Equality Authority to take ‘men only’ golf club to court

ONE of the two remaining ‘men only’ golf clubs in the country is being taken to court by the State’s equality watchdogs.

The Equality Authority is to challenge Portmarnock Golf Club's policy of refusing membership to women in the district court.

It will be the first time the Equality Authority has brought a club to court over a selective membership policy.

If the authority's legal challenge is successful it will lay down a marker for the only other men-only bastion the Royal Dublin Golf Club in Dublin's Dollymount.

The court action follows attempts by the authority in recent months to persuade Portmarnock Golf Club, based by the sea in north County Dublin, to lift its membership bar and avoid a costly legal battle.

Portmarnock's controversial membership policy was spotlighted last year when it was selected to host the Irish Open in July.

Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue, who declared Portmarnock would be the venue for the Irish Open, has already urged the club to review its all-male policy.

The minister made it clear he wants them to lift the all-men membership rule.

If the court decides Portmarnock is a discriminating club under the Equal Status Act, it will lose its bar licence and open itself up to potential fines.

The 400 members have been told by the club committee that it intends to uphold the reputation and tradition of the club.

The committee said it would vigorously fight off the State's challenge and pointed out it had received legal

advice that it had strong grounds, as a private club, to retain its membership policy.

The Equal Status Act outlaws discrimination by registered clubs, pubs or hotels in relation to access to premises and services. A significant number of pubs have been prosecuted for allegedly refusing to serve Travellers.

The authority prefers to discuss any discrimination issue and a court action is always the last resort.

Portmarnock Golf Club maintains its rules do not contravene the act and point to its long tradition of supporting Irish golf, both professional and amateur, male and female.

"Many men's and ladies' championships have been played here. While the club does not have any lady members, ladies have always been welcome to both play the course and use all of the clubhouse facilities. That would remain the case," the club stressed.

A date for the court action has yet to be fixed.