Organisers of golf’s oldest Major will be looking to the likes of World No. 1 Rory McIlroy to boost interest in the ancient club-and-ball game.
Peter Dawson, CEO at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, is concerned like many other golfing bodies in a decline in those playing golf and this despite golf courses continuing to be built in both Ireland and the UK.
“Our own R & A ambassadors, Pádraig Harrington, Suzann Pettersen and Liang Wen‑Chong are terrific to work with and do a lot of good for the game but then we need young stars like Rory to be effective,” said Dawson.
R & A CEO Peter Dawson looking to the likes of Rory McIlroy to help boost interest in golf.
“So we need to be activating our youth, much more.”
Dawson was speaking yesterday (TUES) from his office at overlooks the Old Course at St. Andrews where McIlroy in July will defend his Open Championship crown.
And in an historic announcement Dawson, who will step down as CEO on 2nd March, 2016, revealed a list of seven women who have accepted invitations to become honorary members of the R & A, and the first female members in the club’s 260-year history
They include HRH Princess Anne, major winners Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies plus American Renee Powell, the first woman to be a head professional at a golf course in the UK, prolific amateur winning Belle Robertson of Scotland, French golfing great Lally Segard and Britain’s Louise Suggs, who was co-founder and President of the LPGA.
The seven will be among 13 to be afforded honorary membership over the next few years but with the R & A not about to reveal, as is also scenario with new male members, what women will become full members.
And Dawson also spoke of the disappointment at the R & A receiving so much ‘hate mail’ in their decision to ditch BBC TV in favour of SKY Sports covering the Open Championship from 2017.
“Oh, we’ve had plenty of hate mail, clearly from individuals who haven’t read the etiquette section of the rule book, some of the intemperate language,” he said with a slight smile
