Portmarnock Golf Club

Last updated

Portmarnock Golf Club
Aerial View of Portmarnock Golf Club and peninsula.jpg
Aerial View of Portmarnock Golf Club and peninsula
Club information
Dublin map.png
Icona golf.svg
Location in Greater Dublin
Coordinates 53°24′25″N6°07′26″W / 53.407°N 6.124°W / 53.407; -6.124
Location Portmarnock, County Dublin, Ireland
Established1894
TypePrivate
Total holes27
Website www.portmarnockgolfclub.ie
Championship Course
Designed by William Pickeman
Par 72
Length7,463 yards (6,824 m)
Course record68 - James Fox, Anton Albers

Portmarnock Golf Club is a links golf club in Portmarnock, County Dublin, Ireland, located close to Dublin Airport.

Contents

The golf course is often rated as one of the top courses in the UK and Ireland and is also often included in lists of the top 100 golf courses in the world.

History

On Christmas Eve 1893, an insurance broker named W. C. Pickeman and his friend George Ross rowed over from Sutton to Portmarnock peninsula to explore the possibility of creating a golf links. The peninsula is about two miles long and covers over 500 acres. The course opened on Saint Stephen's Day 1894 with nine holes. It was extended to eighteen holes in 1896 with a new clubhouse and a further nine holes were added in 1971. The championship course follows the original layout although considerably lengthened (over 7,500 yards of the Championship tees). The only major change in the routing was the insertion in 1927 of a new, now famous par three, the 15th hole.

1923 Ladies' Golf Final in Portmarnock. "Janet" Jackson beat Mrs Babington Miss Jackson and Mrs Babington 1923 golf final Portmarnock.png
1923 Ladies' Golf Final in Portmarnock. "Janet" Jackson beat Mrs Babington

Portmarnock Golf Club has welcomed some of the greatest players in the world from early greats such as Harry Vardon, Henry Cotton, Bobby Locke, to the first super star of golf, Arnold Palmer. In recent years Pádraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Paul McGinley and Tiger Woods have all played golf on the course.

Notable events hosted

Portmarnock was the venue for the first Irish Open in 1927, and has hosted the tournament on many occasions since, including 13 following its revival in 1975. [1] Many other important golf tournaments have been held at the club, including the British Amateur Championship in 1949 and 2019, the Walker Cup in 1991, and the Canada Cup in 1960. In October 2023 The R&A said that they were "keen to investigate the possibility" of Portmarnock hosting the Open Championship or Women's Open Championship. [2]

Discrimination claims

Golf Links, Portmarnock c1900 Golf Links, Portmarnock.png
Golf Links, Portmarnock c1900

In 2003 the Equality Authority of Ireland brought a discrimination case in the Dublin District Court under which the club's drinks licence was suspended for 7 days. [3] The finding was overturned in the High Court in 2005, [4] and again in the Supreme Court in 2009, [5] allowing the club to keep its men-only policy.

In 2005, the High Courts decision in the Equal Authority v. Portmarnock Golf Club & Ors became a significant case in Irish gender equality law. While the authority argued such discrimination could not be protected by Section 9 of the ESA because the club providing a space for golf is not necessarily a “need” of men, the Supreme Court believed it was fair to hold Portmarnock Golf Club as a nondiscriminatory club under the Equal Status Act, ruling the fundamental purpose of the club was golf. [6]

Portmarnock Golf Club’s men-only policy was legally enforceable due to its exemption under equal status legislation. The reason for this discrimination against women is because the club has claimed their main purpose is to accommodate the needs of only one gender. Section 9 of the Equal Status Act states that clubs whose main purpose is to serve the needs of only one gender may be considered nondiscriminatory. [7] However, Section 8 of the ESA holds that a club will be considered discriminatory if there is anything, such as a rule or practice that exempts a qualified member or an applicant for membership from being a member of the club. In addition, Section 8 claims a club is considered to be discriminatory if there are different terms and conditions of membership for different individuals. [8] Because Section 8 prohibits gender discrimination, Portmarnock was technically a discriminating club under Section 8 of the ESA. [9]

In May 2021, Portmarnock ended its men-only membership policy. [10]

Honours

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malahide</span> Suburban settlement north of Dublin, Ireland

Malahide is an affluent coastal settlement in Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland, situated 14 kilometres (9 mi) north of Dublin city. It has a village centre surrounded by suburban housing estates, with a population of 18,608 as per the 2022 census.

