Women enjoy Saturday game at Newcastle Golf for first time in 112 years

A group of five women have been able to tee off on a Saturday at the Newcastle Golf Club for the first time in 112 years.

Ladies President Jenny Thompson said the exclusion of women on Saturdays dates back to the early days of golf, explaining “because women stayed at home and men went to work it was felt that women who took up the game could play during the week and leave Saturdays free for the men.”

However, Saturday 7th October saw women allowed to take to the course on a Saturday for the first time.

The rule allowing women on a Saturday had actually been in the constitution for several years, but was only implemented recently, following changes on the Club’s Board.

Thompson told the AMB “our current board was fully supportive and encouraged this to happen whereas previously at Newcastle that wasn't the case.

"In reality, if a women or group of women had previously wanted to force the issue and play on a Saturday they could have done so but it would have been with quite a lot of opposition from the leadership of the club at the time.

"Now all the members of the board and our new President have been fully supportive of it and we've been able to do it congenially and comfortably within the club and that's been important for us."

Macquarie University Professor Catharine Lumby said the concept that men needed to have Saturday's to themselves was "ludicrous", advising "I think gender discrimination in this era is ridiculous, everybody knows it.

"Many women, myself included, are the breadwinners in their families, so maybe an afternoon on Saturday is the only time they have to have a bit of self time, and that could include a bit of golf."

Newcastle Golf Club Director Edward Geschke added “it's wonderful that it's happening and I'm very proud to be part of a board that's made it possible.”

Thompson added "Newcastle Golf Club has long remained in the country's top 20 clubs and I think for a club of our long history and status it's really important that we finally made this change.”

There still remain a number of other clubs around Australia who have similar rules against women playing on Saturdays.

Thompson concluded “one by one the dominoes are falling so to speak.

"There are still famous Australian clubs like The Australian in Sydney and quite a number of other clubs in Sydney that don't have women on a Saturday."

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