Last bastion of 'men's-only' golf set to fall to women

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R and A) has announced that it has recommended its members should vote in favour of women being allowed to join the club in a ballot to be held on September 18.

The 260-year-old ruling body of golf, based at the St Andrews course in eastern Scotland, has come under increasing commercial and political pressure to remove its 'men-only' rule.

According to Sport24, although the organisation had previously defended its policy on the grounds that it was a private club, its decision to put the issue to a vote of its 2,500-strong membership represents a major change, even though two-thirds majority will be required to change the club's rules at the September vote.

A spokesman for The R and A confirmed the move, saying that the club's committees are strongly in favour of the rule change and are asking members to support it, adding that the vote is scheduled to take place in September of this year.

The report mentioned that the vote will be strictly concerning membership of The R and A, although it added that that the Old Course at St Andrews, where the club has its headquarters, is a public course over common land where women have always been welcome to play.

British government sports minister Helen Grant said that she hoped it would signal an end to the 'anachronistic' single-sex stance common to many golf clubs.