Taking The Pulse On All-Male Membership Coverage...

The reactions to the R&A press conference varied from "still the same stance" to writers seizing on Peter Dawson's suggestion that they will be taking a look at the policies of clubs. Or their own Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (remember, a separate entity from the "R&A").

Dawson did try to open the door, but by blaming the media only ensured that the issue will not go away. So a split decision on his performance.

Moira Gordon in The Scotsman says the R&A "would consider its position on men-only golf clubs as the issue threatened to overshadow the start of the Open Championship at Muirfield."

John Huggan for GolfDigest.com:

Disappointingly but predictably, Dawson then had nothing new to offer in this ongoing debate. Resorting to the arguments he has repeatedly used since he assumed his present job in 2000, the former executive for Grove Manufacturing, a company involved in the manufacturing of hydraulic cranes trotted out the same old defense of the indefensible.

Mark Tallentire of The Guardian says Dawson "broke new ground over the vexed issue of the Open being hosted by single-gender clubs on Wednesday and suggested that the issue would be addressed after the tournament at Muirfield."

Oliver Brown and the Telegraph noted Dawson's mention of a "hard push" to change the policy on all male clubs, but also noted Dawson's irritability on one topic. Well two.

Under prolonged and uncomfortable cross-examination, Dawson was disdainful of the suggestion by one reporter that an all-male policy could be likened to an all-white one, describing it as a “ridiculous question”.

He said: “There are sectors of society that are downtrodden and treated very badly indeed, and to compare this with a men’s golf club is frankly absurd. There is no comparison whatsoever.”
He also expressed his irritation that “the media are, with boundless energy, giving out the message that such clubs should be condemned to extinction”.

Emily Dugan, The Independent's "Social Affairs" correspondent, seized on the "increasingly bizarre press conference" and reported that Dawson defended the policy.

The Herald's Hugh Macdonald went the "bowing to pressure" route, saying the R&A is "reconsidering its stance on single-sex clubs."

Jonathan McEvoy of the Daily Mail also went with a "Men-only clubs may be kicked into long grass" theme. The story also includes a photo of Lindsey Vonn Dufferning with Dufner!

Golf Channel's "Live From" delivered a refreshingly deliberate and comprehensive 9-minute package on the press conference, with surprising comments from Shona Malcomb of the Lades Golf Union as well as an interview with Alex Salmond.