Royal & Ancient announces first group of female members

After 260 years, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews can now count 14 women as members of the club.

The club, off which the governing body the R&A was formed in 2002, announced Tuesday seven honorary and seven ordinary -- that is, they paid membership fees -- female members.

Among the honorary members are Britain's Princess Anne; golf legends Louise Suggs, Annika Sorenstam, Laura Davies and Renée Powell; as well as European golf standouts Belle Robertson and Lally Segard.

The club also has seven full members, revealed by GeoffShackelford.com:

• Angela Bonallack, champion English golfer and wife of 1971 Walker Cup captain Michael Bonallack

• Claire Dowling, accomplished golfer and captain of the 2000 GB & I Curtis Cup team

• Diane Dunlop-Hébert, the 109th president of Golf Canada

• Patsy Hankins, first president of the gender-combined New Zealand Golf and first Women's Chairman for the International Golf Federation

• Martha Lang, accomplished amateur golf, competing in some 60 USGA events, and Women's Committee chair for the USGA in 2011 and '12

• Carol Semple Thompson, legendary amateur and multi-time Curtis Cup captain

• Marion Thannhauser, former president of the European Golf Association

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