Girls can play golf

C HEGARTY, the North Berwick resident who advised his daughter she would not be allowed to play golf at Muirfield simply ­because she is a girl (Letters, 17 July) is slightly out of date.

Since 1891 she has been able to play – just like her brother – on Tuesdays and Thursdays as an ordinary visitor and as the guest of a member on any day of the week.

When first started this was an extraordinary concession because many private courses in the Victorian era displayed prominent notices warning: “No dogs or women.” At present, the clubhouse is a male preserve but I doubt many girls have an overwhelming desire to lunch on “nursery” food with grandpa and his chums.

(Dr) John Cameron

Howard Place

St Andrews