Claire Dowling has been appointed because the Royal and Historical Golf Membership’s first feminine captain, 12 years after it opened its membership to ladies.
Dowling will function the St Andrews establishment’s captain in 2026-27, having been nominated by its previous captains.
She is going to start her one-year time period in workplace after the standard driving-in ceremony on the primary tee of the Previous Course on Friday, 25 September.
Dowling was one of many first ladies to affix the membership, signing-up in 2015 after a vote opened up membership.
She has served on the membership’s guidelines committee and normal committee, together with as deputy chair for each our bodies, and is at present on their membership committee.
As an novice participant, Dowling represented Nice Britain and Eire within the Curtis Cup on 4 events and was a part of the 1986 staff which secured a primary victory over the USA on American soil with a 13-5 win at Prairie Dunes.
She went on to captain the GB&I Curtis Cup staff Ganton in 2000, the place they misplaced 10-8, and has additionally led the Vagliano Trophy staff and the Irish staff.
Born and raised in Dublin, she represented Eire within the residence internationals from 1979 to 1992 and performed in six European Staff Championships.
She received 5 Irish Championships, the primary in 1983, the Girls’ British Open Novice Stroke Play Championship in 1986 and the Spanish Novice Championship in 1987.
Dowling has additionally chaired England Golf’s handicap and course ranking committee and has acted as a referee at The Open on seven events, together with at Royal St George’s in 2021 when, together with her husband Peter, a retired District Decide, they have been the primary married couple to referee on the similar championship.
