Lynx Golf has welcomed the appointment of its Tour ambassador, Dame Laura Davies, as an honorary member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
Stephanie Zinser, the CFO of Lynx Golf, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the R&A has recognised Laura’s contribution to the game of golf by making her one of their first women members after 260 years of being a male-only association.
“It’s entirely appropriate. She has been the leading light in the women’s game in the UK, is recognised the world over, and fully deserves this recognition. Although, I feel obliged to say as the female owner of a golf equipment manufacturer, that the R&A has been appallingly slow in ending its male-only membership policy.
“One can only hope that the new culture of equality, accessibility and fairness within the R&A will spread and help us all to grow the game of golf. Because, frankly, they’ve been failing in these obligations with their outdated and sexist past policies.”
The R&A only voted last September to end its male-only membership policy. More than three quarters of the club’s 2,400 members took part in a ballot, with 85% voting to allow women members.
Along with Laura, Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, Renee Powell, Belle Robertson MBE, Lally Segard, Annika Sorenstam and Louise Suggs have all also accepted invitations to become honorary members of the club.
Laura, England’s greatest woman player, was awarded her damehood in the Queen’s 2014 birthday honours, and the 51-year-old four-times major winner is still seeking to add to her 84 worldwide professional titles.
A record-breaking Solheim Cup player, Laura signed in January with equipment manufacturer Lynx Golf as part of a three-year deal which will see her use Lynx clubs.
Recognised as Europe’s most accomplished ever female professional golfer, she has played professional golf over four decades on both the Ladies European Tour and US LPGA Tours.
She became the first European player to be ranked number one in the world and became the first non-American player to finish top of the US LPGA Money List.
She has been the lynchpin of a record 12 Solheim Cup appearances and will be enshrined into the World Golf Hall of Fame in the Class of 2015 in July, whilst continuing to compete on the LPGA and the LET.
Lynx Golf www.lynxgolf.co.uk
Laura Davies official website www.lauradaviesgolf.com
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