Costa del Sol female golfers rubbish Peter Alliss’ claim that gender equality is ‘buggering up the game’

VETERAN TV sports commentator Peter Alliss has blamed the fight for gender equality in golf for ‘buggering up the game’.

Alliss, regarded by many as ‘the voice of British Golf’, claims that thousands of women have ditched the sport after Harriet Harman’s Equality Act, which ended reduced fees and free club facilities for wives.

The 84-year-old former professional told Radio Times: “The Ladies’ Golf Union has lost 150,000 members since equality for women came in.

“Hundreds of women have left golf clubs because they’ve gone from paying half fare to full fare. It’s caused mayhem.”

The Costa del Sol has a huge female golfing population with associations such as the Marbella Ladies Golfing Association and G.I.R.L.S golf.

Lynn Fisher, who is on the committee of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, said: “Here on the Costa del Sol there are no restrictions for women and never have been so it’s a different kettle of fish.

“Interestingly, though, most of the men who don’t really approve of women golfers are British anyway.

“Mostly they let ladies play under sufferance.”

Spanish female golfers are also on the rise with stars such as world number 16, Azahara Munoz, who hails from San Pedro de Alcantara.

While statistics show up to 25% of golfers are now female, and Scotland’s Royal St George’s Club recently ended its men-only rule after 128 years.