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Muirfield to announce result of women members vote Muirfield golf club overturns men-only policy
(about 9 hours later)
Muirfield golf club is set to announce the result of a vote on whether to admit female members. Muirfield golf club has voted to admit women as members for the first time in its history.
A previous vote at the privately-owned links course fell short of the majority required to change membership policy. Members at the privately-owned club voted 80.2% in favour of updating their membership policy.
Muirfield, which last hosted the Open Championship in 2013, was later told by golf's ruling body the R&A that it would no longer be considered as a host venue. It followed a decision by golf's ruling body, the R&A, to remove Muirfield as a host venue for the Open Championship after it failed to change in 2016.
Club captain Henry Fairweather will announce the result at 11:30. The club - which was founded in 1744 - had required two-thirds of its eligible voters to back admitting women.
Motions require two-thirds of its eligible voters to back the move. Only 64% previously voted in favour. Club captain Henry Fairweather announced the result at 11:30.
Mr Fairweather has previously described the "disappointment" felt by many members at the result of the first vote. The postal ballot of members returned 498 votes in favour of change, with 123 votes (19.8%) against.
He said: "A substantial majority of our members voted for change and many have voiced their disappointment with the ballot result and with subsequent events. A total of 621 votes were counted, a 92.7% turnout.
"The club committee believes that a clear and decisive vote in favour of admitting women as members is required to enable us to begin the task of restoring the reputation of the club that has been damaged by the earlier ballot outcome." Mr Fairweather said: "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.
"We look forward to welcoming women as members who will enjoy, and benefit from, the great traditions and friendly spirit of this remarkable club."
'Important history'
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns and runs Muirfield, had recommended its members update their rules.
Muirfield has staged the Open 16 times and last hosted the event in 2013.
However, following the 2016 vote which failed to overturn the ban on female members, the club was told it would no longer host the event.
Following Tuesday's vote, Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the R&A, said the club would once again become an Open venue.
He said: "In light of today's decision by the Honourable Company, we can confirm that Muirfield will become a venue for the Open once again.
"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 our host clubs.
"Muirfield is a truly outstanding Open venue and we very much look forward to taking the championship there in future."
Despite previously not being able to become members of Muirfield, women had been able to play on the links course and visit the clubhouse as guests and visitors.