The R&A

Groundbreaking ceremony for new R&A Global Headquarters

The R&A

29 Jan 25

3 mins

Construction work has officially commenced on the building of The R&A’s new Global Headquarters at St Andrews West.

David Rickman MBE, who led on the planning for the development of the staff building before retiring from The R&A after a 37-year career in golf administration last October, had the honour of breaking ground to officially mark the start of construction. Rickman used a special 1890s ‘Bogey’ hole cutter provided by The R&A World Golf Museum for the ceremonial turnover of soil as work on the foundations of the project begins. The global base will bring St Andrews-based R&A staff together in one new state-of-the-art office location, with the modern headquarters for the governing body due to open in 2026.

Milestone day

St Andrews West, located on the outskirts of the town close to the A91, is a large mixed-use development which is already home to the new Madras College and has land allocated for university and employment uses along with a variety of other accommodation. Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “Today is an exciting development for the future of the organisation as we begin work on our Global Headquarters, marking an important milestone of the project in moving from planning to construction. “We are creating an environment that will reflect the role, work and heritage of The R&A and provide a collaborative space for employees and visitors to enjoy. The new Global Headquarters signals our commitment to the town of St Andrews and will place a focus on wellbeing and sustainability, and be highly enabled by technology. “We want it to be known throughout the world as a distinctive destination for our affiliates and partners, effectively the hub of our global work to ensure golf is thriving 50 years from now.”

Invited guests

The R&A’s new Global Headquarters will sit a short distance from The Royal and Ancient Clubhouse, one of the most historic buildings in global sport. Home to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the Club’s functions and those of The R&A will remain inextricably linked. Invited guests attending the ceremony included Jim Leishman, Provost of Fife (pictured above), project stakeholders, contractors, government officials and R&A staff. The purpose-built Global Headquarters at the home of golf will comprise of four storeys, including meeting areas, primary work spaces and café amenities. The basement will feature an underground parking facility. McLaughlin & Harvey are the main contractors on the build of the project.

“We are creating an environment that will reflect the role, work and heritage of The R&A and provide a collaborative space for employees and visitors to enjoy."

Mark Darbon

Chief Executive of The R&A

Working collaboratively

Robbie Clark, Operations Director, McLaughlin & Harvey, said, “We are honoured to have been awarded the contract to construct the new Global Headquarters for The R&A in St Andrews, the historic home of golf. “As a main contractor with a long history of working throughout the UK, we have developed ongoing relationships with many blue-chip companies, including several high-profile sporting organisations. Adding The R&A to our portfolio of valued clients represents an exciting opportunity for our business to work with a worldwide brand and ensure their aspirations for their new Global Headquarters are met in full. “Our team is committed to working collaboratively with The R&A and the wider project team to deliver a facility that not only meets the highest standards of sustainable design, but also provides a first-class environment for The R&A’s staff and visitors for decades to come.” Through the duration of the build, The R&A and McLaughlin & Harvey will engage with the local community across a number of social value initiatives. This will include educational outreach with primary schools on sustainability and environmental awareness, developing opportunities for local employment, volunteering in community projects, and collaborating with Madras College to identify young people keen to take part in a construction work academy. With R&A staff currently working from five different buildings across St Andrews, the Global Headquarters will provide a flexible, adaptable and collaborative working environment enabling the organisation to deliver its strategy to ensure that golf continues to thrive. ‘Bogey’ reflects the era in which the hole cutter was used. Bogey first appeared in golf in the early 1890s and became the hole score that a player of high amateur standard should reach, while par was the standard expected of professionals and championship-level amateurs.

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