More debate would have been generated around equality for women in golf in the first half of last year than Rory McIlroy’s clubs, teeth, girlfriend and ropey form put together.
That’s what taking a step back into the dark ages and heading to Muirfield for an Open Championship does.
Small things like staging one of the biggest sporting events in the world at a golf club which women are banned from joining tends to get jumped on from a great height these days, funnily enough.
All too predictably though, the bandwagon moved on after Phil Mickelson raised the Claret Jug and R&A Secretary Peter Dawson declined to front up for one last grilling at the customary post-Open Monday debrief with the press.
The sceptics would say that the real passion for driving change wasn’t predominantly coming from women golfers themselves, but rather from politicians, campaigners and the media.
That though would do a disservice to the likes of Catriona Matthew and Laura Davies, who might not have been frothing at the mouth like plenty of others were on their behalf, but made their case reasonably yet moderately.
For all that the topic has fallen into the shadows, the cause remains an important one, and those who continue to hope for enlightenment in golf have been let down by administrators of the women’s game.
Can a sport which has an award for best dressed golfer at one of its biggest tournaments claim to be helping itself on that front?
Perthshire’s own Carly Booth was the proud winner of that particular title at the recent World Ladies Championship in Mission Hills, China, polling no fewer than 39,154 votes (poor Chang Yu Qiao was propping up the leaderboard with just the 245, if you’re interested).
This is no criticism of Booth for accepting it (she looked thrilled to receive her framed purple polo-neck complete with embroidered butterfly). But this is a criticism of the Ladies European Tour for thinking such an accolade is acceptable for the women’s game.
Is this really how they want to promote the sport?
Can you imagine the reaction of Ian Poulter if a sponsor comes up to him at The Masters next month and says: “Sorry you’ve missed the cut Poults, but I’m delighted to tell you you’re now officially the Best Dressed Golfer at Augusta? It was the salmon pink shoes with a flash of lime green at Wednesday’s Par Three tournament that clinched it.”
Actually, Poulter’s maybe not the best example, as he’d probably think it was great publicity for his clothes range. But any other leading golfer would throw the “winner’s” trophy into Rae’s Creek.
Or, perhaps more pertinently, switch sports to tennis where the women have won their battle for the same pay as the men in the big events. What would the reaction be if Maria Sharapova’s skirt was voted the best of the fortnight at a Grand Slam?
John Inverdale was rightly rebuked for describing Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli as “not a looker” last summer.
But awards such as that in Mission Hills are taking golf dangerously close to territory whereby nobody could have any complaint if a golfing equivalent (Peter Alliss would of course be your best bet to put his foot in it) came away with something similar.
“Laura’s not made much effort with her wardrobe this morning”, “I think Charley Hull’s showing a bit too much thigh today”, or “did these Chinese girls dress in the dark?”
Best turned out awards should be left to Crufts and the parade ring at Cheltenham, not professional sport. Especially if that professional sport has a battle for equality to fight.