Dowling breaks new ground at St Andrews

Former Curtis Cup star to become first woman Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club

Paju, Korea - The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has announced that Claire Dowling will become Captain for 2026/27, making history as the first woman to hold the role.

Dowling, who was nominated by the Club’s Past Captains, will officially begin her year in office following the traditional Driving-in ceremony on the first tee of the Old Course on September 25, 2026.

A distinguished amateur golfer from Dublin, Dowling represented Great Britain and Ireland in four Curtis Cups and was part of the 1986 side that secured a landmark 13-5 victory over the United States at Prairie Dunes.

Dowling enjoyed an outstanding amateur career, winning five Irish Championships as well as the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 1986 and the Spanish Amateur Championship in 1987.

She also represented Ireland in the Home Internationals from 1979 to 1992, competed in six European Team Championships and played twice in the Espirito Santo Trophy and six times in the Vagliano Trophy.

Following her playing career, Dowling remained deeply involved in the game through leadership and administration roles, including captaining the GB&I Curtis Cup team in 2000 and serving on several influential committees in amateur golf.

Dowling became one of the first women admitted to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 2015 and later served on the Rules Committee, General Committee and Membership Committee.

She has also refereed at The Open seven times, including at Royal St George’s in 2021 when she and her husband Peter became the first married couple to officiate together at the championship.

Dowling, an honorary life member of the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union, lives in Devon with Peter and currently plays to a Handicap Index of 7.6.