article: Members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews have been sending their replies to a postal ballot on whether to admit women to the club for the first time in its 260-year history. The result will be made known in the early evening of Thursday when a statement will be issued by the Fife-based organisation. If, as expected, the vote favours the admission of women it will be a significant step forward for the game. While it won't make any practical difference to the thousands of female golfers in the UK, it will help one of the game's governing bodies perform its duties free from rising criticism that was undermining its authority. Golf has been regarded as out of step with modern society because several men-only clubs hold positions of great influence - none more so than the Royal and Ancient, which in 2004 spawned the limited company that runs the Open Championship and acts as rule-maker for the game. The championship committee that organises the Open is made up by members from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. Provided there is the anticipated "yes" vote, this means women will have a route to become involved in the running of golf's oldest and most revered tournament. It is a significant move because the club will regain a moral authority that was slipping from its grasp. "We've done this really because of our governance role in the game," said R&A chief executive Peter Dawson when he announced the ballot in March. "Sport has been changing, society has been changing and golf is part of that. We think it's time this change is made. "You can always ask that question: 'Why now? Why not 10 years ago?' The R&A have been considering this. It's been on our agenda, on our radar, for quite some time," Dawson added. "The feeling is as society changes, as sport changes, as golf changes, it's something the R&A needs to do." Back in March, Dawson stated a "no" vote would be "undesirable". Indeed, were the move to be rejected it would leave many questioning the R&A's right to have any future influence on the running of the game. During the ballot process, Dawson has been at pains not to be drawn any further into the debate. He did not want to say anything that might upset the membership. Originally the vote, which would have required a two-thirds majority, was scheduled to take place at the club's annual business meeting. That's why they had no choice but to use the same date as the Scottish referendum. However, it soon became clear that this was a matter for the entire club, not just the 300 or so members who typically attend the business meeting. Therefore a postal ballot of all 2,400 members was organised and only a simple majority is required to enact the historic move. Too many recent Opens have been overshadowed by the men-only issue. Whenever the championship has been played at St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal St George's and Royal Troon, it has detracted from the
summary: While Scotland decides its future on 18 September, the result will be published of another significant vote by one of the country's historic sporting institutions.