The Equal Protection Clause is part of the first section of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The clause, which took effect in 1868, provides "nor shall any State ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." It mandates that individuals in similar situations be treated equally by the law.

Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms contains guaranteed equality rights. As part of the Constitution of Canada, the section prohibits certain forms of discrimination perpetrated by the governments of Canada with the exception of ameliorative programs.

Allen v. Wright, 468 U.S. 737 (1984), was a United States Supreme Court case that determined that citizens do not have standing to sue a federal government agency based on the influence that the agency's determinations might have on third parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pregnancy Discrimination Act</span> 1978 US federal law

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) of 1978 is a United States federal statute. It amended Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to "prohibit sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in the Republic of Ireland</span>

Attitudes in Ireland towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are among the most liberal in the world. Ireland is notable for its transformation from a country holding overwhelmingly conservative attitudes toward LGBT issues, in part due to the opposition by the Roman Catholic Church, to one holding overwhelmingly liberal views in the space of a generation. In May 2015, Ireland became the first country to legalise same-sex marriage on a national level by popular vote. The New York Times declared that the result put Ireland at the "vanguard of social change". Since July 2015, transgender people in Ireland can self-declare their gender for the purpose of updating passports, driving licences, obtaining new birth certificates, and getting married. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity have been legal in the state since 1993. Government recognition of LGBT rights in Ireland has expanded greatly over the past two decades. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1993, and most forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation are now outlawed. Ireland also forbids incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Royal Dublin Golf Club</span> Second oldest golf club in Ireland, located on North Bull Island

The Royal Dublin Golf Club, founded in 1885, is Ireland's third oldest golf club. It is a private members' club, with an 18-hole links course on Bull Island, Dublin, Ireland. The championship routing that we recognise today was by designed by Harry Colt in the 1920s. Over a three-year period from 2004 the links was extended under the guidance of golf architect Martin Hawtree.

A ladies' night is a promotional event, often at a bar or nightclub, where female patrons pay less than male patrons for the cover charge or drinks. In the United States, state courts in California, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have ruled that ladies' night discounts are unlawful gender-based price discrimination under state or local statutes. However, courts in Illinois, Minnesota, and Washington have rejected a variety of challenges to such discounts.

Employment discrimination law in the United States derives from the common law, and is codified in numerous state, federal, and local laws. These laws prohibit discrimination based on certain characteristics or "protected categories." The United States Constitution also prohibits discrimination by federal and state governments against their public employees. Discrimination in the private sector is not directly constrained by the Constitution, but has become subject to a growing body of federal and state law, including the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Federal law prohibits discrimination in a number of areas, including recruiting, hiring, job evaluations, promotion policies, training, compensation and disciplinary action. State laws often extend protection to additional categories or employers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Sri Lanka</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Sri Lanka face significant challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Article 365 of the Sri Lankan Penal Code, which dates from the time of colonial British Ceylon, criminalizes sexual acts deemed "against the order of nature". This has been ruled unenforceable by the Supreme Court, but the court does not have the power to remove laws outright. A private members' bill submitted to parliament in August 2022 has been given the support of the ruling government and is likely to be passed by parliament in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preamble to the Constitution of India</span> Set of guidelines to the nation and the Constitution of India

The Preamble to the Constitution of India presents the principles of the Constitution and indicates the sources of its authority. It was adopted on 26 November 1949 by the Constituent Assembly and came into effect on 26 January 1950, celebrated as the Republic Day of India. It was amended during the Indian emergency by Indira Gandhi where the words "socialist" and "secular" were added.

