Muirfield golf club invites 12 female members
After the vote, Muirfield was discounted as a potential host for The Open to maintain its men's policy in 2016.
Muirfield Golf Club formally invited 12 women to join – two years after voting to admit female members for the first time.
In March 2017, the private club voted 80.2% in favor of updating their membership policies.
It followed a decision by the golf regulator, the R&A, to remove Muirfield as a guest location for the Open Championship after it could not change in 2016.
Twelve women – and three men – have been invited to join from 1 July.
The candidates were proposed and seconded by members and five referees before membership of the club was invited to write support letters – or otherwise – if they know or have played with them.
The women – two of whom are from outside the UK – have gone through that process and have now formally invited to join.
"This marks a milestone in the club's illustrious history, and we look forward to welcoming all our new members to participate in the great values and traditions of our club," said Alistair Campbell, Captain of the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.
"This year marks the 275th anniversary of the club's first registered golf game. We are proud of our rich history, but also excited about the future and the part that all our new members will play in the The club's cherished traditions. "
Muirfield – founded in 1744 – needed two-thirds of its members to be eligible voters to support the admission of women.
A 2016 vote was just below that, with 64% of the members supporting the move, but a subsequent popular vote returned the following year with around 80% support from a total of 621 votes.
