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Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews to allow women members

By Mike Marteny

Jun 11, 2014; Pinehurst, NC, USA; General view of a golf ball on a tee at the driving range during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst No. 2 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 11, 2014; Pinehurst, NC, USA; General view of a golf ball on a tee at the driving range during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst No. 2 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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For 260 years, the only women at Royal and Ancient Golf club of St Andrews in Scotland have either worked there or been professional golfers. For 260 years, it has been a strict men-only haven.

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All of that is about to change. There are 2,400 worldwide members of the Royal and Ancient golf club, one of the most prestigious in the world, and every year they get to vote on club policies. This year they voted on whether to allow women members or not. An overwhelming 85% of the nearly 1,600 voters said yes.

Many cited golf being in the next Olympic games as a reason. Allowing women into one of the most famous courses in the world would send a message that golf is for everyone.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has received increasing pressure from various sponsors to change their policy regarding women for a while now. They finally gave in.

British Cabinet Secretary for Sport and Equalities Shona Robison praised the decision, and added that “I hope this welcome development leads to the few remaining single-gender golf clubs to take a similar path.”

She is clearly alluding to three more famous British Courses that are still all male. This decision by Royal and Ancient Golf Club leaves Muirfield, Royal St. George’s, and Royal Troon as the only facilities used for professional events that do not allow women members. Muirfield and Royal St. George’s are reviewing membership criteria, and will vote next March.

Royal Troon also has a ladies-only facility, Ladies Golf Club Troon, so they don’t feel like they need to integrate.

Some of the more prominent British women are expected to be fast-tracked to membership at St Andrews. The rest? Well, becoming a member of a presitigious club is never easy.

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