JUDY DELIGHTS MEMBERS AT MILESTONE CELEBRATIONS

Photo by Matthew Harris: L – R Judy Murray OBE, George Gunn, Lady Captain Rosemary Muschamp and past Lady Captain Alison Bartlett

Royal Dornoch Golf Club has marked the 30th anniversary of women becoming full members in style.

Guest of honour, Scottish tennis coach and keen golfer Judy Murray OBE delighted more than 80 members attending a celebratory dinner in the clubhouse with a wide-ranging and candid Q&A, after participating in a Mixed Greensomes Stableford competition over the Championship Course earlier in the day.

To mark the occasion, several past Lady Captains were joined by club President Alan Ramsey and Christine Murray, the first female vice-president and first woman to serve on the Council of Management.

Rosemary Muschamp, whose two-year term as Lady Captain ends next month, was delighted to welcome Judy and her sister-in-law Tracey Erskine, to play in a celebratory mixed Greensomes over the famous links.

“I was keen to celebrate the 30th anniversary of what was a milestone in the history of the golf club and it was lovely to be joined by past Lady Captains and club President Alan, who was captain in 1996 when the motion was passed to allow women to become full members,” explained Rosemary.

“There had been a vote at the AGM the previous year which didn’t get the 67% support required for a rule change.

“But the ladies were invited to carry out a secret ballot among themselves the following year and the then Lady Captain Alison

Alan was invited to attend the annual meeting, where she reported that 72% were in favour of securing full membership – and this time the motion was approved.

“At the time it was quite divisive. Clearly not all the ladies were in favour, perhaps because annual subs were going to cost more or they didn’t want to become directly involved with the running of the club, but I think the majority were thinking more of the next generation than themselves.

“The club, of course, has always had a proud tradition of welcoming female golfers, of all ages.

“Our oldest trophy, the Challenge Vase, was first played for in 1889 and within two years the ladies had their own course and clubhouse.

“It was very different from today’s fabulous facilities, with the wooden structure costing £170.

“Unlike many clubs of that era the ladies were always considered part of the club here in Dornoch, as you can see from the old photographs in our collection.

“By 1914, club records show 51 local lady members and by 1925 the figure had risen to 165.

“The Ladies Section was formed in 1951 and today it is thriving, with 479 members and it is great to see so many girls being encouraged by Ally McNaughton, our popular PGA coaching professional, and assistant Erin Herd, who is a wonderful role model.”