THE golf club banned from hosting the Open championship after voting not to let women join will run a second ballot on the issue
Muirfield, the world’s oldest club, sparked outrage after members rejected proposals to allow female golfers after a two-year consultation on membership.
Last month a postal ballot of members of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which runs the course, one of Scotland’s last remaining men-only clubs, returned 64 per cent for and 36 per cent against widening the membership, falling just short of the two-thirds majority required for the club to alter its constitution.
The move attracted worldwide condemnation and resulted in Muirfield, in Gullane, a favoured retreat of Edinburgh’s judiciary, forfeiting its right to hold the prestigious Open championship. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers said it is now “seeking a fresh ballot of its membership on admitting women as members of the club”.
The club’s committee supported allowing female members and will propose another postal ballot before the end of 2016 at a special general meeting of members. Approving female members will begin “restoring the reputation of the club”, captain Henry Fairweather believes.
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.
“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.”
East Lothian MP George Kerevan was pleased the club was reconsidering its position.
“I am absolutely delighted to hear that Muirfield is prepared to change its mind,” he said.
“When I think of all the work East Lothian has put into establishing Scotland’s Golf Coast, I ask myself whether the minority of members of the all-male Muirfield Golf Club who thwarted a proposal by its majority to admit women to full membership ever realised what the repercussions could be. The most dramatic one, the loss of the Open championship, will damage our hotel, restaurant and retail trade, as well as East Lothian’s reputation as a forward-thinking county.
“I look forward to hearing that the Muirfield membership has agreed to a special general meeting, and that the new postal ballot has delivered a majority in favour of admitting women to Muirfield as equal members. The days of all-male clubs are almost over, and hooray for that.”
Some Muirfield members reportedly had concerns over “slow play’’ and future changes to club rules if women joined.
Politicians and leading golfers blasted last month’s decision and urged another ballot. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon branded the result of the first ballot “indefensible” while Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said “in terms of our international profile it paints a completely distorted picture of modern Scotland”.
Iain Gray, the former Scottish Labour leader, tabled a motion at Holyrood calling on the club to reconsider its stance “at the earliest opportunity”.
The decision was also slammed by top golfers including North Berwick’s Catriona Matthew, who said she was “embarrassed” by the vote and claimed it painted a “poor image” of Scottish golf.
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy said: “I think for golf’s image, as we are trying to break out of this stuffy, old image.
“We are trying to become more with the times and trying to do things to make golf faster, make golf cooler, make more people included.”
On the R&A’s decision to drop the East Lothian venue from The Open list, he added: “It’s not right to host the world’s biggest tournament at a place that does not allow women to be members.
“Hopefully Muirfield can see some sense and we can get it back on The Open rota.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here