Golf clubs with men-only rules have been challenged by a Labour MP.

A 10-minute rule bill put to the Commons by Parmjit Dhanda called for an end to sex discrimination in private clubs.

The MP for Gloucester will warn that "the biggest villains of the piece" are golf clubs.

Dhanda told ePolitix.com be believed it was unlikely the bill would get through but hoped ministers would consider the issues he was raising.

With a boom that has increased both the number of golf clubs and players have come calls for an end to rules that see some clubs keeping men-only restrictions.

Other high profile rows have hit the men-only Carlton club in London, which is frequented by senior members of the Conservative Party.

Both William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith declined membership of the club because of the men-only rule.

Dhanda argued that private clubs with 25 members or more should be covered by the Sex Discrimination Act.

All clubs are governed by race discrimination and he believes it is time to close the loophole.

"Many private clubs which have both men and women as members continue to restrict access to some or all facilities to one sex," he told MPs.

"If it is already illegal to discriminate against people in private clubs on grounds of race, should it not also be illegal to do so on grounds of gender, or indeed disability."

The MP said that rules restricting access legitimise discrimination to some people.

"There can be no doubt that the petty restrictions placed on women are degrading. For example, not being able to use a club's main staircase, not being able to enter through the main entrance or to order a drink at the bar are just some of the indignities that women face in clubs," he will say.

"This kind of treatment, whether as a member or as a guest of a private club, sends out a message that discrimination is acceptable."

Golf clubs are among the worst offenders, mainly because their rules were created decades ago.

"Some golf clubs still restrict playing times for women members, making it difficult for working women to play during peak hours at weekends. This is due to the rather prehistoric attitude that 'women don't work, so they can play during the week, freeing up the course for male members at the weekends'," he said.

He also rejected claims from clubs that as private entities they can decide who does and does not use their facilities.

"I am aware that there are arguments proclaiming clubs' rights to be outside the law because of their private nature. These arguments hark back to a different era," Dhanda said.