Billionaire 'too old' to join the R&A

Published on Thursday 15 July 2010 17:37

A BILLIONAIRE American tycoon who owns the luxurious Old Course Hotel in St Andrews has been denied membership to the R&A - because he's too old.

Herb Kohler, one of the world's richest men and who counts Tiger Woods among his friends, has been denied membership to Scotland's most exclusive golf club.

The businessman, who is visiting The Open Championship in St Andrews, has revealed he was rejected by the Royal & Ancient Club because he was over 60. Mr Kohler, who also built the nearby parklands Dukes Course and is redeveloping Hamilton Hall, the large sandstone building overlooking the 18th green of the Old Course, said: "I was fairly confident that I was going to be accepted.

"I had two sponsors, one was the commissioner of the PGA Tour in the US, Tim Fenchem, and the other was Pete Dye, foremost living golf designer.

"But they said, 'Mr Kohler, unfortunately you weren't aware of our rule, and if we give you an exemption we can't with a straight face maintain our rules as they ought to be maintained'."

Kohler, who is 70, claims to have understood and accepted the R&A's stance. "I didn't holler. I didn't appeal. A rule is a rule, no matter who you are."

Mr Kohler is not the first person to miss out on R&A membership. It usually invites the principal of St Andrews University to be a member, but Dr Louise has been snubbed so far.