There is a lot of discussion and misinformation going around regarding the news that the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is considering allowing women into their club for the first time in the club’s 260 year existence. Many people are up in arms, complaining about the fact that women can’t play the Old Course. Quite simply, those people don’t have their facts straight. Here are some clarifications:
Women can and DO play the course all the time. I’ve even played rounds there with a lady in the group.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is one of many clubs in St. Andrews which are located near the Old Course. It is a men-only club. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club does NOT manage the Old Course, nor does it govern golf or golf’s rules. It devolved of that responsibility in 2004 when the R&A was formed.
The R&A and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews are not the same entity.
The R&A is the governing body for golf in much of the UK and western Europe. It administers the (British) Open Championship and various other events.
The St. Andrews Links Trust manages the Old Course and other courses in St. Andrews.
From the R&A website at randa.org
The R&A
Formed in 2004 and based in St Andrews, The R&A seeks to engage in and support activities that are undertaken for the benefit of the game of golf and, despite deriving its name from the members’ club, is separate and distinct from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
The R&A organises The Open Championship, golf’s oldest Major, along with a number of other amateur and junior events, some of which are sanctioned by other golfing bodies. In addition, The R&A assumes responsibility for the administration of the Rules of Golf with the consent of 143 organisations from the amateur and professional game, and on behalf of over 30 million golfers in 126 countries throughout Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
A major reorganisation in 2004, however, saw the Club devolve responsibility for these functions [the Rules, The Open and golf development] to a newly-formed group of companies, known as The R&A.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews was founded on 14 May 1754 with the first Challenge for the Silver Club. Evolving over 250 colourful years of British history, it has grown from a small society of no fixed abode into a club whose membership of around 2,500 extends worldwide.
From the late 19th century, the Club increasingly came to be regarded as a governing authority, both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Between 1897 and 2003 it developed three distinct areas of responsibility, namely the administration of the Rules of Golf in conjunction with the USGA, the running of The Open Championship and other key golfing events, and the development of the game in existing and emerging golfing nations.
A major reorganisation in 2004, however, saw the Club devolve responsibility for these functions to a newly-formed group of companies, known as The R&A.
Today, the Club has four objectives:
To be a members’ golf club, having a clubhouse with high-quality facilities and reasonable access to first-class golfing facilities for day-to-day play, including competitions and matches, and for two Meetings of the members to be held in the Spring and Autumn.
To maintain the position of St Andrews as the Home of Golf and to assist the Trustees and the Management Committee of the St Andrews Links Trust in the development of appropriate golfing facilities.
To provide temporary accommodation for members of the Club and others.
To acquire and preserve records and artefacts relating to the history of the game of golf either directly or indirectly.
St Andrews Links Trust
St Andrews Links Trust is a charitable organisation (Scottish charity number SC006161) responsible for the management and maintenance of the Links courses at St Andrews, including the famous Old Course, host of the 2010 Open Championship. The Trust was established in 1974. It employs more than 300 permanent staff and seasonal workers during the high season.
The Old Course is at the heart of the Links but it is part of a family of six public courses, three of which are well over 100 years old. Around 200,000 rounds of golf a year are played on the Links with its three championship courses, the Old, the New and the Jubilee, two 18 hole courses, the Eden and the Strathtyrum, and the nine-hole Balgove Course.
The Trust manages a number of additional facilities including the Links, Eden and Castle Course clubhouses, the Golf Practice Centre and Golf Academy and five shops. Any revenues generated go back into the running of the historic courses.
A seventh course, The Castle Course, opened for play in 2008 on a site to the south-east of St Andrews and has already won several international awards. It was named alongside the Old, New and Jubilee courses in the prestigious Golf Digest Top 100 Courses ranking in its first year.
There it is in black and white. Those who are mad because women cannot play the Old Course can calm down. Step away from your social networks and non-fact-checked articles and relax.
Nice job scribes. Your incessant questioning of other players about Tiger Woods has caused one very good interview to go the “no comment” route now. Graeme McDowell just commented that he will no longer answer anything but “no comment” when asked about Tiger Woods. This is following an interview where 90% of the questions to him were about Woods, and some of his responses were inappropriately taken out of context:
“I spent 90% of my press conference last week at Bay Hill being asked questions about Tiger, speculating about where his game is right now… Many of my quotes have been taken out of context and spun quite negatively. It’s hard for me to comment on Tiger in the early 2000s… I can only say that he has raised the bar so much in the sport globally and players are so much better equipped to win these days… He seems more beatable nowadays simply because the players around him are better and have more belief thanks to Tiger moving the needle. I really shouldn’t get caught up in speculation and opinion especially when talking about TW. you set yourself up for failure!! Hence, “no comment” going forward!!” ~Graeme McDowell
Way to go golf press. You beat GMac to death with Tiger questions and when he answers them honestly, you make him look bad. That’s a shank out of bounds.
The fact is that professional golf NEEDS more players like GMac; guys who are approachable and will give you an honest answer and opinion.
In the field: Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk, Jimmy Walker, Ernie Els, Jordan Spieth, Padraig Harrington, Ryan Moore and Charley Hoffman.
LPGA TOUR
Kia Classic
Dates: March 27-30
Venue: Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad, Calif.
In the field: Inbee Park, Suzann Pettersen, Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer, Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie, Lydia Ko, Karrie Webb, Na Yeon Choi and Beatriz Recari.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Eurasia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM
Dates: March 26-28
Venue: Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Team Europe: Miguel Angel Jimenez (playing captain), Thomas Bjorn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Stephen Gallacher, Pablo Larrazabal, Joost Luiten, Graeme McDowell and Thorbjorn Olesen.
Team Asia: Thongchai Jaidee (playing captain), Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Nicholas Fung, Hyung-Sung Kim, Anirban Lahiri, Prayad Marksaeng, Koumei Oda, Siddikur Rahman and Hideto Tanihara.
How can I not post this video of Miguel Angel Jimenez teaching his world famous “Most Interesting Stretching Routine in the World” to a crowd of golfers?
For many golfers it is their dream to play golf with their idol Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods. I think my biggest dream (other than the one with all the Sports Illustrated swimsuit models, the rose petals, incense, circus swings, and body oil), is to have a glass of wine and a cigar with Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Time to mention three new golf books which have been added to my massive reading list.
Own Your Game
First up is a book I’m going to read very soon by one of my all time favorite golfers Dave Stockton. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Dave on several occasions and he’s been nothing less than a gentlemen and willing to chat it up with you. He’s arguably one of the best putters, ever.
There is a lot of discussion and misinformation going around regarding the news that the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is considering allowing women into their club for the first time in the club’s 260 year existence. Many people are up in arms, complaining about the fact that women can’t play the Old Course. Quite simply, those people don’t have their facts straight. Here are some clarifications:
PGA TOUR
LPGA TOUR
EUROPEAN TOUR
. Can’t wait to check it out.
. This is the story of the 1975 Masters which ended up being a duel between Johnny Miller, Tom Weiskopf, and eventual winner Jack Nicklaus.
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
