The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has made history by appointing Claire Dowling as its first-ever female captain in the club’s 272-year existence.
Dowling will serve as captain for the 2026-27 term after being nominated by the club’s past captains. She is set to officially begin her one-year tenure following the traditional driving-in ceremony on the first tee of the iconic Old Course on September 25.
The landmark appointment comes 12 years after the prestigious golf club voted to admit women members for the first time in 2014. Dowling was among the first women to join the club in 2015 after the historic membership reform.
A highly respected figure in amateur golf, Dowling has enjoyed an outstanding career both on and off the course. She represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup on four occasions and was part of the famous 1986 team that secured a historic victory over the United States at Prairie Dunes — the first GB&I win on American soil.
Dowling later captained the Curtis Cup side in 2000 and also led teams in the Vagliano Trophy and Irish national competitions. Born in Dublin, she represented Ireland in the Home Internationals from 1979 to 1992 and competed in six European Team Championships.
Her amateur achievements include five Irish Championship titles, victory at the 1986 Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship and the 1987 Spanish Amateur Championship.
Beyond her playing career, Dowling has played a major role in golf administration and officiating. She has served on several important committees within the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, including the rules committee, general committee and membership committee.
Dowling has also chaired England Golf’s handicap and course rating committee and worked as a referee at The Open Championship on seven occasions. In 2021, she and her husband Peter Dowling became the first married couple to referee together at The Open during the championship at Royal St George’s.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club remains one of the most historic institutions in golf. While The R&A now oversees the global administration of golf rules and The Open Championship, the St Andrews club continues as a private members’ club with more than 2,400 members worldwide.
Dowling’s appointment is being viewed as a significant milestone for one of golf’s oldest and most traditional organisations, reflecting the sport’s continued evolution toward greater inclusivity and representation.
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