Royal Troon Golf Club, the venue for this year’s Open Championship, has "dropped a heavy hint that it wants its 800 male members to vote in favour of admitting women members," according to Martin Dempster of the SCOTSMAN. It follows club captain Martin Cheyne saying it is "important" that the Ayrshire club "reflects the modern society in which we exist." A membership review has been ongoing at Royal Troon for the past 16 months "without any hint of a decision being likely" before it hosts The Open for the first time since '04. However, it now appears that recent comments by First Minister Nicola Stuegeon on the club hosting The Open as a male-only club "may have accelerated the process." A letter has been sent to Royal Troon’s 800 members "seeking views on the issue of the admission of women members" and, though the "clock is ticking, there is still an outside chance that a decision could be made before the event starts" on July 14. In a statement, Cheyne said, "As we look forward to jointly hosting the Open Championship later this summer, the Committee of Royal Troon Golf Club continues with its process regarding the Club’s Future Membership Policy and is cognisant of the recent articles in the press and social media, the public discussion surrounding the club, and the statements made by senior politicians" (SCOTSMAN, 5/17).
