A year af ter vote... but only 13 women are R&A members

TO some, it was the most important vote taking place on September 18 last year – a question of inclusion, equality and a bright new future.

Never mind the independence referendum, it was the day the world’s most exclusive golf club voted to end 260 years of excluding women from its clubhouse.

But almost a year after the Royal & Ancient Golf Club decided to accept females, only 13 of its 2,400 members are women.

The R&A, which also serves as golf ’s governing body, was last night criticised for its ‘disappointing’ progress.

The club, which counts Sir Sean Connery and golfing legend Jack Nicklaus among its members, has admitted only seven women proposed for membership, it is understood.

Another seven of the great and good have been made honorary members, including Princess Anne, who has described golf as ‘an arduous way to go for a walk’ adding ‘I prefer to take the dogs out’.

One of these, founder of the Ladies Professional Golf Association Louise Suggs, has died since joining the club.

Claire Baker, Labour MSP for Mid- Scotland and Fife, who accused the R&A of being ‘fuddy duddies’ for excluding women, said last night: ‘While the R&A’s decision last year to introduce women members was welcome, their rate of progress is disappointing and does call into question their commitment to it.

‘In this day and age, the decision was a long time overdue. As golf ’s governing body, it is important the R&A show their commitment to equal opportunities and set the right example.’

The decision to admit women members came on the same day as the polls were open for Scotland’s independence referendum, on September 18 last year.

The R&A had long resisted pressure to overhaul the admissions policy at its clubhouse, which overlooks the 18th green of the Old Course at St Andrews, the home of golf.

But it came under fire for denying Louise Richardson, the first woman principal of St Andrews University, the honorary membership offered t o many of her mal e predecessors.

She claimed she was taunted, with club ties waved in her face following the snub.

A similar men-only golf club, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield in East Lothian, was boycotted by First Minister Alex Salmond during the 2013 Open Championship and criticised by female golfers including Dame Laura Davies, the most successful British woman player of modern times.

After this, the R&A held a ballot of its members worldwide, with 85 per cent of the three-quarters who took part voting to let women in.

However club secretary Peter Dawson’s pledge to ‘fast-track’ a significant number of women ‘in t he coming months’ appears to have fallen short. Nearly 12 months on, the Scottish Daily Mail understands only seven have so far become members.

In February, another seven honorary members were announced – including the Princess Royal. She accepted the invitation along with a number of high-profile female golfers, i ncluding retired Swedish professional Annika Sorenstam and Scots golfer Belle Robertson.

The R&A, which runs the Open Championship, also welcomed Dame Laura.

The other honorary members are Renee Powell, the first woman to be a head professional at a UK golf course, and one of France’s greatest golfers, Lally Segard, previously Lally Vagliano.

Louise Suggs, the seventh member, who won the US Women’s Amateur i n 1947 before turning professional and winning 58 events, died last month.

The club is believed to be planning a new intake of female members at the end of this year or the start of 2016.

Responding to criticism of i ts membership policy, a spokesman for the R&A said: ‘We were delighted to begin welcoming women as members of the club and are continuing to do so.

‘It was undoubtedly the right decision for the club and was supported by the overwhelming majority of members.’

In 2012, the Augusta National Golf Club, which hosts the US Masters, ended its men- only status, l eaving the R& A increasingly isolated.

The R&A’s move heaped pressure on other male- only clubs to follow suit and follows widespread outrage levelled at the R&A for allowing select clubs which exclude women members to continue to host the Open, including Muirfield and Royal Troon in Ayrshire.

‘Rate of progress is disappointing’