Royal Troon Golf Club has announced its intention to undertake a “comprehensive review” of its membership policy.
Scrutiny of the male-only membership policy of three courses on the Open Championship rota
- Troon, Muirfield and Royal St George’s - has intensified after the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews voted to end its 260-year-old male-only membership policy in September.
Troon has always considered itself a special case in this respect as it shares facilities with the Ladies Golf Club, Troon.
And the club also confirmed today it will share the responsibility of hosting The Open in 2016 with the Ladies’ Club, with the formation of a joint Championship Committee.
Royal Troon Captain, Bob Martin said: “Royal Troon Golf Club has hosted The Open on eight occasions since 1923 and in 2016 we will share this responsibility with The Ladies’ Golf Club, Troon as joint hosts of the 145th Open Championship.
“The clubs enjoy a close working relationship and we look forward to hosting a successful Open here in 2016.”
In a statement, Troon said it will “undertake a comprehensive review to consider the most appropriate membership policy for the future”, adding: “The recommendations from this review will be presented to the membership for their consideration.”
Muirfield, which is owned and run by The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, is reviewing its membership criteria with a report to be completed by March 2015, while Royal St George’s is also “considering its position” as a single-sex club.