260-year-old R&A golf club set to allow women members

The Royal and Ancient is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, having been founded in 1754 with its members playing on the links of St Andrews, renowned as the “home of golf.” On Sept. 18, women could become members for the first time in its 260-year existence. The R&A is expected to pass a motion put forward in March, when the club’s general committee wrote to its male contingent and said “now is the time to welcome females” into the club. Two-thirds of R&A’s 2,500 members have to vote yes for the motion to pass. The historical decision comes as St. Andrews is preparing to host the 2015 British Open. On the same day, Scots will also vote on whether to secede from Britain.

How would you feel if the rule were no blacks could be a member of the R&A? Refusal to allow women to be members of the R&A is precisely the same.

Louise Richardson, Principal of St. Andrews University

It has been a long journey, fueled by perceptions that an organization with inextricable links to the sport’s governing body is out of touch with society and rife with obsolescent views on equality.

Sports women golf