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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/19/muirfield-golf-club-votes-to-continue-excluding-women
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Muirfield loses right to hold Open after voting to remain men-only | Muirfield loses right to hold Open after voting to remain men-only |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| One of Scotland’s last remaining men-only golf courses has lost its right to hold the Open championship after its members voted to continue to exclude women. | One of Scotland’s last remaining men-only golf courses has lost its right to hold the Open championship after its members voted to continue to exclude women. |
| A postal ballot of members of Muirfield in East Lothian returned 64% for and 36% against allowing women to join for the first time in the club’s 125-year history. | A postal ballot of members of Muirfield in East Lothian returned 64% for and 36% against allowing women to join for the first time in the club’s 125-year history. |
| The vote fell just short of the two-thirds majority required for the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which runs the course, to alter its constitution. | The vote fell just short of the two-thirds majority required for the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which runs the course, to alter its constitution. |
| Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, which organises the Open tournament, responded almost immediately with a statement that the championship would not be held at a venue that did not admit female members. | Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, which organises the Open tournament, responded almost immediately with a statement that the championship would not be held at a venue that did not admit female members. |
| Related: Scotland’s female leaders call for end to sexist golf club rules | Related: Scotland’s female leaders call for end to sexist golf club rules |
| Slumbers said: “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. | Slumbers said: “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.” | “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.” |
| On Wednesday, it emerged that a group of about 30 members of the East Lothian course had written to fellow golfers before a ballot on whether to end the historic rule, urging them to reject the change. | On Wednesday, it emerged that a group of about 30 members of the East Lothian course had written to fellow golfers before a ballot on whether to end the historic rule, urging them to reject the change. |
| Related: R&A golf club ends 260-year ban on women members | Related: R&A golf club ends 260-year ban on women members |
| The letter argued that “a traditional resistance to change is one of the foundations of our unique position in golf and our reputation”. | The letter argued that “a traditional resistance to change is one of the foundations of our unique position in golf and our reputation”. |
| Revealing the depth of hostility felt by some members towards the introduction of female members, the letter stated that “the introduction of lady members is bound to create difficulties”, and suggested it would “endanger foursomes and speedy play”. | Revealing the depth of hostility felt by some members towards the introduction of female members, the letter stated that “the introduction of lady members is bound to create difficulties”, and suggested it would “endanger foursomes and speedy play”. |
| It went on: “Our special nature – ‘a gentleman’s club where golf is played’ – is quite unique with its fraternity built inter alia on foursomes play with a round taking only the same time as lunch and leaving enough time for a further round after lunch [even in mid winter].” | It went on: “Our special nature – ‘a gentleman’s club where golf is played’ – is quite unique with its fraternity built inter alia on foursomes play with a round taking only the same time as lunch and leaving enough time for a further round after lunch [even in mid winter].” |
| Scotland’s three female party leaders have challenged the men-only policy, and suggested they would be unlikely to attend any tournament held there. | Scotland’s three female party leaders have challenged the men-only policy, and suggested they would be unlikely to attend any tournament held there. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first female first minister, described the vote as indefensible. Responding to the news on Twitter, she said: | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first female first minister, described the vote as indefensible. Responding to the news on Twitter, she said: |
| Scotland has women leaders in every walk of life. It is 2016. This is simply indefensible. https://t.co/qrULGuFG8v | Scotland has women leaders in every walk of life. It is 2016. This is simply indefensible. https://t.co/qrULGuFG8v |
| David Cameron backed the decision to bar Muirfield from hosting the Open. A Downing Street spokesman said: “His general rule is that sports clubs should be open to both sexes and that it is outdated not to do that, particularly if you think you are up to hosting a major championship.” | |
| Royal Troon, which will host this year’s Open in July, is the only other male-only Scottish club on the tournament’s rota, and it is undertaking a review of its own membership policy. Royal Troon shares its facilities with Troon Ladies, and will host the Open jointly with the women’s club. | Royal Troon, which will host this year’s Open in July, is the only other male-only Scottish club on the tournament’s rota, and it is undertaking a review of its own membership policy. Royal Troon shares its facilities with Troon Ladies, and will host the Open jointly with the women’s club. |
| In a statement on Tuesday, the Royal Troon captain, Martin Cheyne, said of the policy review: “We care very much for the reputation of Royal Troon golf club and it is important the club, much like the wider game, reflects the modern society in which we exist.” | In a statement on Tuesday, the Royal Troon captain, Martin Cheyne, said of the policy review: “We care very much for the reputation of Royal Troon golf club and it is important the club, much like the wider game, reflects the modern society in which we exist.” |
| HSBC, one of the main sponsors of the Open, welcomed the decision. | HSBC, one of the main sponsors of the Open, welcomed the decision. |
| “As a proud patron and partner of the Open championship, we support the R&A’s position on this. As a long-term international sponsor of the sport, we are committed to opening up the world of golf. Central to this is our commitment to the value of diversity in the game and our support of women’s golf, which is right at the heart of our global golf portfolio.” | “As a proud patron and partner of the Open championship, we support the R&A’s position on this. As a long-term international sponsor of the sport, we are committed to opening up the world of golf. Central to this is our commitment to the value of diversity in the game and our support of women’s golf, which is right at the heart of our global golf portfolio.” |