Muirfield Open Future in Doubt After Women Vote

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.

A ballot was staged where a two thirds majority was needed to change the membership policy to allow women members. In an open letter the Club Committee had recommended that the membership vote in favour of a resolution to admit women as members.

However, results from the ballot show 64% of members voted for allowing female members, whilst 34% voted against.

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers Captain, Henry Fairweather said:

“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.

This rules out Muirfield hosting the Open for at least the near future.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A:

“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.