All R&A members will get chance to cast historic ‘women’ vote
BySteve Scott
All members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews will be able to participate in the vote in September to accept women members for the first time.
An extraordinary business meeting of the club has agreed to allow postal votes at the full meeting of the club on September 18, when members are due to vote on whether to admit women to the historic 250-year-old club.
It means all 2,500 members of the R&A will be entitled to have their say, rather than just those attending September 18’s meeting, as under the club’s existing rules. The proposal for postal votes to be accepted was due to “a clear majority” wishing the entire membership to be able to determine what would be a historic change in policy.
There is also a perception that allowing postal votes makes it more likely the change to the club rules admitting women is likely to be approved, with the club’s sizeable international membership thought to be in favour.
Peter Dawson, secretary of the club, pictured, said he expected the result of the vote to be made known on the evening of September 18, before the result of the independence referendum the same day.
All R&A members will get chance to cast historic ‘women’ vote