Golf for Specific Groups

While the word "golf" has been incorrectly attributed to the acronym "Gentlemen Only - Ladies Forbidden", the extent of male elitism in the sport has fuelled this claim. As well as giving men priority to play on the weekends, most metropolitan clubs were set up with "gentlemen only" areas, which usually included the best facilities. Even in country towns where farming women have always worked side by side with men, when it came to golf, men often assumed supremacy. At Bencubbin, ladies played 12 holes only so they had time to do afternoon tea for the men. In 1936 complaints were noted that the women were holding up play by not giving way to men players and action would be taken if they did not adhere to the rule.

Rather than improve with time, the exclusion of women often increased as golf attracted more players and golf facilities came under pressure. Alan Langoulant and Alan France, in their history, The Western Australian Golf Club Inc found that:

"After the Word War II, women from the West Australian Golf Club at Mount Yokine were restricted from playing on weekends owing to the larger fields of men playing, whereas in pre-war days they could play providing they didn't start play before 3.00 pm on Saturdays and 2.30 pm on Sundays."   p 63 The Western Australian Golf Club Inc 80 years of history First Edition RE Davidson second edition by Alan Langoulant and Alan France

As a new member of the Melville Glades Club, Jess Spencer recalled her surprise at the difference between the facilities for men and those allocated to women:

"Like many metropolitan golf clubs, ours was a very male dominated club, and we had to learn this very quickly. At our pre-season meeting many ladies crammed into a small hot room at the end of the clubhouse. This was the "ladies room" and on the other side of some sliding doors was a very large and empty spacious area, which was the men's lounge. Some ladies were asking why can't we move in there for the meeting and the answer was: 'Good heavens no, that is for men only'."   From notes compiled by Jess Spencer 2009

Even the State's National Championship winners of the 1950s, Eileen Dawson and Maxine Bishop who were members of Royal Perth Golf Club were penalised because of their gender. Eileen Dawson recalled the situation in an interview she gave in 2005. Associates were not permitted to enter the clubhouse through the main entrance, were not allowed entry to "Grumble Gully" and could only use the lounge on dedicated occasions. The men's executive committee had defined car bays whereas associates were not allowed bays and had to park in Amherst Street. The associate's office was on a louvred veranda with a little table on coir matting, and the lockers were made of pine boxes and chicken wire.  Interview with Kathy Bell and Brian O'Meara , 2005.

Further read on Section 6: Golf for Specific Groups