Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent has brought an immediate end to its 127-year history as a male-only club, following an overwhelming vote by its members to end the club’s single-sex status.
Currently one of only three men-only golf clubs on the rota to host the Open Championship, club officials have said it will allow women to become members with immediate effect, after 90% of the current membership voted to change the club’s rules at an extraordinary general meeting held at the Sandwich-based club last month.
The move by St George’s will put pressure on the other two clubs – Royal Troon and Muirfield – to follow suit, although both have suggested in recent months that they will end their men-only policies.
A statement issued by Royal St George’s, which last held the Open in 2011, said: “A resolution to alter the club’s rules to make ladies eligible for membership has been duly passed. Under the club’s rules, the resolution would only be passed if it obtained the support of three-quarters of the votes cast on the ballot. More than 81 percent of the full members took part in the ballot, and a decisive 90 per cent voted in favour of ladies being eligible for membership. The alteration of the club’s rules has immediate effect and the club looks forward to welcoming ladies as junior and full members.”
Commenting on the result of the Royal St George’s ballot, a spokesman for the R&A said: “We welcome such a positive decision by the club’s members.”