The R&A announced on Wednesday that Martin Slumbers will be stepping down as the Chief Executive Officer and Secretariat of the R&A at the end of this year.
Slumbers led the R&A, the global governing body for golf outside the U.S.A. and Mexico. As secretary of St. Andrews dating back to 1754, he supported its committees as they served its international membership.
Before stepping down at the end of this year, he will supervise The 152 _ nd Open in Royal Troon and the return of AIG Women’s Open St. Andrews.
In a press release, R&A Chairman Niall Farquharson stated that “Martin has been a great CEO, who has led the organization through a period growth, and enhanced the reputation and profile of our sport, making it more appealing, inclusive, and accessible.” Through his influence and stature in the worlds of golf and sports more broadly, and by increasing the proceeds from The Open in order to invest back into golf in 50 years’ time, he was true to The R&A’s purpose that golf thrives in 50 years and showed transformational leadership. He often speaks of reflecting history in an innovative way, and that will be the legacy he leaves to The R&A.
Slumbers was responsible for modernizing the R&A’s operations, including the merger with Ladies’ Golf Union, and the integration of both to allow the R&A represent men, women, girls and boys at an elite level.
As part of his strategy for the R&A, a first Playbook explaining the purpose of modern R&A was developed in 2018. This clarity led the R&A double their financial commitment to golf, focusing more on women and girls, establish a business-driven strategic approach to golf development and actively seek to improve perceptions of golf being good for people, good for society, and good for the planet.
He was responsible for the modernization of golf rules in 2019, the World Handicap System roll-out in 2020, and Distance Insights. The results of this process were announced in December 2023. He served on the boards for the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), the International Golf Federation, and the LET.
The R&A has been able to increase its investment in amateur golf in many countries, thanks to a paradigm shift in their approach, especially at The Open. They have also been able to make the AIG Women’s Open a championship of world-class status, in partnership with other partners.
Slumbers stated in the press release that it was a privilege for him to serve golf on the highest level. It is a position that I am proud to have played on behalf of The R&A employees, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club members and all of our global partners. There is a certain time in every career when it’s appropriate to let the next generation have their turn.
“I’m grateful for the privilege of having had nearly a decade to be the custodian of everything that The R&A, and golf in general, represents.”
A search firm for executive candidates has been hired to help find his successor.
