R&A Golf Club Announces Decision on Women Members
The results of Scotland’s lesser-know vote…
As the rest of Scotland voted on the minor matter of independence last night, members of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club were in the process of making a decision of their own. A mere 260 years after their foundation, the Club announced that women will be accepted as members of the prestigious Club for the first time.
Around 85% of the 2400 members voting by postal ballot chose to welcome women into Club. The next few weeks will see 15 women, deemed to have made a ‘significant contribution’ to the Club sport, fast-tracked to membership status. Amongst the potential candidates is the University’s very own Principal, Louise Richardson, while USGA president Judy Bell is also believed to be in the running.
With the esteemed Royal St George’s Club ‘considering its position as a single-sex private members club’, it is hoped that the R&A’s decision will encourage other notable clubs to ditch their archaic and outdated bans. All I can say is, that it’s about time…
More to follow…
Image credit: Santi Perez