The R&A

Women's Amateur Latin America El Pulté Golf in Guatemala will host the 2026 Women’s Amateur Latin America championship presented by The R&A and the ANNIKA Foundation from 19–22 November. It will mark the first time the championship (WALA) has been held in Guatemala after visiting PGA Riviera Maya in Mexico last year, Lima Golf Club in Peru in 2024 and Pilar Golf in Argentina for three previous stagings.

Singer-songwriter and R&A Ambassador Niall Horan made a surprise visit to Golf It! in Glasgow to see first-hand the progress of its Disability Golf Programme, which has welcomed more than 1,300 participants and helped establish the facility as a National Disability Hub for Golf.

Royal and Ancient Golf Club The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews welcomed its new Captain, Claire Dowling, at the traditional driving-in ceremony on the 1st tee of the Old Course this morning. Claire becomes the first woman to serve as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. At precisely 8am, a cannon fired and Claire launched her opening drive down the fairway to officially commence her term.

Ahead of the traditional driving-in ceremony on the Old Course, incoming Captain Claire Dowling joined Mark Darbon, Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and Chief Executive of The R&A, for an exclusive video interview. Filmed from the Clubhouse balcony overlooking the famous 1st tee at St Andrews, the new Captain shares her personal thoughts on her historic appointment, reflecting on her lifelong journey through the game and what taking up the prestigious role means to her.

Golfers with a disability in Wales will be boosted 32 new projects around Welsh golf clubs thanks to a half million-pound fund awarded from Sport Wales with the support of the Welsh Government and Sport Wales. The fund is part of the legacy from Wales hosting The G4D Open for the first time. The Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund is a transformative fund to help improve facilities at golf clubs across Wales for golfers with a disability.

When Claire Dowling steps onto the 1st tee of the Old Course on Friday for her driving-in ceremony, it will begin a new chapter for The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. As the Club’s first female Captain since its founding in 1754, the occasion will be a significant one, reflecting both the history of the Club and Claire’s longstanding contribution to the game.

The R&A has confirmed the schedule of events for The Open Qualifying Series and exemption categories for The 155th Open at St Andrews. Each year, international pathways are provided for players to qualify for golf’s original championship through professional tour events played around the world.

The R&A and USGA are publishing a Notice to Manufacturers that follows from the Notice to Manufacturers Regarding Distance Insights and Joint Statement from the USGA, The R&A, PGA Tour, and DP World Tour issued 17 June 2026. This Notice also references an open 16 March 2022 Area of Interest regarding a Model Local Rule for Club Performance Characteristics.

The Irish pairing of Lynne Coote and Lorraine Abbott produced a wonderful performance to win the 2026 Coronation Foursomes Grand Final in St Andrews. On a special day at the home of golf, the pair from Loughgall Golf Club triumphed in the popular championship for women and girls’ golfers across Great Britain and Ireland – by scoring 45 stableford points.

Augusta National Golf Club and The R&A announced today continued alignment with aspects of the 2027 qualification criteria for the Masters Tournament and The Open, awarding invitations to winners/top finishers of select national opens. Building on The R&A’s Open Qualifying Series, this joint approach was originally implemented for the 2026 editions of the Masters and The Open, providing international pathways into both major championships from several professional tours.