The 63-year-old is also secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and has been CEO since taking over from Peter Dawson in 2015.

"It has been a privilege to serve golf at the highest level," Slumbers said in a statement on Wednesday.

"It is a role that I have been proud to carry out on behalf of the R&A's employees, the members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and all our global partners.

"In any career, there is a time to allow the next generation to have its turn.

"I am grateful to have had the honour, for nearly a decade, to have been the custodian of all that the R&A and the game of golf more broadly represents."

Slumbers played a key role in the modernisation of the Rules of Golf in 2019, the new World Handicap System in 2020, and the Distance Insights process, which led to December's announcement of a new rule to reduce the distance golf balls travel.

The rule will controversially apply to recreational players as well as in elite competitions, but Slumbers insisted the change was necessary for the long-term sustainability of the game.

"Governance is not easy, but our responsibility is to look to the future and make sure the game is appropriately structured for the long term, and we believe this rule change is part of that," he said.

"I think it's an important moment for the game and it's a positive moment for the game."

Slumbers will oversee the 152nd Open at Royal Troon, the AIG Women's Open at St Andrews, and the 43rd Curtis Cup at Sunningdale before stepping down.

An executive search firm has been appointed to help find Slumber's successor.

The 63-year-old is also secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and has been CEO since taking over from Peter Dawson in 2015.

"It has been a privilege to serve golf at the highest level," Slumbers said in a statement on Wednesday.

"It is a role that I have been proud to carry out on behalf of the R&A's employees, the members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and all our global partners.

"In any career, there is a time to allow the next generation to have its turn.

"I am grateful to have had the honour, for nearly a decade, to have been the custodian of all that the R&A and the game of golf more broadly represents."

Slumbers played a key role in the modernisation of the Rules of Golf in 2019, the new World Handicap System in 2020, and the Distance Insights process, which led to December's announcement of a new rule to reduce the distance golf balls travel.

The rule will controversially apply to recreational players as well as in elite competitions, but Slumbers insisted the change was necessary for the long-term sustainability of the game.

"Governance is not easy, but our responsibility is to look to the future and make sure the game is appropriately structured for the long term, and we believe this rule change is part of that," he said.

"I think it's an important moment for the game and it's a positive moment for the game."

Slumbers will oversee the 152nd Open at Royal Troon, the AIG Women's Open at St Andrews, and the 43rd Curtis Cup at Sunningdale before stepping down.

An executive search firm has been appointed to help find Slumber's successor.