Kellermann-Strauss Forum » years ago, Clarke MacArthur joined

Catriona Matthew and Henni Zuel believe Muirfield is living in the dark ages and have urged the clubs members to join them in the 21st Century where women play golf. Muirfield has been removed from The Open rotation list by the R&A after its members voted against allowing female golfers into the club. The vote has been hugely controversial and has sparked a backlash from male golfers, including Rory McIlroy, as well as golfs governing body and Matthew says the decision paints a poor image of Scottish golf. Matthew, who was inducted into the Scottish Golf Hall of Fame earlier this year, admits she is worried Muirfields decision could do lasting damage to golf in Scotland. Sky Sports Golf’s Henni Zuel reflects on Muirfield’s decision to stick with its male-only membership policy Its just not good for golf in Scotland, it sets a poor image of Scottish golf, she told Sky Sports News HQs Sportswomen programme.Obviously Muirfield are a very small section of Scottish golf, but with all the coverage this is getting all around the world its just not good for golf in Scotland.In this day and age of 2016, its bad for equality and its a shame that we wont be having The Open here now.A two-thirds majority was needed from the Muirfield members to carry the motion, but with 397 voting in favour of allowing women and 219 against their introduction, the rule change fell short by 14 votes. The R&A responded to Muirfields decision, saying it would not allow the tournament to be held at a venue that does not admit female members. Muirfield has been the target of huge backlash after refusing to admit female members Former Ladies European Tour player and Sky Sports expert Zuel thinks the vote is a poor business decision by the club and insisted the club must change its ways if it is to compete in the modern market. Its the 21st Century, we cant be thinking those kind of things any more, were not stuck in the dark ages, she said.It has to evolve and the game of golf has to evolve if it is to survive in a modern-day economy, where women are board members and CEOs of companies. It will take a very special lady golfer to be able to do all the things that are expected of them in the template which is suggested and the ladies membership as a whole may not meet this standard. Letter from No campaigners Were not Emily Pankhurst any more and I think we need to recognise that, and its fantastic that the governing body of golf recognises that. The clubs board had recommended that women should be admitted, but there was a vocal in-house opposition to the changes with the no campaigners circulating letters opposing the introduction of women.Sportswomen approached several Muirfield members for comment, with many declining to talk, but found two yes-voters who gave a glimpse into the clubs mindset.One member said he was disappointed with the decision and admitted the R&A was quite right to take action against the club. Members of Muirfield Golf Club give their reactions to the ballot which decided not to allow women to join I voted in favour of women coming in, he said. Why? Because I think we live in the 21st Century and I also want to keep The Open.John Trainer, a Muirfield golfer, also voted yes for the introduction of women, but insisted the clubs ethos must be protected.I voted in favour of lady members, not because I wanted a lot of lady members here, but I think that I felt like I was King Canute pushing the waves back and its bound to come, he said.Its a mens lunch club and theres nothing wrong with having a few lady members. I think if you had 50/50 members then it would change the whole ethos of the club. Also See: Muirfield loses Open rights McIlroy targeting successful summer Irish Open best shots Season Pass at the Irish Open Stitched China Jerseys . After losing Brett Cecil to groin tightness on Friday, the Blue Jays watched as R. China Jerseys . Terry came from Boston along with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce but has appeared in just 35 games after a knee injury, averaging 4.5 points on 36 per cent shooting. 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No, not at all.” Amid the now forgotten wreckage of the last NHL lockout was the plunge in the caps upper limit from $70 million in 2013 to $64.3 million this fall. The dip in available dollars and subsequent uncertainty left many veterans, like Raymond and new Leaf Jerred Smithson, searching with frustration for amenable contracts, often with little or no success. Though he had played in over 300 NHL games and had scored 25 goals as recently as 2010, Raymond had no better option but a professional tryout in Toronto on the eve of training camp. Suffice it to say, the lack of opportunity took him by surprise and remains a source of bewilderment. “I had a good year last year,” said the 27-year-old, who totaled 22 points in his final