GOLF ETTIQUETTE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1932, Page 3

GOLF ETTIQUETTE

WOMEN FLAYERS HAVE RIGHTS

THE AUCKLAND DISPUTE,

CHRISTCHURCH, August 23. Christchurch golfers are keenly interested, in the dispute between tho men and women members of an Auckland suburban club which has finally been taken to the Supreme Court by four of the women members. , V

The trouble arosei oyer, play on Saturday, mornings. Tile men; p t .s;„ed a oy-law preventing the women playingon Saturday. , before 3. p.m., as they claimed that the, women overran the course. The wb m O n returned to the fight ,with an , injunctions, seeking te stop- the: men interfering, with' the privileges which the women, claim. it appears that in. the club where the ; trouble developed, the women, members outnumber the men. Counsel for the four women who carriecLth# Waif to the Coujjt explained that the; women were anxious to put the matter to the vote, but. this was tuviiea down, appafenJy" by the men, who would see ; that their vote. would be swampecj.. V'

In most clubs in Christchurch, 'cer-; tain days are set aside for the use of the women members, but,generally,the course ~is not exclusively, reserved forhern. On., Women’s . days,. according*} to the rules or golf, woipen playing matches have tlje rights, of the. Similarly, .they' must give way' to m,en when .hied are playing matches on. theiii match days. In .very few cfub« is there any friction, although malq members may heartily , anathematise slow women players when,, contrary to the rules and .etiquette :of golf, they.,., steadfastly refuse to let them through. ,

j SUBSCRIPTIONS DIFFER, As a general rule, the men and women members of a club are divided more or leap into separate clubs -play-4 ing on the f one course, The women [ elect theiii. own committees to control! matches, and . handicapping, but,, the j caye,of .the course and .the finances of the club,aye left to the men. Women pay a srpaller .subscription, .but. haye the ■ same, rights.. Women’s clubs .seldom play matches, on jyeek.-epds, at. apy rate on suburban courses,, where most of the male, members . are only able to get away from their offices!,. during week-ends, However, as some clubs it has , been found, possible to run , matches fpr wpjn|n as well as men , without annoyance to, either.... , . Conduct of players on.-courses! is very, strjctly laid , doiyn ,jn the rules of golf, but more • than on the rules, the smooth running of the game as between players 'depends o,n the etitjuette of golf, which although not deliberatelj laid down in laws,, is as binding. The mai;i spurce of . annoyance to men when playing behind womei\ is that

wo.men as a rule are slower than men, and are, inclined tp hold the inen..up. The rules and etiquette of the game should make this impossible, because jtj is laid down, that slower players must give way to players who - are moying round the. course. faster.

* In few clubs is there,.a definite Testriction on .class/ of ! player at. any particular time, but the .arrange-, nients made usually allow men members prior rights on . the days, of the week when .they, play their • matches, and the women prior rights on their match days. Friction between the two. unheard of, and courtesy ad consideration for other player® whether, male or .female, mark the con. duct of all true golfers.