Golf: Penny Newbrook facing ban on playing with men

11.45am

International Penny Newbrook is set to be banned from playing in Bay of Plenty Golf's (BOPG) interclub men's pennant championship tonight.

Newbrook is facing expulsion from teeing it up against the men, with BOPG's executive seeking legal advice before attempting to ban females by altering its rules.

The executive meets tonight in Rotorua but already vice-president Graeme Price, who has been driving the rule change to have Newbrook banned, has spoken out against her continuing to play against the men.

"It's not a question of sexism. To me it's about looking at the intent and spirit of the rules, which is a men's matchplay competition, and preserving that intent," Price said.

"We have never condoned Penny playing -- the possibility of her playing was only discussed informally over a beer last year -- and we never anticipated a problem until someone challenged the system."

Newbrook made Bay of Plenty golf history when she played for Rotorua club Springfield in the men's championship pennant against Omanu on February 8.

She earned her place in the team by finishing fourth in a 17-player trial at Springfield.

Other commitments have precluded Newbrook from playing again in the pennant series, although player opposition to BOPG's plans to exclude Newbrook is growing.

A petition circulated among senior golfers to let Newbrook stay has attracted 60 signatures -- 90 per cent of the pennant players -- and been given to BOPG.

Price, who also heads BOPG's match committee, hit back at the show of player power.

"It's got absolutely nothing to do with the players, they're not the ones who make the rules. It'll be interesting to see who's signed (the petition).

"I don't think the players have looked at the ramifications. They might not mind a woman playing championship pennants but what about the senior B, intermediate and junior competitions?"

BOPG's interclub regulations don't specifically exclude females, stating: " ... team members in any grade must be full financial members of the club (they are playing for) ..."

Newbrook is set to be thrown out on a technicality. As a female golfer she isn't levied affiliation fees to BOPG or New Zealand Golf, who administer the men's game.

Women's golf falls under the umbrella of the Bay of Plenty-Thames Valley Association.

"Our lawyer has had a bit of a look at it, and has come to the conclusion that because Penny doesn't pay those fees she doesn't qualify as a full financial member," Price said.

He also advocated the interclub rules be changed to "full financial male member" -- an amendment that could be made tonight without having to reword the full constitution.

"Penny has stated publicly the only reason she's playing (against the men) is to improve her own golf but what we need is to look at the benefits of golf as a whole and not just one woman who wants stronger matchplay because she can't get it in her own association."

BOPG president Dan Dougherty confirmed lawyers had been brought in.

"She may well be able to keep playing ... that's up to the executive to decide," Dougherty said.

BOPG executive director Chris McAlpine wants Newbrook to be allowed to continue to play against the men, but he doesn't get a vote at tonight's meeting.

"She took part in a trial and qualified, she's among the top five women golfers in New Zealand and she played the same course and off the same tees as the men.

"All Penny's trying to do is circumvent a weakness in the structure of women's golf. There's no novelty aspect to it or point to prove on her part, although in saying that, the day she played we had a crowd of about 40 following her.

"That's about 38 more than we usually get."

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES