Royal Troon Golf Club have no plans for female members regardless of the R and A vote
Tuesday 16 September 2014 17:13, UK
Royal Troon Golf Club have no plans to admit female members regardless of the outcome of the Royal and Ancient's ballot on the issue.
Members at the R&A at St Andrews - the game's governing body - will decide on Thursday whether to relax the men-only membership criteria which has been in force for over 250 years.
But Troon has no plans to follow suit if as expected, the R&A vote to allow female membership because of their association with a ladies club who share their facilities.
A statement given to Sky Sports News HQ from Royal Troon read: “At present, membership of Royal Troon Golf Club (RTGC) is open only to those of the male gender and we have no plans to change our constitution at this time although I must point out that we are quite different from many of the other single gender clubs in that we share our facilities with an active Ladies Golf Club.
“The Ladies Golf Club Troon (founded in 1882) is an autonomous club with 370 members and their own clubhouse, captain and committee, but play all of their golf on our Royal Troon courses.
“Most of their competitions are held on our Portland Course (designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie) but they also have exclusive use of the Old Course (Championship Course) for some of their competitions.
“The Ladies Golf Club (TLGCT) also have full access to our practice ground facilities. My understanding is that The Ladies Golf Club Troon are perfectly happy with the current arrangement and have no desire to become full members of Royal Troon Golf Club.
“Members of both RTGC and TLGCT are looking forward to the 2016 Open where together they will be working with the R&A to produce another excellent Open Championship.”
Muirfield, home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (HCEG), will begin a consultation with its members on the issue after the R&A vote, before taking a decision next year.
“In March 2014, HCEG confirmed its intention to review the membership criteria by consulting with members to determine the best way forward,” a statement from Royal Troon read.
“In order to ensure that this consultation is handled in a thoroughly objective and professional manner, a specialist company has been commissioned.
“All HCEG members will be invited to participate and the process will start in late September 2014, by which time the R&A decision concerning women members will be known.
“The research will be undertaken over the winter and a report will be completed in March 2015. The findings will be considered by HCEG during the spring of next year.”
