Royal Troon Vote to Allow Women Members

Royal Troon will vote on allowing women members this evening less than two weeks before hosting the 145th Open Championship

Royal Troon Vote to Allow Women Members

Royal Troon Golf Club have tonight unanimously voted to allow women members less than two weeks before hosting the 145^th Open Championship.

Statement from Royal Troon below –

Members of 145th Open Championship hosts Royal Troon Golf Club have tonight (Friday, 1st July) voted overwhelmingly to admit women members.

The vote took place at a Special General Meeting of Royal Troon Golf Club this evening.

Dr. Martin Cheyne, Captain, said:

“We have said a number of times recently that it is important for golf clubs to reflect the society in which we exist and the modern world that looks to us. Therefore, I am delighted with the decision taken by Members of Royal Troon this evening and look forward to welcoming women to our great Club. It is the right decision for the Club today, and for the generations of golfers that will follow.

"Tonight, we turn our attention to jointly hosting the 145th Open Championship with our great friends at The Ladies Golf Club, Troon. We can now all be focused on golf and showcasing this wonderful club and golf course to the huge global audience that this most prestigious Championship commands.

"I am grateful for the support of many people, including Scottish Golf – the game’s governing body in Scotland - for its unswerving support and to my Vice-Captain and fellow members of the Committee. I pay special thanks to the Members who turned out tonight for an important discussion and the right decision for Royal Troon Golf Club.”

Statement ends

This result now means that every golf club on the Open Championship rota allows female members.

In May, Muirfield’s Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers voted on allowing women members but did not return the two-thirds majority needed

This led to the R&A announcing that they would take Muirfield off the Open rota, stating “The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and going forward we will not stage the Championship at a venue that does not admit women as members.”

Troon announced earlier this year that they would be looking to change their membership structure towards the end of 2016.

However Muirfield’s decision and the consequences they received from it by losing the Open brought it forward.

The 145^th Open Championship begins on Thursday 14^th July and runs until Sunday 17^th.

Last time the Open was at Troon, Todd Hamilton defeated Ernie Els in a play-off in 2004