Tour News

Muirfield votes to keep women out, removed from Open Championship rotation

Published

10 years ago

May 19, 2016

The R&A has removed Muirfield from the Open Championship rotation, after members of the famed Scottish golf club voted against allowing women to join.

R&A statement on the announcement at Muirfield: Going forward we will not stage @TheOpen at a venue that does not admit women as members.

— The R&A (@RandA) May 19, 2016

Muirfield is located in East Lothin, and owned by The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. It will remain a men’s-only club after a vote of the membership failed to reach two-thirds majority, which is required to change the club’s membership policy. The result of the vote was 64 percent in favor of women joining, 36 percent against.

“The Honourable Company is a members club, and, as such, the members decide the Rules of the Club, including its membership policy,” Henry Fairweather, captain of the HCEG, said in a statement. “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.”

Muirfield has hosted 16 Open Championships, the most recent in 2013, which was won by Phil Mickelson. Other notable champions include Ernie Els, Nick Faldo (twice), Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Henry Cotton, Walter Hagen, Ted Rey and Harry Vardon. Before its exclusion, Muirfield was considered one of the best courses in the Open Championship rotation.

“Given the schedule for staging The Open, it would be some years before Muirfield would have been considered to host the Championship again,” R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers said in a statement. “If the policy at the club should change we would reconsider Muirfield as a venue for The Open in future.”

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66 Comments

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Reply Report comment
Mad-Mex

May 30, 2016 at 2:15 am

Good for them, their money, they can do what they want.

Reply Report comment
fp

May 21, 2016 at 2:37 am

I don’t get what all the fuss is about. There are plenty of places where men are not allowed in women’s clubs. Muirfield’s members want it to be a men-only club. They voted. Democratically. So what’s the big deal. Let the club do its thing.

Reply Report comment
PutterMan

May 20, 2016 at 10:44 am

According to this story, the Open at Muirfield brought about 70 million GBP to the East Lothian region http://www.golfbusinessnews.com/news/travel/the-open-at-muirfield-delivers-70m-benefit-to-east-lothian-and-edinburgh/. Wonder if either party factored that into the decision.

Reply Report comment
PutterMan

May 20, 2016 at 10:00 am

Sad to see Muirfield pulled. Time to take the tourney to neighbor North Berwick and give that gem its due.

Reply Report comment
Joey5Picks

May 19, 2016 at 5:08 pm

For the record, Muirfield (and Augusta, and Seminole…) discriminate against me, as well. I’m a caucasian male, but not a CEO, celebrity or titan of business. That’s discriminatory! Is that wrong? As a private club they’re within their rights to determine their membership. As someone else said, that doesn’t mean they’re not subject to reaction, and boycott, from those who don’t agree with them.

Reply Report comment
Hot karl

May 19, 2016 at 5:04 pm

Who cares about woman’s golf except butychy woman and wormy men…… ever watch woman’s professional surfing……it’s horrible!

Reply Report comment
- Double Mocha Man
  
  May 19, 2016 at 5:42 pm
  
  Yeah, ever watch a man mop floors?
  
  Reply Report comment
Slimeone

May 19, 2016 at 4:57 pm

Sausage sizzle on the dance floor!

Reply Report comment
Alex

May 19, 2016 at 4:51 pm

I guess the Pommies can’t afford a ladies room in the clubhouse

Reply Report comment
Bradless

May 19, 2016 at 4:35 pm

I just want to play wherever Brad isn’t playing.

Reply Report comment
Bert

May 19, 2016 at 3:12 pm

The Open is quickly losing it’s prestige. Get PC or get out and they elected to get out. Good on you mate!

Reply Report comment
Double Mocha Man

May 19, 2016 at 2:31 pm

See, if you allow women members then they become voting members and could swing things towards having quiche on the grill menu. Real men don’t eat quiche… and real men don’t drink an “Old Fashioned” in a grill offering quiche on the menu. So essentially this was a vote against quiche.

