Golf

R&A will look to a select vestry if club votes to admit women members

St Andrews University principal, Irishwoman Louise Richardson is being touted as one of the chosen 15

Louise Richardson, principal of the University of St. Andrews, in Scotland. Unlike her male predecessors at this prestigious teaching institution, Richardson did not receive an honorary membership in the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews which will soon vote on whether to admit women. She could be in line to be admitted depending on the outcome of the vote. Robert Ormerod/The New York Times
Louise Richardson, principal of the University of St. Andrews, in Scotland. Unlike her male predecessors at this prestigious teaching institution, Richardson did not receive an honorary membership in the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews which will soon vote on whether to admit women. She could be in line to be admitted depending on the outcome of the vote. Robert Ormerod/The New York Times
Wed Sept 17 2014 - 15:15

Women who have made a “significant contribution” to golf will be first in line to join the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, if the club votes in favour of women members.

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews will vote tomorrow on whether to finally allow women members, 260 years after it was founded, with current members also being asked if they would agree to 15 female members being admitted at once.

Possible candidates include former USGA president Judy Bell, St Andrews University principal, Irishwoman Louise Richardson and former top amateur player Carol Semple Thompson, while Laura Davies has said she would "snap their hands off" if offered membership.

A spokesman for The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews said: “The club is balloting its members on a change to its membership rules that would enable it to welcome women members.

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“Over 2,400 ballot papers have been sent out and the vote is independently scrutinised by Electoral Reform Services. A simple majority is required to effect the proposed change. Should the outcome be in favour of welcoming women members the decision will take immediate effect.

“The first women members in a mixed membership Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews are likely to have made a significant contribution to the development of our sport.”

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said in March that the club felt it had "strong support" in favour of women members and although he insisted the move was not intended to place pressure on male-only clubs on the British Open Championship rota, such an interpretation was unavoidable.

Muirfield, Royal Troon and Royal St George's are the three clubs on the 10-strong rota with male-only membership policies, although Troon feels it should not be directly compared to the other two.

Club secretary David Brown said in a statement: "At present, membership of Royal Troon Golf Club is open only to those of the male gender and we have no plans to change our constitution at this time, although I must point out that we are quite different from many of the other single gender clubs in that we share our facilities with an active Ladies Golf Club.

“The Ladies Golf Club Troon (founded in 1882) is an autonomous club with 370 members and their own clubhouse, captain and committee, but play all of their golf on our Royal Troon courses; most of their competitions are held on our Portland Course but they also have exclusive use of the Old Course (Championship Course) for some of their competitions and may play over the Old Course on demand. The Ladies Golf Club also have full access to our practice ground facilities.

“My understanding is that The Ladies Golf Club Troon are perfectly happy with the current arrangement and have no desire to become full members of Royal Troon Golf Club.

“Members of both RTGC and TLGCT are looking forward to the 2016 Open where together they will be working with the R&A to produce another excellent Open Championship.”

Muirfield and Royal St Georges have already undertaken internal reviews of their membership rules.

Muirfield, which is owned and run by The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, said in a statement: "In March 2014, HCEG confirmed its intention to review the membership criteria by consulting with members to determine the best way forward. In order to ensure that this consultation is handled in a thoroughly objective and professional manner, a specialist company has been commissioned.

“All HCEG Members will be invited to participate and the process will start in late September 2014, by which time the R&A decision concerning women members will be known.

“The research will be undertaken over the winter and a report will be completed in March 2015. The findings will be considered by HCEG during the spring of next year.”

Tim Checketts, secretary of Royal St George's, told Press Association Sport in March: "For a while now, The Royal St George's Golf Club has been considering its position as a single-sex private members golf club and when deliberations are concluded, the committee will make a recommendation to the membership in the normal way."