Blackballing and the Golfing Grapevine

This is not wholly unremarkable, as I must admit to having rubbed up some people the wrong way in my few years here and I suppose it’s just fortuitous that none is a prominent member of this club.

Now blackballing is a feature of many clubs and I suppose on one level is an important check on membership. However, I am highly suspicious of this rather random, defining and unjustifiable exercise of power.  I believe Ronnie Corbett was thus prevented from joining Muirfield and ‘Fred the Shred’ Goodwin the notorious banker, from the R&A. But on a more parochial level I am sure personal grudges and social cliques must play a huge part. It conjures up an image of a half lit Masonic lodge and something a bit mischievous and secretive going on.

I do know a lovely little doctor in the wee village of Gullane who was a stalwart of that excellent golf club and long harboured a desire to join the neighbouring Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield, alongside most of his friends. However, he had a propensity to fall off his bar stool and I believe this underpinned his subsequent blackballing, given that he manifestly qualified on a gender basis.

Now I’m of the opinion that one’s gender nor one’s propensity to topple off a bar stool should be the decisive factor in determining and defining membership of one of the greatest golfing establishments in the world. I mean the ultimate privilege of access to the legendary Muirfield lunch is not a matter to be treated lightly, flippantly or unreasonably. This is serious stuff.