Straffen, Ireland … Muirfield has lost the right to host golf’s oldest Major after members of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (HCEG), the world’s oldest golf club, voted to remain a men only club.

A two thirds majority of those who voted was required to change the club’s membership policy to admit women as members. In an open letter the Club Committee had recommended that the membership vote in favour of a resolution to admit women as members. In the end a postal ballot of members, scrutinised by Electoral Reform Services, did not reach the required threshold in favour of change. Voting was divided 64% in favour of the resolution and 36% against.

The R & A immediately reacted to the announcement to drop Muirfield from a current list of 10 courses on the Open Championship rota.

The R & A strip Muirfield of hosting The Open after Muirfield members vote to remain ‘all male’.

“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,” said R & A CEO Martin Slummers.

“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.”

Slummers comments came moments after Muirfield 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 records of the Club reveal that women have played golf at Muirfield since 1904. Women’s and men’s single sex golf clubs, although reducing in number, have been a feature of golf provision in Great Britain and Ireland and comply fully with equality legislation.

Muirfield has staged The Open on 16 occasions since 1892 and more recently in 2013 when Phil Mickelson won.

It was again due to host The Open in 2023,

Royal Troon, and venue for this year’s Open Championship, and also an all-male club will vote later this year whether to become a mixed club.