‘Golf as a society - on Par? Or still remains a Forbidden Fairway for many?
Of all the games ever created by man; golf is by far one of the greatest and most influential sports within society. The game not only challenges the mind, the body and the soul but it’s sociological influence on society poses a cacophony of debate for many researchers. I have a huge interest in the debates surrounding the social classes in golf and the un-ignorable gender debate the institution has established since it’s foundation. I intend to explore these sociological factors with regards to Moate Golf Club and the wider golfing community.
I agree with Michael Foucault’s idea that golfing was transformed from a leisure activity since it’s foundation to an upper-middle and upper class sport in early 20th Century United Kingdom and United States. This is evident in the history of Moate golf Club particularly in relation to the attraction of golfing to the upper middle class and upper class and is reflected in the aspects of the club I will discuss. This is again reinforced by Napton and Laingen in 2008 when they stated ‘In the very late 19th and early 20th centuries golf was an activity for the upper sectors’.
As a group we chose the pictures of the names of each captain for the Men’s and Ladies’ club because it suggests many sociological aspects of the club in the past and up to present day with regards to gender, social status and social class. I think it shows some of the sociological progression the club has made over the years. Note the plaque for the name of the Men’s club captains dates back to 1940 (when captaincy was first introduced), but the plaque for the Ladies’ club captains dates back to 1964. Suggesting the typical sociological expectations of women in sport in Ireland in general at that time and previous to 1964 was also imprinted in Moate Golf Club - women tended not to participate in sport; as it was seen as more of a men’s hobby. This suggests too a society...