After only 64% of Muirfield members voted to allow female members, the R&A will no longer consider the venue as an Open host
Members of Muirfield, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, have voted to remain a men-only club.
“The Honourable Company is a members club, and, as such, the members decide the Rules of the Club, including its membership policy. Women will continue to be welcome at Muirfield on the course and in the clubhouse as guests and visitors, as they have been for many years.”
The R&A, golf's governing body across the world barring the USA, has announced that it will no longer take its biggest event, the Open, to venues where women cannot be members.
“We have consistently said that it is a matter for the Honourable Company to conduct a review of its membership policy and that we would await their decision.
“The R&A has considered today’s decision with respect to The Open Championship. The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and going forward we will not stage the Championship at a venue that does not admit women as members.
“Given the schedule for staging The Open, it would be some years before Muirfield would have been considered to host the Championship again. If the policy at the club should change we would reconsider Muirfield as a venue for The Open in future.”
Muirfield has hosted 16 Open Championships and one Senior Open Championship. It has never hosted the Women's Open Championship.
