The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world. It is based in St Andrews, in Scotland, regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf". Formerly it was also one of the governing authorities of the game, but in 2004 this role was handed over to a newly formed group of companies collectively known as The R&A. St. ... Scotland (Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a country in northwest Europe, occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain. ...

The organisation was founded in 1754 as the Society of St Andrews Golfers, a local golf club playing at St Andrews Links but quickly grew in importance. In 1834 King William IV became its patron and the club became known under its present name. In 1897 the Society codified the rules of golf, and was gradually over the next 30 years invited to take control of the running of golf tournaments at other courses. 1754 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... St Andrews Links in the city of St Andrews, Scotland, is regarded as the home of golf.It is the oldest course in the world. ... 1834 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... William IV (William Henry) (21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death. ...

The R&A

The R&A is the ruling authority of golf everywhere except the United States and Mexico where this responsibility rests with the United States Golf Association (USGA). It works in collaboration with national amateur and professional golf organisations in more than one hundred and ten countries. It also attempts to spread the game to new countries. The United States Golf Association (USGA) is the United States national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. ...

The R&A cooperates with the USGA in producing and regularly revising the "Rules of Golf", and the two bodies have issued the rules jointly since 1952. They also collaborate on the corresponding exegetic work, the "Decisions on the Rules of Golf". The R&A is also involved in formulating technical specifications for golfing equipment. The R&A organises several important competitions including "The Open Championship" (known in North America as the "British Open"), and the British Amateur Championship, as well as women's, junior and senior championships and the Walker Cup team event. The Champions Belt & The Claret Jug. ... The Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held in the United Kingdom. ... The Walker Cup is a series of golf matches conducted biennially between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and the United Kingdom and Ireland. ...

The present golf club

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews itself is now simply a golf club. It has 2,400 members from all over the world. Although the clubhouse is situated just before the first tee of the Old Course of the St Andrews Links, the R&A members enjoy the privilege of using a significant part of the tee times there but do not own the course, which is run by the St Andrews Links trust, a charitable organisation that owns and runs all the St Andrews Links golf courses at St Andrews. The Old Course at St Andrews is one of the oldest golf courses in the world. ... St Andrews Links in the city of St Andrews, Scotland, is regarded as the home of golf.It is the oldest course in the world. ... St Andrews Links in the city of St Andrews, Scotland, is regarded as the home of golf.It is the oldest course in the world. ... St. ...

External links

• R&A Website, including the Rules and Decisions of Golf
• Open Championship Website
• The History of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews