Royal and Ancient to vote on women members

In a ground breaking statement The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has announced that a vote will take place in September to admit women members. The statement reads: “Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the founding club of The R&A, will vote on a motion to admit women as members. The Club’s committees are strongly in favour of the rule change and are asking members to support it.

In 2004 The Royal and Ancient Golf Club devolved responsibility for the administration of the Rules of Golf, the running of The Open Championship and other key events, and the development of the game in existing and emerging golfing nations, to a newly formed group of companies collectively known as The R&A. As a separate entity The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews remains a private golf club with a world-wide membership of 2,400.