Reply Report comment
Jordan G

May 19, 2016 at 12:41 pm

Interesting that some of these comments automatically relate gender with race..cmon now guys

Reply Report comment
- Hot karl
  
  May 19, 2016 at 5:06 pm
  
  Like I said….. wormy men
  
  Reply Report comment
- mbu
  
  May 20, 2016 at 4:00 am
  
  Race, gender, it’s all basically the same thing, exclusion. Back to the dark days of the landed gentry. Golf clubs in the UK need to wake up and smell the 21st century. For some of you, What if they were excluding citizens of the USA? That would make your hackles rise a bit, no?
  
  Reply Report comment
Blake

May 19, 2016 at 10:56 am

Damn the SJWs and PC Bros are out in force this morning

Reply Report comment
Tom

May 19, 2016 at 10:43 am

So.. A course that only allows men to be members won’t be considered for a competition in which only men play in? Politics at it’s finest. It’s not like women aren’t allowed on the grounds, it’s just a men’s only facility. There are plenty of employers, organizations, clubs, etc.. to which I need not apply as a male, but it doesn’t hurt my feelings, no matter how good of a Victoria’s Secret employee I think I might be.

Bringing Augusta into the mix doesn’t make any sense as their standards are way different than gender, race, or social status related. Bill Gates was denied membership to the place, and when he he made it known he could buy the entire course, he was met with the reply “we wouldn’t sell it to you.”

I’m less aware of Muirfield’s standards for accepting members, but maybe they uphold the same standards that Augusta does, and that is that it is a place for those who truly love and uphold the standards, values, and history of golf. IMO, if a woman meets those requirements, she should be allowed, but they may not just let ANY woman join, just as they probably don’t let ANY man join.

While the sanctioning bodies have every right to take the course out of consideration. I’m surprised the Race to Dubai hasn’t been boycotted. Any thing that we consider a political correctness movement here is simply not tolerated at all in those regions of the world. But again, politics.

Reply Report comment
- Forsbrand
  
  May 19, 2016 at 2:00 pm
  
  Absolute rubbish!!
  
  So far we’ve lost Turnberry and now muirfield , two amazing course s that way outstrip St Andrews!
  
  If this poor decision making carries on the British open will be played at a 5,000 yard municipal course that has been earmarked for closure to build houses on it.
  
  Can wait for Rory to tee it up on the ladies tee boxes in the Kraft Nabisco and other LPGA Tour majors and “of course, likewise” I can’t wait for Michelle Wie to tee it up at Augusta from the men’s tees; because after all we want equality don’t we?!!!!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - joepz
    
    May 19, 2016 at 3:04 pm
    
    There will be *plenty* of courses to play The Open Championship on, since the prostitutes at the R&A have hinted that they are thinking of one day holding the open overseas possibly in a foreign country that doesn’t begin with the letters “Ireland.” Of course revenue has nothing to do with this. It’s all in the idea of “growing the game.” -_^
    I wonder if any of these “overseas” courses whose money the R&A whores are courting would have a “No Girlz Allowd” sign hanging in their treehouse.
    As for Muirfield, note that the vote *was* in fact very close. But it *is* their course after all, and if they feel they can do without the income from hosting The Open, more power to them. I’d feel the same way if they had a “No members with a ‘Z’ in their last name” policy.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - sog10
    
    May 20, 2016 at 11:19 pm
    
    Wie has played in PGA tour events against men there champ….
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Jack Nash
      
      May 23, 2016 at 10:07 am
      
      Well, if not making the cut because you can’t break 80 is your version of playing golf with men, whatever floats your boat I guess.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Forsbrand
        
        Feb 18, 2017 at 2:08 pm
        
        Ha ha great call!
        
        Reply Report comment
- gunmetal
  
  May 26, 2016 at 1:52 pm
  
  Really good point regarding the Race to Dubai. Some of the countries on that rota don’t exactly have scintillating women’s or human rights records. Where is the outcry there?
  
