The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
Encyclopedia
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf
clubs in the world (the oldest being the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield). It is based in St Andrews
, Fife
, Scotland
, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf". Formerly, it was also one of the governing authorities of the game, but in 2004 this role was handed over to a newly formed group of companies, collectively known as The R&A.
playing at St Andrews Links
, but quickly grew in importance. In 1834, King William IV
became its patron and the club became known under its present name. In 1897, the Society codified the rules of golf, and, gradually over the next 30 years, was invited to take control of the running of golf tournaments at other courses.
of golf throughout the world except the United States and Mexico, where this responsibility rests with the United States Golf Association
(USGA). It works in collaboration with national amateur and professional golf organisations in more than one hundred and ten countries.
The R&A cooperates with the USGA in producing and regularly revising the "Rules of Golf
", and the two bodies have issued the rules jointly since 1952. They also collaborate on the corresponding exegetic
work, the "Decisions on the Rules of Golf". The R&A is also involved in formulating technical specifications for golfing equipment. Dr Steve Otto is the technical Director
at the R and A. The R and A is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
The R&A founded what is now the Official World Golf Ranking for male professionals in 1986, and the World Amateur Golf Ranking
for male amateurs in 2007.
Apart from the Junior Open Championships all of these events are for men and boys. The Ladies Golf Union organises a similar range of events for women and girls, most notably the Women's British Open
. The R&A is also involved in the organisation of the two World Amateur Team Championships - the Eisenhower Trophy
for men and the Espirito Santo Trophy
for women - through its role in the International Golf Federation
.
, the club does not own any of the St Andrews courses, despite the common misconception, and must share the tee times with members of other local clubs, residents and visitors alike. Responsibility for the management of the courses is undertaken by the St Andrews Links
Trust, a charitable organization that owns and runs seven golf courses at St Andrews.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
clubs in the world (the oldest being the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield). It is based in St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf". Formerly, it was also one of the governing authorities of the game, but in 2004 this role was handed over to a newly formed group of companies, collectively known as The R&A.
History
The organisation was founded in 1754 as the Society of St Andrews Golfers, a local golf clubCountry club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
playing at St Andrews Links
St Andrews Links
St Andrews Links in the town of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, is regarded as the "home of golf". It is one of the oldest courses in the world, where the game has been played since the 15th century...
, but quickly grew in importance. In 1834, King William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
became its patron and the club became known under its present name. In 1897, the Society codified the rules of golf, and, gradually over the next 30 years, was invited to take control of the running of golf tournaments at other courses.
The R&A
The R&A is the ruling authoritySport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
of golf throughout the world except the United States and Mexico, where this responsibility rests with the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
(USGA). It works in collaboration with national amateur and professional golf organisations in more than one hundred and ten countries.
The R&A cooperates with the USGA in producing and regularly revising the "Rules of Golf
Rules of golf
The rules of golf are a standard set of regulations and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the R&A the governing body of golf worldwide except in the United States and Mexico, which are the responsibility of the United States Golf...
", and the two bodies have issued the rules jointly since 1952. They also collaborate on the corresponding exegetic
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
work, the "Decisions on the Rules of Golf". The R&A is also involved in formulating technical specifications for golfing equipment. Dr Steve Otto is the technical Director
at the R and A. The R and A is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
The R&A founded what is now the Official World Golf Ranking for male professionals in 1986, and the World Amateur Golf Ranking
World Amateur Golf Ranking
The World Amateur Golf Ranking for men was introduced by the R&A, the governing body of amateur golf outside the United States and Mexico, on 23 January 2007. It is based on the results of over 750 amateur tournaments and is updated weekly. Rankings are based on the players' average performances in...
for male amateurs in 2007.
Committees of the R&A
- The Rule and Equipment Committee
- The Course Management Committee
- The Championship Committee
- The Amateur Status Committee
- The Golf Development Committee
- The External Fund Committee
- The General Committee
- The Research Committee
Championships
The R&A organises 11 championships and international matches:- The Open ChampionshipThe Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
: one of the four major championshipsMen's major golf championshipsThe men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
in men's golf. - The Amateur ChampionshipThe Amateur ChampionshipThe Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur...
: which was one of the four major championships before the professional game became dominant and is still one of the most prestigious amateur tournaments in the world. - Boys Amateur ChampionshipBoys Amateur ChampionshipThe Boys Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. The competition is organised and run by The R&A-History:The Boy's Amateur Championship was first played at Royal Ascot in 1921...
: for boys under the age of 18 at midnight on 1 January of the relevant year. - Boys Home Internationals: a team competition for boys from England, Scotland, Wales and All-Ireland.
