History was made Friday in Scotland when Claire Dowling arrived at the Old Course at St. Andrews. By making the traditional Driving-in Ceremony on the first tee, Dowling officially became the first woman to serve as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
Nomimated in May by past captains, Dowling begins her first year as captain on Sept. 25.
Claire Dowling is the first Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. She was nominated in May 2026 and started in the role on Sept. 25, 2026.
Dowling was one of the first women to become a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, doing so in 2015. She was on the Rules Committee from 2015-19 and became Deputy Chair in 2017. Dowling was elected to the General Committee in 2019 and became Deputy Chair in 2022. She most recently served on the Membership Committee.
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A day ahead of the driving-in, On Thursday, she met with R&A CEO Mark Darbon.
“I’m hugely honored,” she said. “To follow in the footsteps of some fantastic captains and the rich heritage of the club for over 250 years, it’s just an amazing thing. I could never have imagined it.”
Dowling had an extensive playing career as an amateur, as reported by Golfweek’s Adam Schupak. After a successful playing career, she went on to captain the GB&I Curtis Cup team in a narrow 10-8 defeat to the U.S. at Ganton in 2000. She also captained the Vagliano Trophy team and the Irish team.
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Dowling spoke of the ceremony that takes place upon her arrival.
“It’s incredibly intimidating,” she said. “I’m sure you’ve seen one or two. The incoming captain gets walked to the tee by the honorary professional and the outgoing captain and they look as if they’ve been walkd to the gallows,” she quipped, then added, “the honorary professional tees up the ball, and you have to hit the ball without a practice swing or anything and just, fingers crossed, it gets airborne.”
The club was founded in 1754.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Claire Dowling is first woman captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club
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