GOLF BUSINESS NEWS – R&A bans male-born transgender players from women's events

The R&A follows the USGA in introducing a “fair play policy” that bans transgender players who were born male and have gone through male puberty from participating in women's golf tournaments.

The R&A said the policy, which applies to its professional and elite amateur championships, was developed after extensive consultation last year with medical and scientific experts who reviewed the best available research on transgender people participating in high-performance sport. There is evidence that golf is a gender-influenced sport, with male puberty conferring performance advantages.

The USGA announced last week it would implement a similar ban, which would apply to events on the LPGA Tour and Women's European Tour, as well as other elite amateur championships.

From early 2025, golfers participating in the R&A's Women's Professional and Elite Amateur Championships must have been female at birth, or transitioned to female before the onset of male puberty, to be eligible to compete.

Players who were assigned male at birth and have gone through male puberty are not eligible to compete in these events, but can compete in the men's professional and elite amateur championships organized by the R&A.

These requirements do not apply at the recreational level, as the sport supports inclusivity through the World Handicap System, which enables golfers around the world to play together and compete on a fair and equitable basis, regardless of age, ability, background or gender.

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, said: “We have carefully reviewed the best medical and scientific advice relating to transgender athletes participating in elite and junior golf competitions and have decided to update our conditions of entry to safeguard fairness for female professionals and athletes. .

“While we believe golf should be open to all and are committed to growing the game, we recognize our responsibility to ensure players compete fairly and equally in our elite competition.”

The R&A has also developed guidelines which have been provided to its affiliated national federations as they develop appropriate policies for their own competitions and those of member golf clubs in their respective countries, where gender recognition and transition may take place differently. method.