What do the R and A do?
The R&A group of companies was formed in 2004 to take on The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews’ responsibilities for governing the Rules of Golf, staging The Open, golf’s original championship, and developing the sport. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club founded what is now the Official World Golf Ranking for male professionals in 1986, and the R&A introduced the World Amateur Golf Ranking for male amateurs in 2007. The R&A also owns and operates the R&A World Golf Museum.
How do you become a member of the R&A?
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews itself is now simply a golf club although membership is by invitation only. It has 2,400 members from all over the world. The Old Course at St. Andrews requires all golfers to have a handicap of 36 or below. Muirfield and Royal Portrush Golf Club are a little more restrictive, requiring 24 and 18 respectively to play the course (24 for females at Royal Portrush).
How much is a R&A membership?
One Club is free to join and provides members with a comprehensive array of year-round benefits, rewards, exclusive content and unique access to The Open, AIG Women’s Open and other prestigious R&A Championships. This includes the launch of a new global streaming service, R&A TV, powered by Endeavor Streaming. One Club is a free membership providing exclusive content, benefits, prize draws and tee times to golf fans around the world. One Club membership also gives fans access to buy tickets for R&A Championships, including the AIG Women’s Open, as well as apply for tickets in The Open Ticket Ballot.