Henni Zuel believes the future of golf has a more positive outlook following the historic vote to allow women members at Muirfield.

The Honourable Comapny of Edinburgh Golfers announced that female members will be accepted following a second ballot on the issue, and the outcome prompted the R&A to restore the East Lothian links to The Open rota.

Muirfield was removed from consideration for hosting The Open when members voted against admitting women members in May last year, a decision greeted with widespread criticism.

But the second vote resulted in over 80 per cent of current members in favour of admitting women to their ranks, and Zuel told SportsWomen on Sky Sports News HQ that it is a positive decision for equality within the game.

The Sky Sports pundit said: "It's great to see. It was one of those votes which I didn't know which way it was going to go, but they got a clear majority in favour of admitting female members. That's fantastic news, not just for the club but for golf in general. It's brilliant for equality in the game, and for the future of the game.

"I'm not that surprised about the result in terms of the numbers, there were still 20 per cent of members of the Honorable Company who voted against allowing women members. I was concerned that it could have been a lot closer, or that it could have gone the wrong way again, even though they had all been urged to vote in favour.

"You have the type of membership there where a few might be stuck in their ways and want to keep their club exactly how it has been for many years, and they're not thinking about the next generation and the future of the game they love."

Zuel believes that many members who voted against the motion last May were forced to change their minds second time around after the R&A struck the club off the Open schedule.

"Restoring Muirfield to the Open rota was obviously a big incentive, and one of the reasons they were urged to vote yes," she added. "Losing the Open diminishes the prestige of the club, which has a long and rich history in hosting the Open.

"Martin Slumbers, the R&A chief executive, said it was one of the strongest courses on the Open rota, a view echoed by the most recent winner at the venue, Phil Mickelson. So for Muirfield to be able to attract the members they want, the ability to host the Open was an important factor.

"In modern terms, they have a few younger members now who understand the importance of having female membership. And for some of the older members, perhaps they need to be a little more open-minded in their thinking and have more consideration for the future of the game.

"The original vote against allowing women members last May highlighted a problem throughout the sport. The problem has been there and is still there, and the whole episode has shed light on the equality issues in the game.

"The R&A deserve a lot of credit for their quick reaction to that initial vote when they insisted Muirfield would not be considered for future Opens until the club allowed women members, something that Royal St George's, Royal Troon and the R&A itself have all voted in favour of in recent times.

"With more votes like this, women can now feel more included and accepted in the sport, and that's good for the future and the longevity of the game as a whole."