Prince Andrew's Royal Duty Retirement May Get Extended To Several Famous Golf Clubs

With news refusing to go away involving Prince Andrew’s ties to the lowly Jeffrey Epstein, The Telegraph’s Ben Rumsby reports that officials at Royal Portrush and Royal Liverpool are reconsidering their ties to the golf-adoring prince.

Portrush will be reviewing his ties to the site of this year’s Open after the Prince visited there in September before announcing this week that he is retiring from public duties:

“The allegations surrounding Prince Andrew, and especially the trauma and distress suffered by the victims of Jeffrey Epstein is a matter of deep regret,” the club said in a statement.

“Royal Portrush will continue to monitor the ongoing investigative process. There are no scheduled plans for him to return to the club.

“The council of Royal Portrush is acutely aware of the widespread public concern about these allegations, and Prince Andrew’s decision to step away from public duties will be discussed at our next meeting.”

Royal Liverpool Golf Club is on the record saying it would “not call upon” its patron’s services during his exile.

Not addressed? The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. While the list of associations ended with Andrew, the R&A has said nothing about his future role as honorary this and captain of that…

The Duke is also a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, which will stage the 150th Open in 2021. He is the only royal to have served on a committee there and was captain for the year of its 250th anniversary.

The R&A would confirm only that he was a member, while Women’s Open venue Sunningdale Ladies’ Golf Club declined to comment on the status of the Duke’s patronage there.

Should he disappear from circles over his ties to Epstein, the equipment manufacturers will lose one of their leading advocates for unregulated distance.