Royal Troon Golf Club has voted “overwhelmingly” to admit women as members in a move the R&A described as “welcome”.
The Ayrshire club, which hosts the 145th Open in two week’s time, had come under considerable pressure in recent months to end their policy of being a male-only club, which dated from their founding in 1878.
The club had been in the midst of a membership review but it had been accelerated by a growing disquiet about the pace of change and the decision in May of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield to reject a proposal for women members, which in turn led to the R&A removing Muirfield from the pool of Open venues.
Club officials convened a Special General Meeting of the club last night and as expected members voted in large numbers to accept women, with the vote was “overwhelmingly in favour” said captain Dr Martin Cheyne.
“We have said a number of times recently that it is important for golf clubs to reflect the society in which we exist and the modern world that looks to us,” he said.
“Therefore, I am delighted with the decision taken by members of Royal Troon this evening and and look forward to welcoming women to our great club. It is the right decision for the club today and the generations of golfers that will follow.”
Royal Troon had already agreed to co-host this year’s Open with the Ladies Golf Club, which has its clubhouse only the distance of the 18th hole away.
“Now we turn our attention to jointly hosting the 145th Open with a great friends at the Ladies Club and we can all now be focused on showcasing our wonderful golf course to the huge global audience the championship commands,” added Dr Cheyne.
The captain added his thanks for the support from Scottish Golf, the governing body of the game in Scotland, but also to “members of the club who turned out for an important discussion and made the right decision for Royal Troon.”
A spokesman for the R&A said: “We welcome this decision by the membership of Royal Troon and recognise its significance for the club.
“Our focus is very much on the 145th Open in just two week’s time but we can look forward to many more great Championships at Royal Tron in years to come.”
No club that is currently among the pool of Open venues is now all-male. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers is set to vote on the issue again later this year.