  Reply Report comment
Clifford Roberts

May 19, 2016 at 10:40 am

The kitchen? But that is hit or miss these days…

Reply Report comment
- WedgeMan
  
  May 19, 2016 at 2:49 pm
  
  Stop it Clifford, I just spit grey Goose all over my keyboard.
  
  Reply Report comment
Clifford Roberts

May 19, 2016 at 10:26 am

With the enormous pay gap between men and women these days, is there actually a woman who can afford to join Muirfield?

Reply Report comment
- Carl
  
  May 19, 2016 at 11:52 pm
  
  Clifford,
  
  How about you look into the Pay Gap and what causes it before you make a comment. It’s not discrimination, it’s the careers chosen by each sex.
  
  Men chose Technology / Business whereas women chose Serving / Teaching careers. This false narrative is divisive in nature and does no good for either side.
  
  Reply Report comment
Bogeypro

May 19, 2016 at 9:47 am

In today’s world, we have minority only, black only, women only organizations. Why can’t we have a club for just men?

Reply Report comment
- Shortgame85
  
  May 19, 2016 at 9:52 am
  
  Of course you can. Nobody can stop a private club from having the type of membership regulations they prefer. On the other hand, nobody can prevent a reaction to those regulations, especially if the club is in the public eye, such as Muirfield or Augusta National. Nobody can force them to change, no matter the outcry or consequences.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Patrick
    
    May 19, 2016 at 10:31 am
    
    It’s a shame that they are no longer in the rotation. They should adopt a similar policy to what Augusta instituted when they made the change.
    
    Reply Report comment
- TheCityGame
  
  May 19, 2016 at 9:57 am
  
  You can. Like Muirfield.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Shortgame85
    
    May 19, 2016 at 7:22 pm
    
    Yes!!
    
    Reply Report comment
- Jack Nash
  
  May 23, 2016 at 10:10 am
  
  We do. Haven’t you heard of the “Hair Club for Men”? Haven’t heard of any women clambering to get in there:)
  
  Reply Report comment
Shortgame85

May 19, 2016 at 9:46 am

Muirfield, as a private club, has every right to create whatever rules for membership that they wish. The Open Championship has every right to reject Muirfield for their policy banning female membership. As the arc of human history bends toward justice, if not necessarily fairness, I shall choose to patronize those businesses, including golf courses, which suit my sensibilities and cultural aesthetics. Muirfield will not be a part of my rotation. Huzzah to the Open Championship for taking a stand on this issue. I hope the Muirfield membership reaches a super majority in favor of female membership and that the venerable course returns to the Open rotation. But, if not, golf will, in the words of Winston Churchill, “keep buggering on.”

Reply Report comment
- RHJazz
  
  May 19, 2016 at 8:33 pm
  
  Well said.
  
  Reply Report comment
Other Paul

May 19, 2016 at 9:35 am

Let men have their place where they don’t have to be around women. It’s not always about excluding women as it is likely more about just being with men. I often find it refreshing to be around just men. One of the reasons i play golf is to be alone (Introverted), and if i have to play with someone I certainly would rather play a round of golf with a man. Playing with women is actually a bit annoying, it takes me out of my regular golf rhythem because it happens so rarely. I am certainly not against women playing golf, they can if they want but they don’t have to invade the space of people that don’t want them around.

Reply Report comment
- Smith
  
  May 19, 2016 at 10:09 am
  
  Maybe if you played more around women, then it wouldn’t take you out of your rhythm and then you’d be OK with is?
  
  I hate playing with slow women, as I hate playing with slow men, but as long as the people in my group are respectful and can play at a decent speed, I could not care less which bathroom they visit at the turn. Inclusiveness is great for the game, and I applaud the R&A for their decision.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Scooter McGavin
  
  May 19, 2016 at 1:59 pm
  
  Dat circular reasoning… I don’t want to be around women when I play golf, because I’m not used to being around women when I play golf…
  
  Reply Report comment
Brad

May 19, 2016 at 9:20 am

This is laughable… Muirfield, get over yourself. If you haven’t noticed, you aren’t Augusta National. Even if you were in the same ballpark (which you aren’t even close) you should take notice that even they have progressed in recent years to allow females as members of their club… Put it this way, if Augusta National is far and away less pretentious than your club, you have some serious issues.

