R&A to vote on women members

The greatest Club in golf is about to question its archaic members on the possibility of welcoming women into their fold. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, which administered the game until a decade ago, is all set to ask its members if they should admit women. The motion shall be put to vote, later this September. The R&A will host the Open Championships next year.

In a move that comes close on the heels of a similar decision by the Augusta National Golf Club, suggests that the mighty men in golf are finally willing to let some natural justice prevail in their hallowed protected portals.

Augusta, another private club, with an eminent and rich history also remained a men only club till they took in a couple of women in August 2012.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, which is scheduled to host The Open Championships next year has issued a statement declaring their intention to vote on this motion.

“A postal ballot among members of the Club on a motion to admit women as members will be conducted prior to the announcement of the result on 18 September 2014,” read the statement.

“This replaces the vote that was previously scheduled to take place at the Club’s Business Meeting on that day. By taking this decision all members can take part in this historic vote.”

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews holds a unique position in golf. Established in 1754, it evolved through two and a half centuries as a leading authority in the world game.

As the Club celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2004 it 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 as a private golf club with a worldwide membership of just 2,400 elite men.

Report by Anand Datla

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