British Open 2024 How does a golf club get to call itself “Royal”? | Golf news and tour information

The title is by definition royal and authoritative. Royal Troon, host of the 152nd British Open Championship this week, is one of 69 clubs from around the world – and seven of them in the Open – that can claim the label “royal”, a distinction full of pomp and, in most cases, significance.

Indeed, this award gives the golf course an additional level of authority. But it also raises the question: How does a golf course earn the right to call itself “Royal”?

According to Scott Macpherson’s authoritative 2013 book: Golf Royal ClubsIt all began in 1833. The captain of the Perth Golfing Society, Lord Kinnaird, travelled to London to speak to King William IV, who had recently taken up golf. During his stay, Kinnaird asked the King if he would be a patron of the society and if the club could be called the Royal Perth Golfing Society in return. William agreed and a movement was born.

A year later, the Society of St. Andrews Golfers, whose members included members of the royal family, changed its name to the “Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews”.

To achieve royal status, you didn’t just have to admit royalty to your club. Royal Aberdeen in Scotland, for example, added the label in the 1870s, but were rejected by the Crown when they applied for official designation (it wasn’t finally approved until 1903).

As interest in the award grew in the late 19th century, a formal application process was initiated, with the reigning monarch giving final approval. According to Macpherson, the title was officially restricted to “institutions of outstanding importance, of long and secure financial standing, and of national, charitable and scientific aim.” This was particularly true of clubs in British colonies, which also aspired to the label.

Nevertheless, Royal status has been awarded to six golf courses in Canada (the first to Royal Montreal in 1884), eight in Australia (the first to Royal Melbourne in 1895), six in Africa, three in Asia, two in New Zealand and two on the European mainland.

There is no real overview of the number of courses that have applied for Royal status and have been rejected. Sir Peter Allen writes in his book: The Sunley Book by Royal Golfnoted: “At the end of our investigations, we must admit that we could not discern any pattern. Those who aspired to the title often seem to have obtained it, especially in the Dominions and the Empire.”

The largest number of golf courses receiving Royal Status occurred around the turn of the century. From 1882 to 1897, 19 clubs were given this honour. And from 1902 to 1937, 21 more were named. During Queen Elizabeth II’s reign from 1952 until her death in 2022, nine new golf courses were added to the Royal List, the last three being added in 2010 (Auckland, the second Royal Golf Course in New Zealand), 2012 (Moresby in Papua New Guinea) and 2013 (Homburger in Germany, the second golf course in continental Europe).

During her tenure, Troon was also awarded Royal status in 1978, making Troon the most recent of the Open Rota golf courses to receive this honour. This was the year of the club’s centenary and 55 years after hosting the first of its nine previous Opens.

ROYAL COURSES IN THE OPEN ROTA

Liverpool (received status in 1871)
Portrush (1892)
St. George (1902)
Lytham and St Annes (1926)
Birkdale (1951)
Troon (1978)
*The Old Course is operated by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which has held “royal” status since 1934.