Muirfield vote to allow women members by huge margin

Muirfield has been restored to the Open rota after the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing female members.

The club initially rejected the motion to allow women members last May, and the club was immediately removed from consideration for hosting any future Open Championships by the R&A.

But the results of the second ballot have now been announced by club captain Henry Fairweather, with 498 votes in favour and just 123 votes against in a turnout of over 92 per cent of members eligible to vote.

"This is a significant decision for a club which was founded in 1744 and retains many of the values and aspirations of its founding members," Fairweather said. "We look forward to welcoming women as members who will enjoy, and benefit from, the great traditions and friendly spirit of this remarkable club".

However, due to the current waiting list for membership, it could be at least two years before the first female member is appointed.

A club statement read: "The current waiting list for membership at Muirfield suggests that new candidates for membership, women and men, can expect to wait two to three years, or longer, to become a member of the club."

Muirfield's decision to continue with its men-only policy last year was greeted with widespread condemnation following the first ballot, with Rory McIlroy among the first to criticise the membership.

The R&A acted swiftly to remove the club from the Open rota, stating they would not allow the world's oldest major championship to be held "at a venue that does not admit women as members".

But following the announcement of the second ballot, R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers confirmed that Muirfield will now be considered for The Open, although it cannot be held there until at least 2022.

"In light of today's decision by the Honourable Company we can confirm that Muirfield will become a venue for The Open once again," said Slumbers in a statement. "Muirfield has a long and important history of hosting The Open and with today's announcement that will continue.

"It is extremely important for us in staging one of the world's great sporting events that women can become members at all of our host clubs. Muirfield is a truly outstanding Open venue and we very much look forward to taking the Championship back there in future."

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which was founded in 1744, has staged The Open 16 times and has long-been regarded as one of the finest courses in the world.

The most recent Open at Muirfield was also one of its most memorable, with Phil Mickelson making a remarkable run of birdies over the closing nine holes to claim the Claret Jug for the first time by a three-shot margin.