Royal Troon Golf Club votes to allow women members

In July 2016, Royal Troon Golf Club decided to open up membership to female golfers after an overwhelming show of support from the rota members. The review was announced in January this year, with the vote scheduled initially for later in the year.

At a later review the club decided to hold an earlier vote, so that the results would be announced before the Open Championship started on the 14th of July.

As members of the Open Championship, Royal Troon was the only host club remaining with rules against female members. This decision comes along seemingly in response to the recent decision by Muirfield in May to continue a ban on female members. This decision meant that the club lost its R&A privileges, and the rights to hold another Open Championship.

Royal Troon's decision to allow female members follows similar decisions by Royal St George and Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. This decision is somewhat expected given the hostility that greeted Muirfield’s refusal to amend rules just a few weeks prior.

Muirfield is now seeking to host a second vote with members, which captain Henry Fairweather believes will help to “restore the reputation of the club”.

Club captain of Royal Troon, Martin Cheyne, said that he was “delighted with the decision taken by Members of Royal Troon...It is the right decision for the Club today, and for the generations of golfers that will follow.”

This is a promising, yet delayed, action by an industry which seems a little slow in the uptake of realising the growing and enthusiastic women's golf industry. Fortunately, nearly three quarters of the members who participated in the survey voted to open membership to female members. Cheyne also stated that he “look[ed] forward to welcoming women to our great Club.”

Following the results of the vote, female golfers should now be able to apply for membership online. Royal Troon was the host for this year's Open Championship which ran from the 14th to the 17th of July. 

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