Iconic BBC commentator Peter Alliss says equality for women has ‘b******d up’ golf

Legendary British commentator Peter Alliss claims that equality in golf has actually hindered the development of the women's game.

The landscape of golf is changing with recent legislation giving women more rights in golf clubs, and clubs such as St Andrews voting to allow female members for the first time. However, Peter Alliss told the Radio Times magazine that equality for women has actually had a negative impact on the sport. Alliss reckons that the golfing world has been thrown into disarray with the recent push for gender equality in the sport,

"There's been a hell of a row because four golf courses that hold the Open Championship didn't have women members." "I'm told the Ladies Golf Union has lost 150,000 members since equality for women came in. Hundreds of women have left golf clubs because they've gone from paying half fare to full fare. It's caused mayhem." "All of the wives of members at these clubs could have used the facilities for free. When I was at Muirfield a couple of years ago talking to a few of the lady members, I said, 'What about this equality? You must be happy about that?' 'God no,' they said. 'We can come here and do what we like, we can play golf and don't pay anything'."

Alliss added that although he was a big fan of gender equality in the good walk spoiled, it has ruined the game for some people.

"The equality thing is a great part of golf. Equality for women: a few people battled away to get it, they got it, and they have b******* up the game for a lot of people."

Hat-tip to the Independent