[quote=“Sidney, post: 804702, member: 183”]Another great Open Championship - congratulations to the United States of America’s Phil Mickelson who won his first major today - a worthy and popular winner of the famous old trophy.
Congratulations are in order also for 18 year-old Matt Fitzpatrick, winner of the Silver Medal as leading amateur. The future of British golf is in
Finally, a word of thanks both to the Royal and Ancient for their splendid organisation and to the staff and volunteers at Muirfield over the last week. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers have done themselves proud once again.[/quote]
The future of irish golf is also strong
Despite the irish amateur team having been picked ( and some players missing)the standard at south of ireland is exceptional
Muirfield will not stage another Open Championship after maintaining its ban on women members in a vote described as “indefensible” and “embarrassing”.
The Scottish club said voting in favour of allowing women had fallen just short of the required two thirds majority.
Governing body the R&A said it would not stage the Open “at a venue that does not admit women as members”.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Muirfield’s stance was “simply indefensible”.
To admit women golfers as members, Muirfield - a privately owned links in East Lothian run by The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers - needed two thirds (432) of its 648 eligible voters to back the move.
But after a “comprehensive” two-year consultation process described as “thorough” and conducted “with all due diligence and professionalism”, it fell short.
Of the 616 members who voted, 397 - or 64% - voted for the resolution, while 219 (36%) voted against it.
Royal Troon is the only other Open venue that still excludes women. The club, which will stage this year’s Championship, it is consulting members about altering that arrangement.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews opened its membership to women in 2014 for the first time in 260 years, while Royal St George’s in Kent lifted its ban on women last year.
Muirfield last hosted the Open in 2013, when American Phil Mickelson won the Claret Jug.
