Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland, the venue for July’s Open Championship, has written to its 800 members seeking views on the issue of the admission of women members.
The club currently shares its facilities with the Ladies’ Golf Club Troon, although the two are regarded as separate entities. As host venue for The Open, the club’s men-only status has attracted widespread criticism in light of all of the attempts within the golf industry to broaden the sport’s appeal to a wider cross section of society.
Martin Cheyne, captain of Royal Troon Golf Club, said: “As we look forward to jointly hosting the Open Championship later this summer, the committee continues with its process regarding the club’s future membership policy and is cognisant of the recent articles in the press, the public discussion surrounding the club, and the statements made by senior politicians. We are acting to better understand the views of our members, which will in turn inform the decisions we take. We care very much for the reputation of Royal Troon Golf Club, and it is important that the club, much like the wider game, reflects the modern society in which we exist.”
He added: “We have written to all of our members to understand their views and feelings on the issue of the admission of women to the club. We expect to have a clearer sight of those opinions in the weeks ahead and will make further statements in due course.”