R&A Golf Club Set to Review Male-Only Policy

According to the Daily Mail, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews will be discussing the hotly debated topic of its “male-only” clubhouse policy.
 
The paper is reporting that Wilson Sibbet, chairman of the club’s General Committee has written a letter to all 2,500 of the club’s members urging them to accept that change is inevitable.
 
It is thought the issue will be discussed at the spring meeting with a vote on the matter being held in the autumn. If the policy does change it would mark the end of a 260 year-old tradition at the club.
 
In recent years the R&A has been met with fierce criticism regarding male-only clubs. With many taking particular offense that such clubs have been allowed to host major events, like the Open Championship.
 
Sponsors, including HSBC have begun to feel the pressure over supporting these big events and could be seen as a possible reason for the R&A’s decision to seriously look at its policy.
 
Head of sponsorship at HSBC, Giles Morgan, said earlier this year, “I think things are moving. It’s not something we are going to put a gun to anyone’s head over, but we would like to see it solved so we don’t keep talking about it.”