R&A to bar transgender women golfers from competing, in line with LPGA, USGA policy
The R&A, which runs the sport outside US and Mexico, updated guidelines – taking effect in 2025 – after ‘extensive consultation’ with experts.
Transgender women who have gone through male puberty will no longer be allowed to play in women’s golf tournaments organised by the R&A from 2025 under a new “fair competition policy”, the governing body announced on Thursday.
The R&A, which governs the sport outside the United States and Mexico, has updated guidelines following “extensive consultation” with medical and scientific experts.
The ruling brings the organisation into line with new policies established by both the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) and the USGA (US Golf Association).
“The evidence shows that golf is a gender-affected sport in which male puberty confers a performance advantage,” the R&A, based at St Andrews in Scotland, said in a statement.
“From the start of 2025, a golfer entering female professional and elite amateur championships organised by the R&A must have been female at birth or transitioned to female before the onset of male puberty to be eligible to compete.
“Players assigned male at birth and who have experienced male puberty are ineligible to compete in these events, but can enter male professional and elite amateur championships organised by the R&A.”
