Row over club’s all-male status as Open looms
AN exclusive Scots golf club was last night coming under mounting pressure to admit women members as it prepares to host the Open Championship.
Royal Troon will host the 145th Open in July.
But it has faced criticism for its male-only membership policy. The club has refused to accelerate talks over allowing women members despite pressure from equal rights groups, politicians and players.
Yesterday, governing body the Royal and Ancient Golf Club said it would be ‘ideal’ if the issue were settled before the Open.
But Royal Troon has refused to set a date for a decision – saying the issue, under discussion for 15 months, will be resolved ‘around the end of the year’.
On Wednesday, Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale and Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson all condemned the club.
Royal Troon has considered itself a special case in respect of its male-only membership policy as it shares facilities with the Ladies Golf Club, Troon.
In a statement yesterday, the R&A said: ‘The club is aware of our view that golf should be open to all. It would be ideal if this was to be concluded before the Open, but we respect the fact the club has to go through a process in reviewing this with its members.’
Vivien Saunders, 69, a founder of the women’s PGA and European Tour and winner of the 1977 Women’s British Open, said: ‘I think this will be the last time Royal Troon hosts the Open if it doesn’t change. It’s their last chance.
‘They want to be royal. Do they not realise their monarch is a woman? They should be stripped of the royal title if they don’t accept women.’
Both Miss Davidson and Miss Dugdale said they would boycott the Open unless the club changed its policy on women.
Miss Davidson said: ‘I certainly won’t be going.’
Miss Dugdale said: ‘I am completely opposed to the position
‘It’s their last chance’
at Royal Troon and if invited to the Open I would not go.’
But Miss Sturgeon stopped short of a boycott, saying: ‘I’m the first woman to hold the office of First Minister and gender equality matters to me.
‘I don’t think it’s acceptable for there to be anywhere in Scotland that is off-limits to women and I hope Royal Troon reflects on that.’
Royal Troon club secretary Stephen Anthony said: ‘We have a process and we are sticking with the process. There has been no date set yet. It will be around the end of the year when a decision will be made.
‘We are a members’ club and the decision will be made by the members.’
In 2013, the male-only Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield, East Lothian, faced similar criticism when it hosted the Open. It is currently involved in talks on letting women join.