WOMEN WILL FINALLY be allowed to join the famous Muirfield golf club after members passed the proposal for change with an 80.2% majority today, in a decision that could see the British Open return to the Scottish venue.
More than 92% of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers members, which owns and runs the Muirfield course, took part in the vote, 498 being in favour of the move and 123 against.
The motion needed a two-thirds majority to be passed, and after a previous attempt to change the rules failed last May, there was no such trouble this time around.
After last year’s push for change narrowly missed the two-thirds quota, the R&A, golf’s ruling body, announced that the course would not be in the mix to host the British Open again while the rule remained in place.
However, on the back of today’s decision, the R&A has already confirmed that Muirfield will be able to host the iconic event once more.
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The club, which was founded in 1744, has previously hosted the British Open on 16 occasions, most recently in 2013, when Phil Mickelson prevailed.
Dublin’s Portmarnock Golf Club is one of the remaining venues around the world that still retains its male-only policy.
Meanwhile, BBC has announced an extension of its deal to broadcast the US Masters which will see the British broadcaster continue to screen highlights from the opening two rounds at Augusta and the third and fourth rounds in full.
This year’s tournament will run from 6-9 April.
fellas really need to stop telling wans about the craic they have down their clubs, whatever clubs they may be. it’ll give them less of an incentive to want to join up then and ruin it for us all.
I’m pretty sure royal Dublin doesn’t allow lady members either – often manages to fly under the radar as portmarnock is (rightly) criticised.
I caddied in portmarnock for years, 6hr round when theres 4 ladys.
And?
@Augustus hoop: It’s club. Clubs are entitled to have male or female only clubs. If they just want to hang out with other men, then best of luck to them. I don’t see the Irish Country womens Association on the rack for having female only members.
The reason Portmarnock is of interest to feminists has nothing to do wit golf and all to do with power. They perceive the club to be some kind of seat of power and they want their part of it. Quite pathetic actually as they can simply go off and open their own anytime they like.
And the rich men playing behind them where not happy
Iu
I’m always conflicted about this. Yes it seems sexist to have men’s only clubs. However I know women’s only gyms, country clubs and many other clubs that will have women only days. No one ever talks about those because it if you are a white male you are excluded from talking about these issues.
Money talks and it’s just about the only thing that will motivate the old curmudgeons who run clubs such as Muirfield.
They certainly didn’t make this decision out of solidarity for womanhood anyway!
It might be in Scotland and because of that you’d think it was a Scottish men’s club.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
It’s an English Public School old boys club.
It’s new women members won’t be Scottish, you can be sure of that.
Nicola Sturgeon would have no chance.
That’s what Muirfield is.
Turnberry – owned by Donald Trump – won’t get The Open again until his presidency is over. Fantastic place – he spent £200 million on it.
The vote they’ll be looking for next ,,, we must fight back ,,
I’d make them host The Women’s British Open first and then put them in the pot for the mens.
Good god
A racist, sexist and elitist sport.