Banished to the Castle

Fair point.

But further and seriously, my article had seemingly caused a bit of a ‘rumpus’ in the upper echelons of the Royal and Ancient, and I presume the Links Trust, and by all accounts I am treading on very thin ice. Moreover, I was ‘punished’ as such by being sent back to The Castle Course from my newly gained position down at The Old which I had been looking forward to. This is a bit like being sent to Coventry I suppose or being put in the corner to stand and face the wall as happened back in primary school.

My article did state that the R&A was in some manner ‘elitist’ but what’s wrong with that? I mean Oxford and Cambridge are elitist and it’s a very good thing. We need elite institutions like we need to aspire to the elite in ourselves and try our best. It’s all well and fine. Don’t take this the wrong way chaps.

However, I think the major issue was in poking a bit of fun at two elderly gentlemen who had become rather semi-conscious and in a blissful state of repose, together on a chaise longue.  But for heaven’s sake, old gentlemen and young for that matter, are probably doing this in all sorts of golf clubs, and chaise lounges, up and down the country, indeed across the wide world. It’s not a shameful or poor state to get into. It’s rather good for you actually. Churchill swore by it. Daily. It doesn’t matter. Have a thick skin about that sort of thing. It’s not particular or a slight to the club that is the Home of Golf and its governing body.

I mean it’s all going swimmingly for you guys at the moment. Ladies are now in the ranks. And good talented lassies I’m sure. Yes. I have no problem with that. It’s right and proper. Good 21st century stuff. However, let’s get everything in perspective here and not act unreasonably to caddies with delicate and sensitive dispositions (and wayward pens!)