R&A votes to allow women members
St. Andrews, Scotland (SportsNetwork.com) – The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews announced on Thursday that the membership has voted in favor of allowing women members for the first time.
Peter Dawson, the chief executive and secretary of the R&A, read a brief statement on Thursday announcing the decision.
That statement read, “I’m very, very pleased indeed to announce that the membership of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews has voted overwhelmingly in favor of welcoming women members. More than three-quarters of the club’s global membership took part in the ballot, with a decisive 85 percent voting for women to become members. This vote has immediate affect and I can confirm that the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is now a mixed-sex club, mixed membership club.
“The membership also acted to fast-track a significant initial number of women to become members in the coming months. This is a very important and positive day in the history of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. The R&A has served the sport of golf well for 260 years, and I’m confident that the club will continue to do so in (the) future with the support of all of its members, both women and men.”
This move comes two years after Augusta National admitted its first two female members.
“Women have played and will continue to play an integral role in the game of golf. In fact, women represent the biggest growth market in the sport, and every step to make golf more inclusive is good for the game,” PGA of America president Ted Bishop said in a statement. “The PGA of America is thrilled that the R&A is welcoming women into its organization, and loudly applauds its decision.”
Women have been allowed to play golf at St. Andrews in the past, but the Royal & Ancient clubhouse behind the 18th green of the Old Course at St. Andrews has been off limits to women.
The course hosted the 2007 and 2013 Women’s British Opens, and players were allowed in the clubhouse during those championships.
The LPGA Tour released a statement in favor of the decision, and that read, “The LPGA is happy to hear that the members of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews have voted to include female members. This decision is certainly a step in the right direction and one that better captures the current diversity and inclusiveness of our great game.”
There are other clubs in the Open Championship rota — Muirfield, Royal Troon and Royal St. Georges — that remain male only, and Dawson would not comment on whether the R&A has asked those clubs to allow women members.
“I think it is a very positive message for the game of golf, and the R&A in its position as the governing body for the game, I think it’s quite right that the members have agreed to embrace this concept, and welcome women members to the club,” Dawson said when asked what message this sends. “It’s a great day for the game.”
Categorized in: PGA