I mean, REALLY??? This place wont even let you play a round without being able to PROVE that you have a handicap of 18 or less. Yes, a proven handicap must be submitted & verified prior to playing a round… and it gets even better! Not only do you have to have a specific predetermined handicap, but you aren’t allowed to play golf in any other format other than what they deem to be acceptable. Fourballs in the morning & foursomes playing alternate shot in the afternoon. And don’t even think about bringing your cell phone on the grounds of the club. God forbid a family emergency arises, and someone needs to get a hold of you.

This is golf, not an off the books Black Ops training program… If I wanted to be under such strict supervision & constant micro management, hell, I’d just stay at home and roll the dice with my wife’s honey-do list.

Bravo R&A… job well done.

Reply Report comment
- TheCityGame
  
  May 19, 2016 at 9:56 am
  
  Everything about that sounds great, except the no-women part.
  
  Handicap limits? Yes, please.
  
  Forced fourballs and foursomes? Yes, please.
  
  No cell phones? Double yes. Ah yes, the old “we all carry cell phones because of a family emergency” chestnut. . .still in play. Hilarious.
  
  I bet you can play 18 there in about 2:45 on a Saturday in pastoral conditions. Then you can get home to your honey-do list.
  
  I’d join a place like that in a second.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Brad
    
    May 19, 2016 at 10:44 am
    
    That’s like saying I love everything about the 1960’s except that whole segregation thing…. C’mon man. Let’s be real.
    
    I’m not saying that everyone should be allowed to obnoxiously gab on their phone and hold up play, but there shouldn’t be anything wrong with being allowed to physically have it in your possession in case someone needs to get a hold of you. It’s called the “silent ring tone setting” you should familiarize yourself with it.
    
    Then again, if these kinds of things are up your alley, then this place just might be for you… I’m sure they would accept you with open arms! After all, your insistence on dark-colored pleated pants in the middle of the summer, your metal-spiked, traditional saddle golf shoes, and unwillingness to rely on anything other than a sprinkler head for yardage will allow you to fit right in. Indubitably….
    
    Reply Report comment
    - TDBACH
      
      May 19, 2016 at 10:12 pm
      
      It;s a private club. It can set whatever rules it wants. That’s the point of a private organization: make the experience fit what you want. If you don’t like the rules, dob’t join. It doesn’t fit your style. By the same token, the R&A represents ALL golf, not just men’s golf. So hosting one of its championships on a course that expressly excludes membership to a good portion of your constituency should at least give them pause. That they decided now to pull out of one of their favorite venues for that reason isn’t succumbing to PCness; it’s living up to their mission of representing and promoting golf for all in GB.
      
      Reply Report comment
- John
  
  May 19, 2016 at 10:15 am
  
  hello brad
  first of all, i’m not a member at Muirfield or life there.
  now to the topic.
  nobody said that you or any other person has to play golf Muirfield. if you want to play there, pay, play by their rules, or don’t. if Muirfield wants to be a mens only member club, so what. i mean, who cares. i’m pretty sure there are very nice golf clubs out there, who are women only. if they can afford to have only female members and/or greenfee players, i’m totally fine with it.
  to your comparison to augusta. i don’t know and i don’t care if they are the same ballpark or not, but at least you are able to play a round of golf at muirfield.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jay
  
  May 19, 2016 at 12:20 pm
  
  So you are against them for their policy on not allowing women – do you also harbor the same feelings for the Boy/Girl Scouts, NAACP, NOW. Assume you also refute to watch BET?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Brad
    
    May 20, 2016 at 8:07 am
    
    Yes…. Yes… Yes… and……….. Definitely yes.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Big Kid
  
  May 19, 2016 at 4:16 pm
  
  You know the Old Course requires a handicap under 18 as well?
  
