Golf equality for women 'causing mayhem,'

  says Peter Alliss, Vivien Saunders agrees

FROM BBC SPORT.COM
Veteran golf commentator Peter Alliss says women golfers have suffered from a drive for equality in the game.

Legislation in 2010 gave women more rights at golf clubs, while the Royal and Ancient and Royal St George's now permit female members.
"I'm told the Ladies Golf Union has lost 150,000 members since equality for women came in," said Alliss.
"Hundreds of women have left golf clubs because they've gone from paying half fare to full fare. It's caused mayhem."
Ladies' Golf Union finance director Sam Burton said membership numbers had fallen, but only by about 30,000 - from 189,000 to 159,000 - since 2010, when the introduction of the Equality Act made it illegal for clubs to offer discounted membership fees that restricted the times women could use courses.

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Historic courses and female membership
In September, the Royal and Ancient voted to allow female members for the first time in its 260-year history	In January, Royal Troon said it would undertake a review of its membership policy
In March, Royal St George's ended its omission of women members after 128-years	Muirfield and Royal Troon remain the only two Open venues to not allow female members ================

"I wouldn't dream of joining a club where women had less rights than men, and neither would my friends," she said.
"I can't agree with what Peter is saying - it's a terribly outdated view."
Alliss, 84, who is a former professional player and a longstanding commentator for the BBC, told the Radio Times: "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.'"

=================================== Number of people playing golf once a week in England
Gender	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14
Male	758,800	738,800	723,200	733,000	643,300	626,100
Female	138,800	122,100	110,000	117,500	108,600	104,200

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Women's PGA founder and former Women's Open champion Vivien Saunders said she agreed with Alliss's comments.
"The age group under 50 are fine. A lot more independent women have their own money," the 68-year-old told BBC Radio 5 live.
"It's the women over 60. A lot of them, their husband controls the finances, they've never worked, and they are the ones who are dropping out of the game.
"Younger people, under 40 and even under 50, expect equality and they are beginning to come into the sport. But you do have a very strange culture in the sport where you've got an awful lot of men, younger men, playing golf and the last thing they want is their wives anywhere near where they play."