Self-study activity:
Watch the two-minute BBC video by clicking on the picture below or on the link here and complete the blanks in the transcript with the missing words.
The activity is suitable for intermediate students.
It is a (1) ... that’s brought blue skies for the players but a storm cloud for the organisers. Muirfield is one of the oldest clubs for its history, tradition and men. Women aren´t allowed to be members here. (2) ... discrimination? Not so, say those in charge.
“On the Saturday morning, when the guy gets up or the lady gets up, and out of the marital bed if you like, and goes off and plays golf with his (3) ... and comes back in the afternoon, that’s not, on any kind of par, with racial discrimination or anti-Semitism or any of these things. It’s just what people kinda do.”
As a private club, Muirfield’s men-only membership is perfectly legal. But politicians, including Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, have refused to come here this week claiming the club is (4) ... ... ... . Just a few miles down the road, Whitekirk Golf Club has a flourishing female membership and they are less than impressed.
“I really don’t agree with the men-only clubs, it’s (5) ... antiquated.“
“I think it (6) ... a bad example to young male golfers, this is the way that you can treat women.”
“Women can go as far as they like in business, so why in sport are we differentiating?”
Even Augusta, the US’s famously traditional home of the masters, admitted its first female members this year, including (7) ... Secretary of State Condolezza Rice. At Muirfield, the stars have been (8) ... to end with the debate, but Britain’s biggest name says it’s time for change.
“It’s something that shouldn’t happen these days, it’s something that we shouldn’t even be talking about. So you know, that’s why I guess a lot of people don’t want to talk about it.”
For now (9) ... , the female spectators here know they can’t be members. At the Open, where golf’s openness is under scrutiny.
Key:
1 venue 2 Damaging 3 chums 4 out of touch 5 pretty 6 sets 7 former 8 reluctant 9 though
