[Photo: Courtesy of the R&A]
Claire Dowling has had a life full of golf accomplishments, but the one coming in September stands to be the most notable – and historic. That’s when the 68-year-old from Ireland will take over as captain of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for 2026-2027, becoming the first woman to serve in the role.
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The captain’s position dates back to 1754, the year of the club’s founding, when local merchant Baillee William Landale won the inaugural “Challenge for the Silver Club”, Winners of that competition earned the captain’s title until the early 1800s, when it became an elected position. Dowling’s selection by the past captains of the club was announced early this morning, Australian time.
A career amateur, Dowling has a résumé that includes winning the Irish Championship five times. She played four times for Great Britain & Ireland in the Curtis Cup, including on the team that won for the first time on US soil in 1986, and was also captain in 2000. She also played in the World Amateur Team Championship twice.
Dowling then transitioned from player to golf administrator. She was an advisory member of the R&A Amateur Status Committee from 1997-2001, and chaired England Golf’s Handicap and Course Rating Committee from 2012-2015.
In 2015, she also was one of the first women to become a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, eventually serving on the rules committee from 2015-2019 when the modernisation of the rules was put into place.
Dowling has served as a referee at the Open Championship seven times, including in 2021 when, with her husband Peter, they became the first married couple to referee in the same Open.
Dowling will begin her year in office after the traditional “Driving In” ceremony on the first tee of the Old Course on September 25.
