A DOCUMENTARY celebrating the female pioneers of golf in Scotland details their battle to make it in a male-dominated sport.

And the BBC Alba documentary teed off in Musselburgh – home to Musselburgh Links, one of the oldest golf courses in the world.

Screened on January 2, the story of Iron Women began in the 18th century in the Honest Toun, with recorded evidence of fishwives playing golf and competing for the prize of a creel and silk handkerchiefs.

It is the latest documentary created by filmmaker Margot McCuaig, who said: “Women’s golf in Scotland has a long and prestigious history.

“Despite barriers, both in terms of attitude and physical structures, pioneers have continued to lead the way.

“Consequently, sporting celebrities have emerged as role models, on and off the green, ensuring that there has been a fairer way for women.

“Whether playing professionally or competitively at amateur level, golf has a common theme. Friendships are created and cherished, time on the course is relished and iron women have continued to make their mark, and their own home, in Scottish golf.”

Produced by Glasgow-based independent production company purpleTV, the documentary explores the history of women’s golf in Scotland and celebrates some of the little-known female pioneers.

Golf was traditionally regarded as a man’s sport – a protected male environment that was out of bounds to the so-called weaker sex.

From the early pioneers of the 18th century to role models who challenged the patriarchal constraints of male-dominated golfing arenas, the story celebrates the trailblazers who put Scottish women’s golf firmly on the world map.

The game gathered momentum among the Victorian ladies of St Andrews from 1863, albeit under the watchful gaze of husbands and fathers who controlled the spaces women frequented, and how they used them.

Over the centuries, while some women were open about their love for golf, their space was often severely curtailed and distinctive male and female spheres came into play.

Transgressors such as Issette Pearson and Agnes Grainger developed strategies to create opportunities for women and, thanks to their determination, the Ladies Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies Golf Association were formed in 1893 and 1904 respectively, formalising the sport, creating competition and, fundamentally, a handicap system before men.

Formidable golfers emerged, with several Scots leading the way at home and abroad.

Professional golfer Karyn Dallas gives a shocking account of arriving at a club to play a tournament and finding a sign that said: “No dogs or women allowed”.

While Dr Fiona Skillen, women’s golf historian and lecturer in history at Glasgow Caledonian University, said men “supervised” women to make sure they behaved appropriately when they played golf in the 19th century and land was gifted to the St Andrews Ladies Putting Club.

Dr Skillen said: “It’s interesting that the land the women are gifted to play on is straight beside the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse, so there’s an argument there that this is in order for the men to be able to keep a watchful eye on what the women are getting up to.

“The men check to see if the women are behaving themselves in a circumspect manner.

“They are being encouraged to play but a very specific kind of golf; it’s putting, it’s not challenging.”

She also shares memories of being in a golf club as a child, adding: “I remember my dad getting very antsy if I ever went near the painted line or if I tried to step over the painted line. It was hugely controversial and I was very aware of the gendered behaviour and the difference.”

Dr Fiona Reid, who joined North Berwick Golf Club 12 years ago and is a member of Murrayfield Golf Club in Edinburgh, had a similar experience and recalls a white line in the golf club where her mum played.

She said: “Only the men could go over that line.

“There’s a place that the men can go and a place that the women can go.”

Gillian Kirkwood also remembers being prohibited from walking past the window of the men’s lounge at a golf club.

She said: “You weren’t allowed to walk past the golf club window – you had to walk on a path that was quite far away from the window so that the men didn’t see you and you can’t look in at the window to see the men having their drinks and cigars.

“Some golf clubs really had to be dragged into the 21st century.”

Now based in Gullane, she played county golf during the 1970s and 1980s.

She played for Broomieknowe Golf Club in Edinburgh, where she won the club championship four times.

She was also captain of Broomieknowe Golf Club when she was in her 30s.

Brogan Clark, from Lochgelly in Fife, who was 16 when she got into the Scottish Golf Academy, said: “If you were in front of a group of guys at tee time, you’d hear them huffing and saying: ‘We’re at the back of these ladies and it’s going to be a five or six-hour round.’

“That kind of gave you the satisfaction to go up to the first tee and hit the ball and see their jaw drop!”

Iron Women is available to watch on BBC iPlayer until the end of this month.