Personnel Administrator of Massachusetts v. Feeney, 442 U.S. 256 (1979), was a case heard by the Supreme Court of the United States. The decision upheld the constitutionality of a state law, giving hiring preference to veterans over nonveterans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerald Warriors RFC</span> Rugby team

The Emerald Warriors are an Irish rugby team based in Dublin. They play in the Leinster Metro League Division 10 and 7 and are members of the International Gay Rugby Association and Board. They are the reigning bronze final champions since Union Cup Madrid 2017. The Warriors are Ireland's first primarily gay rugby team although it is open to anyone with an interest in playing rugby and includes heterosexual members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portmarnock</span> Coastal outer suburban village north of Dublin, Ireland

Portmarnock is a coastal suburban settlement in Fingal, Ireland, with significant beaches, a modest commercial core and inland residential estates, and two golf courses, including one of Ireland's best-known golf clubs. As of 2022, the population was 10,750, an increase of 13.5% on the Census 2016 figure of 9,466.

Disparate treatment is one kind of unlawful discrimination in US labor law. In the United States, it means unequal behavior toward someone because of a protected characteristic under Title VII of the United States Civil Rights Act. This contrasts with disparate impact, where an employer applies a neutral rule that treats everyone equally in form, but has a disadvantageous effect on some people of a protected characteristic compared to others.

Burton v. Wilmington Parking Authority, 365 U.S. 715 (1961), was a United States Supreme Court case that decided that the Equal Protection Clause applies to private business that operates in a relationship to a government that is close to the point that it becomes a "state actor."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bertie Snowball</span> English professional golfer

Bertie Snowball was an English professional golfer who played in the early 20th century. He was at his peak as a player from 1904 to 1908 but was still competitive as late as 1914. He was killed in 1915 during World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golf in Ireland</span>

Golf in Ireland dates to at least the mid-19th century, with the Royal Curragh Golf Club being founded in 1858. The two "oldest governing bodies in world golf", the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) and the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU), were formed in 1891 and 1893 respectively. By 2008, the GUI had 166,419 members and the ILGU had 49,822 members, making them the third and seventh largest sports associations by membership base in Ireland. Operating as separate unions for over 120 years, the two entities formed a combined organisation, Golf Ireland, which ratified its first board in early 2021.

Michael Moran was an Irish professional golfer, the leading Irish golfer of his generation. He won the Irish Professional Championship five years in succession from 1909 to 1913 before moving to England and being ineligible to compete in 1914. He played in the Open Championship from 1909 to 1914 with a series of high finishes. He finished joint third in 1913 despite a disastrous 89 in the third round which included a 10 at the first hole. He died in France in 1918 at the age of 31.

Article 15 of the Constitution of India forbids discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, gender, or place of birth. It applies Article 14's general principle of equality in specific situations by forbidding classifications made on protected grounds. While prohibiting discrimination based on prejudice, the Article is also the central issue in a large body of judicial decisions, public debate, and legislation revolving around affirmative action, reservations, and quotas. As of the 103rd Amendment of the Constitution of India, Article 15.

References

  1. "Nissan Irish Open - Past Winners". europeantour.com . Retrieved 21 October 2008.[ dead link ]
  2. "Portmarnock: R&A keen to explore possible Open or Women's Open at Dublin course". BBC Sport. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  3. "Portmarnock golf club breaches equality laws". RTÉ News. 20 February 2004. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  4. "Equality Authority may appeal golf club ruling". RTÉ News. 10 June 2005. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  5. "Supreme Court upholds golf club ban". RTÉ News. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  6. "The Supreme Court, Equality, Golfing and 'Need' – Human Rights in Ireland". humanrights.ie. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  7. "Portmarnock Golf club wins discrimination case" . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  8. "Portmarnock Golf club wins discrimination case" . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  9. "No Women (and Dogs) Allowed: A Comparative Analysis of Discriminating Private Golf Clubs in the United States, Ireland, and England". Washington University Global Studies Law Review. 6.
  10. Fletcher, Laura (26 May 2021). "Portmarnock Golf Club to allow female members".
  11. Heath, Elliott (25 May 2022). "Top 100 Golf Courses UK and Ireland 2021/22". Golf Monthly Magazine. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  12. Duncan, Derek; Whitten, Ron. "Ranking: World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses". Golf Digest. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  13. "Top 100 Courses in the World: GOLF's 2021–22 ranking of the best designs on the planet". Golf Magazine. Retrieved 15 July 2022.