First female members invited to join Muirfield Golf Club

The first female members have been formally invited to join Muirfield Golf Club for the first time.

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers voted to change their controversial membership policy barring women two years ago, with 80% of members supporting the move.

After receiving applications and assessing them through their traditional lengthy procedure, the club have now invited 12 women to take up membership of the 275-year-old organisation from July 1.

Alistair Campbell, captain of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, said: This marks a milestone in the club's illustrious history, and we look forward to welcoming all of our new members to share in the great values and traditions of our club.''

The previous men-only policy recieved alot of backlash and led to the R&A removing the club from its Open rota.

Calls for change, however, were initially rejected by the club after a vote in 2016 and, consequently, Muirfield was suspended from the Open rota by the R&A.

It was reinstated after another vote was taken in 2017.