this thing about playing within a comp if your not playing in that comp. We don't allow it until last competitor has left the first green.

Gents and ladies comps are clearly marked on the card, whether it be a weekday or weekend day. Both have equal rights on the course as we only have Ordinary members. If there isn't a comp on the go then anyone of those members can play at any time. Restricted times went along with the last of the dinosaurs.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

At my old club it worked as three separate competitions on the same day (men's, women's, juniors').
Equal access to the course just different pages to sign in, enter scores etc on the computer.

It worked quite well, although it wasn't the busiest of courses.

 

[FairwayDodger]

At my old club it worked as three separate competitions on the same day (men's, women's, juniors').
Equal access to the course just different pages to sign in, enter scores etc on the computer.

It worked quite well, although it wasn't the busiest of courses.

Sounds like a good solution.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Not just a good solution but the future.

 

[patricks148]

Not really. If women don't have the opportunity to play they're not going to join. Clubs need to assess whether they really want to increase female participation and membership (I'm sure many don't) and, if they do, they need to create the environment where that is possible as a very first step. But that's only a first step and not enough on it's own.

Realistically are clubs going to block tee times for Working ladies to play on Saturdays when they might only have a hand full of ladies?

My own club for instance block Tuesday evening 5-7 for the ladies medal, you would be luck if 2 or 3 played in the at slot and some times none.

Its not a problem at Mine we only have 2 or 3 medals a month and only the bigger comps are drawn so anyone cab book a time and play on Saturday and Sunday.