Sports

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews votes to admit female members for 1st time

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 31, 2007 file photo, Ai Miyazato of Japan poses for photographs on the Swilken Bridge, with the famous St Andrews Clubhouse seen in the background during a practice round ahead of the Women's British Open golf tournament at the Old Course at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, Scotland. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews has voted overwhelmingly to admit women members for the first time. The club, exclusively for men since it was founded 260 years ago, released a statement Thursday saying 85 percent of those took part in the ballot voted for women to become members. It has a worldwide membership of 2,500. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE- In this Aug. 5, 2007, file photo, Lorena Ochoa, of Mexico, plays a shot off the first fairway during the Women's British Open golf tournament on the Old Course at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, Scotland. Royal & Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews has voted overwhelmingly Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, to admit female members for the first time. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File) (The Associated Press)

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews has voted overwhelmingly to admit female members for the first time.

The club, exclusively for men since it was founded in Scotland 260 years ago, released a statement Thursday saying 85 percent of those who took part in the ballot voted in favor of allowing female members. The club has a worldwide membership of 2,500.

Peter Dawson, secretary of the R&A, says "the membership has also acted to fast-track a significant initial number of women to become members in the coming months."

The Royal & Ancient, whose famous clubhouse overlooks the Old Course at St. Andrews, allowed a vote by proxy for the first time.