  Reply Report comment
- Forsbrand
  
  May 20, 2016 at 3:55 am
  
  One word, Tradition!
  
  Would you go to Hooters still if there were 20stone women or 20 stone men wearing hooters attire and serving you? In fact don’t answer it!
  
  Reply Report comment
George

May 19, 2016 at 9:09 am

They should have cancelled the masters for its racism and gender discrimination, they finally changed their policies but the course was still built on racist ideas, this course should not even be considered again they lost their chance and should never be considered for another open tournament. Garbage people who think it’s ok for this kind of behavior

Reply Report comment
- Milo
  
  May 19, 2016 at 9:26 am
  
  Agreed, they should never be considered again.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - WedgeMan
    
    May 19, 2016 at 2:47 pm
    
    @ Clueless, George Just who exactly do you think boycott Augusta National if they had a chance to play the course. Regardless of what you think fits into the Politically incorrect bucket, Augusta National has Carte Blanch to do as they choose regarding membership or who is fortunate enough to play there. So put your politically correct ideas wheredasundontshine, if you can fit it past your head.
    
    Reply Report comment
- steve
  
  May 19, 2016 at 9:30 am
  
  Clifford Roberts did say: As long as he is chairman of Augusta National the golfers will be white and the caddys will be black
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jack Nash
    
    May 23, 2016 at 10:16 am
    
    Didn’t dear old Cliff also commit suicide?
    
    Reply Report comment
- Tony
  
  May 19, 2016 at 10:29 am
  
  Who exactly do you want to cancel The Masters? It’s not a PGA event, it is an event put on by Augusta National. Good luck getting the players to turn down the invite.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - cgasucks
    
    May 19, 2016 at 10:53 am
    
    I think he meant that the PGA tour shouldn’t have put the Masters as one of their majors long ago when they had anti racist and anti feminism policies. They have since welcomed them as members. Heck…they now have a black female member (Condoleezza Rice).
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Steve
      
      May 19, 2016 at 8:57 pm
      
      So the PGA tour shouldn’t have put the Masters as one of their majors because they had policies against racism and feminism?
      
      Reply Report comment
- Jay
  
  May 19, 2016 at 1:42 pm
  
  So I guess we should also demand that the NAACP, NOW, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts etc all be shut down??
  
  Reply Report comment
  - George
    
    May 19, 2016 at 10:38 pm
    
    Please explain to me how the NAACP has anything to do with the argument i made.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Bob
  
  May 19, 2016 at 3:02 pm
  
  “Garbage People” Really George ( or maybe it’s Boy George) It’s a private club and they can do what ever hell they want to and the best part is they don’t have to conform to Political Correct Rats like you. And if the R&A must throw around their political correct might, screw them. The B O is an over blow tournament anyway. Golf use to be fun, then came political correctness. If I could join a golf club that was all men and you needed to be a 10 HC or better I’d all over it.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - George
    
    May 19, 2016 at 10:36 pm
    
    Yes you can join whatever club you want and yes any club can do what they want. Just the Major tournaments or any Professional golf tournament should not be at a club where discrimination is ok. This promotes discrimination and is not good for the future. Discrimination of any kind is not welcome for me. If you want to be racist and sexist by all means go ahead you are welcome to be whatever kind of man you want to be.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - John
      
      May 23, 2016 at 2:04 am
      
      +1
      
      Reply Report comment
  - Cyd2293
    
    May 19, 2016 at 10:52 pm
    
    Well said!
    
    Reply Report comment
carlsheen

May 19, 2016 at 9:02 am

Muirfield is the best of the bunch. Could be one of the best clubs in the world. Course, caddies and the clubhouse cant be beat.

Unfortunate they wont have the Open there for us. They certainly dont care nor need the Open there. 64% of the votes for and they only needed 66%???? LOL. I predict some arm twisting and politicking internally, have another vote soon and back in rotation.

Reply Report comment
- Desmond
  
  May 19, 2016 at 9:44 am
  
  Agree as to them having another vote that will gain 67% aproval.
  
  Reply Report comment

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