Womens Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania

Carol Semple Thompson last traveled to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews, Scotland, in 2008 as the captain of the United States' Curtis Cup team.

Carol Semple Thompson, of Sewickley, thinks it's time for another trip.

A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and a seven-time USGA national champion, Semple Thompson, 66, was one of the first 14 women admitted Tuesday as members into The Royal and Ancient, which maintained an all-male policy for 260 years.

“It's quite an august group of women, and I'm flattered to be among the group,” Semple Thompson said. “It doesn't even matter that I was one of the first. It's just that I get to be part of such an impressive group.”

The Royal and Ancient welcomed seven women, including Annika Sorenstam and Britain's Princess Anne, as honorary members. They are not required to pay dues but also receive fewer privileges at the club. Semple Thompson is one of seven “ordinary” members, who pay fees but also have more privileges — what those privileges entail remains unknown to Semple Thompson.

Club members voted in September to admit women. Semple Thompson learned she would be among those admitted in December and kept her membership secret to all except her husband for more than a month.

The other honorary members are Brits Belle Robertson and Laura Davies, Frenchwoman Lally Segard, LPGA co-founder Louise Suggs and Renee Powell, the second black player to compete in the LPGA.