Royal Portrush takes center stage in the golf world this week as the Open Championship heads to Northern Ireland. As you watch, you may wonder… how does a golf club get the title of “Royal”? There are a couple different ways that a golf club can attain this honor, which has been bestowed to some of the greatest golf courses in the world.
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – APRIL 22: The Claret Jug sits on the 5th hole during media day for the … More
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The first way a course gets “Royal” in its name is quite simple, it just calls itself Royal. Not to say that there isn’t symbolism in its name, like the Royal Golf Club in Minnesota, where Arnold Palmer aka “the King” was one of the designers and the course wanted to honor that. Or Royal Spring Golf Course in India, which takes its name from the springs used by Mughal emperors.
The second way is filled with much more pageantry and bravado, and that is to be given the title by the monarchy itself. There are dozens of clubs around the world that have “Royal” status and while most of them are named by British kings and queens, there are around two dozen clubs granted status by both the Spanish and Belgian royal families over the years.
While most people know that golf, or at least golf as we know it, got its start in Scotland, but it isn’t at St. Andrews where the honor of being named “Royal” was first used. For that we need to go to a different city, Perth. In 1833, King William IV granted the first “Royal” title when he granted the name to Royal Perth Golfing Society & County and City Club.
Founders of the Royal Perth Golfing Society in 1833.
Royal Perth Golfing Society
A year after Royal Perth, the Society of St. Andrews golfers, whose membership included members of the royal family, officially changed its name to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. The R&A as it is better known, has went on to become the most famous golfing society in the world and a governing body for the rules of the game.
ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 10: The Swilcan Bridge on the par 4, 18th hole and The R&A Clubhouse … More
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While having members of a royal family as part of a club helps, there are other ways a golf club can get the honor of being “Royal” bestowed upon them. There is an application process for a club to try to be granted “Royal” status, but this process is shrouded in mystery. In Scott Macpherson’s 2013 book Golf’s Royal Clubs, the criteria listed for clubs were “institutions of eminence, long standing and secure financial position, and devoted to national, charitable and scientific objects.” The reigning monarch would get the final say in granting approval to a club.
“At the conclusion of our research, we have to admit that no pattern could be found. Those that strove for the title, often seemed to get it, especially in the Dominions and empire.” stated Sir Peter Allen in The Sunley Book of Royal Golf.
Sometimes this process can take decades, for instance, Royal Aberdeen in Scotland started using the label in 1870, but did not officially get the “Royal” designation until 1903.
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND – JUNE 21: Wilco Nienaber of Republic of South Africa and Perry Cohen of … More
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The most famous of the “Royal” courses are in the United Kingdom and many are part of the Open Championship rotation, Royal Birkdale, Portrush, St. George’s to name a few. In total, there are 34 courses in the United Kingdom deemed “Royal” and another 26 in former British commonwealths around the world, such as Royal Melbourne.
MELBOURNE,- JANUARY 03: A view from behind the green on the 402 metre 2nd hole on the East Course … More
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To break it down further, there are six ‘Royal” courses in Canada. Royal Montreal, host of last year’s Presidents Cup is the oldest, getting its designation in 1884. Eight clubs in Australia have been bestowed the honor, six in Africa, three in Asia, two in New Zealand and two more in continental Europe.
The two most unique designations are in mainland Europe, as they are in countries never controlled by the British empire. In 2003, the Marianske Lazne Golf Club in the Czech Republic with its long held connections to the British royal family was granted the title. It was a favorite holiday destination for King Edward VII, and he was even there for the opening of the golf course in 1905.
Queen Elizabeth II granted the honor to Royal Homburger(the third oldest club in Germany) in 2013. The Prince of Wales and members of the royal family frequented the city of Homberg, Germany for its spas and King Edward VII was the first honorary member of the golf club.
We will have to wait and see when the next great golf course to be granted the title of “Royal” will be named. The last one of major notoriety was Royal Troon, which is now in the Open rota and was awarded the title in 1978 for the club’s 100th anniversary.
TROON, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 15: A general view of the par 3, eighth hole Postage Stamp at Royal Troon … More
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