By Brian Keogh
Irish golf celebrated a historic occasion on September 25 when Ireland’s Claire Dowling became the first woman to serve as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
At precisely 8 am, a cannon fired on the first tee of the Old Course, and Dowling launched her opening drive to officially begin her term.
A large gathering of Members, former Captains and members of the public assembled to share in the time-honoured tradition.
“It’s the most terrifying experience I think I’ve ever had in my life,” Claire said before hitting her tee shot. “But you know, it’s fantastic that so many people have turned up, and it’s just an amazing moment. It’s historic. It’s just fantastic. It’s such a huge honour to be invited to the captaincy and I just can’t believe it.”
Born and educated in Dublin, Dowling enjoyed a distinguished amateur career. She represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup four times and was part of the 1986 team that secured the first GB&I victory over the USA on American soil, winning 13-5 at Prairie Dunes.
She won five Irish Championships, the first in 1983, as well as the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 1986 and the Spanish Amateur Championship in 1987.
Her Irish record was remarkable: she won the Leitrim Cup as leading qualifier in 1981, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1992. She also won the Irish Ladies Close in 1983 at Cork, beating Valerie Hassett 6/4; in 1984 at Co Sligo, beating Maureen Madill at the 19th; in 1987 at Lahinch, beating Catherine Hickey 5/4; and in 1991 at Ballybunion, beating Eileen Rose McDaid by 2 holes.
After her playing career, Dowling captained the GB&I Curtis Cup team in 2000 and became a prominent administrator and referee.
She officiated at The Open seven times, including in 2021 at Royal St George’s, where she and her husband Peter became the first married couple to referee at the same Championship.
She was among the first women admitted to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 2015.
She described it as a huge privilege to serve and an honour to be the first woman to take on the role. She added that the Club had a remarkable history and tradition, but it continued to evolve, which was important for any institution.
Caddie Dillon McCarron returned her ball and received the traditional gold sovereign. The retrieved ball was later cast in silver and displayed on the Silver Club.
As a key figure in Irish women’s golf, Claire is an honorary life member of the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union and holds the same distinction at a number of golf clubs including Portmarnock, Copt Heath, Woodbrook and Cork. Claire is also a member of East Devon and her current Handicap Index is 7.6.
For Irish golf, it was a landmark day, a fitting recognition of a remarkable career and a historic step forward for the sport.
