Iconic R&A Clubhouse, upgraded services Women’s British Open

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Linnea Strom’s assigned locker number in the most famous clubhouse in the world is No. 124. Past champions of the AIG Women’s British Open and amateur champions have name cards on their lockers this week in the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse. World No. 1 Nelly Korda’s, for example, is situated next to Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Wu Chun-wei. The rest of the field simply has a hand-painted gold number.

This isn’t the first time LPGA players have used the iconic clubhouse, which dates back to 1854 and is situated directly behind the first tee and 18th green at the Old Course. It is, however, the first time the best in the world have utilized the clubhouse since the membership voted to admit female members a decade ago.

Brooke M. Henderson of Canada plays her shot from the first tee during a practice round prior to the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews Old Course on August 19, 2024 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Last April, the clubhouse reopened after its most extensive renovation in 100 years, adding new women’s facilities among other upgrades. This week, LPGA players are actually utilizing the larger men’s locker room space as well as the new heritage lounge, where they can recover in comfort with compression boots and locally made protein bars and balls.

“Probably the nicest locker room we’ve had, ever,” said Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh, adding, “They smell quite nice. Usually we get old lockers that smell like old feet and stuff.”

Jenny Shin called the stately locker room area “absolutely phenomenal,” giving a small group of scribes details on the toilet stalls, down to the look of the toilet paper holder and handles.

The new club storage room can handle up to 500 bags, and players drop theirs off daily this week. Players also have a chance to shop in the new Royal and Ancient Clubhouse Shop, which is normally open only to R&A members and their guests and features items with the exclusive R&A logo.

In addition to the facilities of the R&A Clubhouse, there’s also a nearby Players Clubhouse, a temporary structure designed to meet a variety of needs for players and their guests.

“In terms of the services,” said past champion Georgia Hall, “the players’ lounge, it’s the best Women’s Open we’ve had, like, facility-wise.”

Open two hours before the first tee time until 9 p.m., players can eat three meals a day in the stylish, first-class…