Muirfield plans another vote on admitting female members

Muirfield has announced it wants to have a fresh ballot over the admission of female members, after widespread outrage about the failure of the first vote this year.

The Scottish club failed in May to get the two-thirds majority required of its membership to change its policy, drawing disapproval from across golf.

That saw the R&A subsequently announce that Muirfield would no longer be eligible to host The Open Championship under the current membership structure.

Catriona Matthew, one of Scotland’s most successful women golfers, described the decision as “embarrassing”.

Responding to the news of a potential second ballot, an R&A spokesman said on Monday: “We welcome this development”.

Muirfield has hosted the Open on 16 occasions, the most recent of which was in 2013 when Phil Mickelson lifted the Claret Jug.

David Cameron also stressed the need for sports clubs to be open to both sexes, while a chorus of golfers past and present including the likes of Gary Player, Rory McIlroy, Sir Nick Faldo, Paul Lawrie, Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter were also quick to back the decision to remove Muirfield from the 10-course British Open rota.

On Friday, Royal Troon, which hosts the Open in two weeks, is expected to pass a proposal that will introduce women members for the first time.

Some Muirfield members reportedly had concerns over “slow play” and future changes to club rules if women joined.

According to Martin Dempster of The Scotsman, the members are looking to hold a second vote before the end of the year that would allow women as members.

“Recently we spoke about the need for our club to reflect the modern society in which we exist and I am pleased that a large majority of members who responded to our survey agree and support opening the club to women”.

“That is why we are moving quickly to a special general meeting and to have these matters resolved as swiftly as possible following our consultation”.