- Seniors Open Amateur Championship: for male amateurs aged 55 or over on the first day of competition.
- British Mid-Amateur Championship: for amateurs aged 25 and over. This tournament was introduced to provide an elite competition for golfers who never turn professional as the main Amateur Championship is dominated by future professionals in their late teens and early twenties.
- Senior British Open ChampionshipSenior British Open ChampionshipThe Senior Open Championship, or simply The Senior Open is a professional golf tournament for men aged 50 and over. It is run by The R&A, the same body that organises The Open Championship. Prize money won in the event is official money on both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour...
: for men aged 50 and above. A major championshipSenior major golf championshipsMen's professional senior golf is for players aged 50 and above. Golf differs from all other sports in having lucrative competitions for this age group. The leading senior tour is the U.S. based Champions Tour, which was established in 1980 . It has established a roster of five major championships...
on the Champions TourChampions TourThe Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
and the European Seniors TourEuropean Seniors TourThe European Seniors Tour is a professional tour for male golfers aged 50 and over run by the PGA European Tour.The Tour was founded in 1992. In 2008 it had a total prize fund of €7,729,284, so it is much further behind the U.S.-based Champions Tour in relative prize money than the main European...
. - Walker CupWalker CupThe Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
: a biennial men's amateur team competition contested by Great Britain & Ireland and the United States (co-organised with the United States Golf AssociationUnited States Golf AssociationThe United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
). - Junior Open Championships: for boys and girls under the age of 16 at 00.00 hours on 1 January of the relevant year.
- St Andrews TrophySt Andrews TrophyThe St Andrews Trophy is a biennial men's team golf tournament contested between teams of amateur golfers representing Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe. It takes its name from St Andrews in Scotland, which is colloquially known as the "Home of Golf". The competition was founded in...
: a men's amateur team competition contested by Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of EuropeContinental EuropeContinental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
. - Jacques Léglise TrophyJacques Léglise TrophyThe Jacques Léglise Trophy is an annual boys' team golf competition between Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe. It was inaugurated in 1958 and is organised by the R&A. Great Britain & Ireland dominated in the early years to such an extent that it was discontinued in 1966. It was...
: a boys' amateur team competition contested by Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe.
Apart from the Junior Open Championships all of these events are for men and boys. The Ladies Golf Union organises a similar range of events for women and girls, most notably the Women's British Open
Women's British Open
The Women's British Open is a leading event in women's professional golf and the only tournament which is classified as a major championship by both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. Since 2007, it has been called the Ricoh Women's British Open, for sponsorship reasons...
. The R&A is also involved in the organisation of the two World Amateur Team Championships - the Eisenhower Trophy
Eisenhower Trophy
The Eisenhower Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for men organized by the International Golf Federation. It is named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President of the United States when the tournament was first played, who was a keen amateur golfer. Recent tournaments have...
for men and the Espirito Santo Trophy
Espirito Santo Trophy
The Espirito Santo Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for women organised by the International Golf Federation. The inaugural event was held in 1964 and recent tournaments have featured teams from around forty countries. It is a strokeplay event, in which the best two...
for women - through its role in the International Golf Federation
International Golf Federation
The International Golf Federation is an organisation which, despite its grand title, occupies only a small place in the structure of golf. The Federation changed its name from the "World Amateur Golf Council" in 2003...
.
Golf club
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews itself is now simply a golf club. It has 2,400 members from all over the world. Although the clubhouse is situated just behind the first tee of the Old CourseOld Course at St Andrews
The Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world. The Old Course is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland and is held in trust by The St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament...
, the club does not own any of the St Andrews courses, despite the common misconception, and must share the tee times with members of other local clubs, residents and visitors alike. Responsibility for the management of the courses is undertaken by the St Andrews Links
St Andrews Links
St Andrews Links in the town of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, is regarded as the "home of golf". It is one of the oldest courses in the world, where the game has been played since the 15th century...
Trust, a charitable organization that owns and runs seven golf courses at St Andrews.
See also
- Golf in ScotlandGolf in ScotlandGolf in Scotland was first recorded in the 15th century, and the modern game of golf was first developed and established in the country. The game plays a key role in the national sporting consciousness....
- St Andrews LinksSt Andrews LinksSt Andrews Links in the town of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, is regarded as the "home of golf". It is one of the oldest courses in the world, where the game has been played since the 15th century...
- Old Course at St AndrewsOld Course at St AndrewsThe Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world. The Old Course is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland and is held in trust by The St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament...
- British Golf MuseumBritish Golf MuseumThe British Golf Museum is located opposite the Clubhouse at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, Scotland.The museum, which opened in 1990, documents the history of golf from Medieval times to the present, including the men's and women's games, British and international, both...