Pine Valley to Admit Women

[iacas]

Pine Valley Golf Club to allow women members, loosen playing restrictions

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Pine Valley, home to the world's top-ranked golf course, has voted to allow women members and remove all gender-specific language from its bylaws.

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On Friday evening, at an annual meeting of Pine Valley trustees and members, the club voted to remove all gender-specific language from its bylaws.

As part of the decision, women, who were also previously limited to playing the course on Sunday afternoons, will now be able to use the club without restrictions.

 

[saevel25]

I do think opening up country clubs to allow women as full members helps the game of golf. Image is now more important than ever. I rather see golf stay on the up and up. 

[Darkfrog]

I voted better late than never.

I think they're maybe a bit late to be using the phrase "right side of history" though.

[billchao]

23 minutes ago, Darkfrog said:

I voted better late than never.

I think they're maybe a bit late to be using the phrase "right side of history" though.

I think as long as it’s not never, they made the move to the right side of history.

[iacas]

I don't care much — it's not my club, and I generally support a club's right to do as they please^ — but I'm glad they went this route.

^ This is borderline, too, because I don't think you should be able to do anything you want to discriminate. But there are "Curves" and the NAACP. There are clubs for only Jewish people, etc. But I also don't really know much about this stuff, and try to default to "allow others."

[jsgolfer]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

I don't care much — it's not my club, and I generally support a club's right to do as they please^ — but I'm glad they went this route.

^ This is borderline, too, because I don't think you should be able to do anything you want to discriminate. But there are "Curves" and the NAACP. There are clubs for only Jewish people, etc. But I also don't really know much about this stuff, and try to default to "allow others."

I’m with you, I could care less, not my club, never will be my club,  never could afford it, pretty sure I will never play here.

[boogielicious]

I voted Better Late Than Never, but I really don’t care what they do. It’s not my club and if they required ever member to wear clown shoes and paint there face blue, it’s their prerogative. Their image of their club is on them. I’ll never get to play there I don’t think.

[David in FL]

Put me in the “Meh” category.  They’re a private club and can/should do what they consider to be best for their club.  

 

[GolfLug]

Meh (I changed my vote). I am sure a great many folks think this is eradication of sexism. It could be, but not sure that is necessarily correct reflection of the change. 

IMHO a good thing in general but I am certainly curious as to what prompted the change. 

[TourSpoon]

Meh -

IMO, the quote "We don't want to be on the wrong side of history" really speaks to this as an image move rather than really caring about anything else. The membership requirement will still be super restrictive so what really changes?  So now they will let female guests and members (once they get membership status) to play other day's than on Sunday. This is ceremonial at first glance. But like others, its not my club and it doesn't effect me at all.  

[saevel25]

3 minutes ago, TourSpoon said:

Meh -

IMO, the quote "We don't want to be on the wrong side of history" really speaks to this as an image move rather than really caring about anything else. The membership requirement will still be super restrictive so what really changes?  So now they will let female guests and members (once they get membership status) to play other day's than on Sunday. This is ceremonial at first glance. But like others, its not my club and it doesn't effect me at all.  

Who cares, it's a good thing for the game. It's a good thing for their club. 

This is the issue with Altruism. People want everything to have some selfless intent. A lot of good has been done in the name of getting something out of it. 

[TourSpoon]

1 minute ago, saevel25 said:

Who cares, it's a good thing for the game. It's a good thing for their club. 

This is the issue with Altruism. People want everything to have some selfless intent. A lot of good has been done in the name of getting something out of it. 

I will agree with the who cares part. Outside of this forum topic which asked for our opinions, I don't think anyone really does. 

As far as selfless intent, I am not that naive. They are allowing female membership in a limited capacity just as they allow membership in general in a limited capacity. Frankly, Augusta beat them to it in 2012 which was the needle mover. Most people don't even know of Pine Valley. But is it a good move to be more inclusive? Absolutely, 100% without a doubt.  

 

[mchepp]

11 minutes ago, TourSpoon said:

 Frankly, Augusta beat them to it in 2012 which was the needle mover.

I am surprised you feel this way. Granting a membership to the CEO of IBM and a former Secretary of State did not move any needles in my mind. It stood out for what it was, a PR stunt.

[TourSpoon]

14 minutes ago, mchepp said:

I am surprised you feel this way. Granting a membership to the CEO of IBM and a former Secretary of State did not move any needles in my mind. It stood out for what it was, a PR stunt.

I am not going to disagree with your assessment, but if you had to compare Augusta actually admitting Rice and Moore compared to Pine Valley's "announcement", I would say that August wins that one every time in the court of public appeal. 

[saevel25]

30 minutes ago, TourSpoon said:

I am not going to disagree with your assessment, but if you had to compare Augusta actually admitting Rice and Moore compared to Pine Valley's "announcement", I would say that August wins that one every time in the court of public appeal. 

There was a lot of pressure to allow women into Augusta National... 

Masters Drops TV Ads Over Pressure to Admit Women - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

Controversy Over Women at Augusta Golf Course Leads to ACLU Federal Lawsuit on Protest Rights | American Civil Liberties Union

3 Reasons Why Augusta National Waited so Long to Admit Women | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights

 

[TourSpoon]

1 minute ago, saevel25 said:

There was a lot of pressure to allow women into Augusta National... 

Masters Drops TV Ads Over Pressure to Admit Women - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

Controversy Over Women at Augusta Golf Course Leads to ACLU Federal Lawsuit on Protest Rights | American Civil Liberties Union

3 Reasons Why Augusta National Waited so Long to Admit Women | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights

 

There sure was and that was almost 10 years ago and due to The Master's. Regardless of the reason, it was good for golf, as you pointed out earlier.  

[iacas]

The first three female members:

• Annika Sorenstam
• Sarah Ingram
• Meghan Stasi

Pine Valley’s first female members announced, includes LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam | Golf News and Tour Information | Golf Digest

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Annika Sorenstam, the 10-time major champion, is one of the three female members to accept membership to the former men's-only club, Pine Valley announced.

 

[Double Mocha Man]

This is a good start for Pine Valley.  But how 'bout some ordinary women members, not just pro and amateur standouts?!  I'm sure there are women out there who can break 90 and also be "socially compatible", though I'm not quite sure what that means.

So now, it begs the question:  What kind of scores do their male members shoot?