season with the Canucks. “I fully expected something to materialize. To be honest, I didnt really know that youd come into a team on a tryout five days before camp opened. I was optimistic and so was my agent, but it just seemed like for whatever reason a lot of players got stuck in the situation that I did.” There was a general sense among teams, including the Leafs, that cost-effective opportunities might present themselves because of the cap crunch this summer. But to find Raymond available on the eve of training camp was certainly an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Inked to a one-year contract for an even $1 million, he has proven a valuable find so far. Averaging what would be a career-high of 19 minutes, Raymond has scored five goals and 11 points in 17 games. His speedy presence, amid a 10-game suspension to David Clarkson and early injuries to Nik Kulemin, James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul, as well as current ones to Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland, has been an obvious aid to the Leafs, who sit third in the Atlantic division. “Ive always believed Im an NHL player,” Raymond said. “I thought that prior to coming to camp, I thought that all summer and I think that to this day. You have to go out and prove that more importantly to yourself, I think. Im a big believer that, [if] you do the right things, play some good hockey, everything else will take care of itself.” Some fled to Europe with no jobs to be found as the summer months waned and became fall. Others stuck around and remained as patient as possible, Raymond and Smithson, a veteran of 588 career games prior to this season, among them. “I knew the situation,” said Smithson, in conversation with the Leaf Report. “I knew the cap was going down, but nothing can really prepare you for that. I figured I was still good enough to get a job, get a one-way deal somewhere and, when it didnt happen, it was tough.dddddddddddd It was not so much humbling, but more frustrating. I knew it was a possibility, but once it really hit, it [was] not a good feeling.” Unlike Raymond, Smithson wasnt able to land even a tryout in the NHL, but one instead with the Marlies of the AHL. It was mid-October. He and his fiancé were parents of a newborn baby. Patience had been predictably difficult to keep. “I knew right away I wasnt obviously a big name, that teams were going to go after the first few days, so I was prepared to be patient – maybe not this patient, but prepared to be patient,” he said. “Once August rolled around and still, there wasnt anything that was really coming out at me. There were a few tryout offers or two-way deals, but nothing that I was really willing to bite on right away.” Smithson and his agent were forced to give a good, long look to Europe. “It was never a dream of mine to go over to Europe,” he said. “And I made that clear to my agent right away that Im willing to be as patient as I can. It was obviously a lot harder than I originally thought, but it worked out.” Injuries to Bozak and Bolland finally opened a door back into the NHL for Smithson last week - the 34-year-old signed a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $550,000. A noted faceoff specialist and penalty killer, he has quickly gained an important role for Randy Carlyle, plugging the gap of the two injured centres in both regards. “Im not a big fan of the term ‘it is what is, but I cant control [the cap crunch],” said Smithson, who played seven seasons in Nashville, also making stops in Los Angeles, Florida and Edmonton. “I could just control my attitude and try to stay in the best shape as I possibly could and, if a phone call came, just be ready for when that opportunity knocked. Im very grateful for the opportunity the Leafs gave me, with the Marlies and with them, [and Im] just looking to take advantage of it.” Though Smithson projects as more of a stop-gap option, Raymond could earn himself a larger contract next summer with a productive season. Two years ago, Clarke MacArthur joined the Leafs late in the summer on a bargain one-year deal, worth $1.1 million. Now a member of the Ottawa Senators, MacArthur busted out with a career season that first year in Toronto, subsequently signing a two-year deal worth $6.5 million the following offseason. Raymond could be in line for something similar if he remains productive. At the very least, with the cap expected to rise once more, he is unlikely to find himself in such a precarious position again. "Thats hockey, thats life, thats the cards you were dealt and you have to deal with it,” Raymond said of the cap crunch this past summer. “You can sit here and say the what ifs, whatevers, and all that, but it was a situation and, unfortunately, it happened to some of us. I think [the cap was] the reason, [but] I dont know the exact reason. For [Smithsons] sake and my sake things have worked out well.” ' ' '