Two more women become honorary St Andrews members

Marlene Stewart Strait and Judy Bell have accepted Honorary Memberships.

Marlene Stewart Strait and Judy Bell have become the latest women to be made honorary members of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Stewart Strait is the only player to win the US, Canadian, British and Australian's women's amateur titles. American Bell was the first female to be elected president of the USGA and was also a former captain and player in the Curtis Cup.

The Royal and Ancient voted to allow women to be members at the club for the first time in September 2014. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Dame Laura Davies, Belle Robertson MBE, Renee Powell, Lally Segard, Louise Suggs and Annika Sorenstam have been made members alongside eight other women.

Canadian Stewart Strait said: "I would never have dreamt of this all those years ago when I started out playing golf but I have enjoyed every moment of it.

"I am extremely proud and grateful to receive this honour and it means a great deal not just to me but to Canadian golf as a whole."

Bell, who captained the American Curtis Cup team in 1986 and 1988, said: "The Royal and Ancient Golf Club enjoys such a special place at the heart of golf and I am thrilled to be a part of it.

"Golf has been very good to me over the years and this is a wonderful distinction to receive."

Both Stewart Strait and Bell enjoyed successful careers, with the former winning 11 Canadian Ladies Open Amateurs and three US Senior Women's Championships.

One of Bell's claims to fame was shooting a 67 at the US Women's Open in 1964, the then lowest round recorded.

Gavin Caldwell, Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said: "Both Marlene and Judy have made substantial contributions to golf through their outstanding achievements as players and their tireless work in supporting the development of the sport."