The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has welcomed its new captain, Claire Dowling following the traditional driving-in ceremony on the first tee of the Old Course.
Claire becomes the first woman to serve as captain, and she will be an ambassador for the club and The R&A, engaging with members at events around the world and championing the sport as The R&A brings its new Opening Golf to the World strategy to life.
Throughout her year in office, Claire will represent the club at many of The R&A’s professional and amateur championships and international matches.
After hitting her tee shot, Claire said: “To begin my year as captain here in St Andrews, surrounded by friends and fellow members, is a very special moment. It is a huge privilege to serve as captain, and I am honoured to be the first woman to take on the role. The club has such a remarkable history and tradition, but it is continuing to evolve, which is so important for any institution.
“I am really looking forward to representing the club and to everything the year ahead will bring. I’m also excited to be supporting The R&A as it continues its important work to develop and promote golf around the world while celebrating everything that makes our sport so special.”
A distinguished amateur golfer, Claire represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup on four occasions and was part of the team which made history in 1986 by securing the first GB&I victory over the US on American soil, winning 13-5 at Prairie Dunes.
Born and educated in Dublin, Claire won five Irish championships, the first in 1983, as well as the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 1986, and the Spanish Amateur Championship in 1987.
After a successful playing career, Claire captained the GB&I Curtis Cup team in its narrow 10-8 defeat to the USA at Ganton in 2000. She was among the first women to become members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 2015 and has served on several committees.
An experienced referee, Claire has officiated at The Open on seven occasions, including at Royal St George’s in 2021 when she and her husband Peter, a retired district judge, became the first married couple to referee at the same championship.
A prominent figure in Irish women’s golf, Claire is an honorary life member of the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union and holds the same distinction at several golf clubs, including Woodbrook, Cork, Copt Heath, Portmarnock and her home club, East Devon. Her current handicap index is 7.6.
In the past, the club captaincy was bestowed on the winner of the annual Challenge for the Silver Club, but by the early 19th Century the captaincy had become an elected office.
Part of the tradition is that the new captain buys their golf ball back from the caddie who retrieves and returns it with a gold sovereign.
Caddie Dillon McCarron, who successfully returned the ball to Claire this year, said: “It’s pretty cool to collect the ball. With Claire being the first female captain, it’s quite an honour.
“I didn’t really know where the ball was going to go but it came over my buddy’s head and then came right to me,” added the 30-year-old from Nova Scotia, Canada. “This is my second season caddying here, so I learned about this tradition last year. I was excited to come down this morning and I didn’t think there would be much chance of winning with there being so many caddies so it’s quite the honour for sure.”
