Golf: The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews breaks with tradition!
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (the R&A), Scotland, has ended 272 years of tradition by appointing its first female captain, 12 years after allowing women as members.
Claire Dowling, who was born and bred in Dublin, Ireland, will be the R&A captain in 2026-27, having been nominated by its past captains, beginning her term of office on 25 September 2026, following the traditional driving-in ceremony on the first tee of the Old Course.
Dowling was one of the first women to join the R&A in 2015.
She has served on the R&A rules and general committees, including as deputy chair and is currently on the membership committee.
As an amateur player, she has represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup on four occasions and in other tournaments.
She has also won five Irish Championships, the first in 1983; the Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 1986; and the Spanish Amateur Championship in 1987.
Dowling has also chaired England Golf's handicap and course rating committee and has also acted as a referee at The Open Golf Competition on seven occasions.
She is well qualified, therefore, to take on her new role as captain of the R&A!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
