EPA Images/Kerim Okten
Muirfield golf club has announced that it is set to hold a new ballot on whether or not to admit female members, having last consulted members as recently as 19 May.The East Lothian venue chose not to lift its ban on female membership after the last ballot, despite 64% of the existing membership voting to allow women to join the club. The club needed a two-thirds majority to amend the criteria for admission, but narrowly failed to achieve the required mandate.That saw the R&A – the governing body which organises the Open Championship – deny Muirfield the right to host the competition. The Open is one of the biggest events in the golfing calendar, and has huge significance in terms of both finances and prestige.The decision to continue to exclude women drew huge criticism from the Scottish public, with politicians, including Nicola Sturgeon, calling on Muirfield to change its policy. Now, the club is ready to put the question of female membership to members once more.Club captain Henry Fairweather told The BBC that the outcome of the last ballot had "damaged" Muirfield's reputation, and that the club's future was dependent on a decision to admit female members.He said that "a clear and decisive vote in favour of admitting women as members is required to enable us to begin the task of restoring the reputation of the club". The powers that be at Muirfield hope that the new vote will take place before the end of the year.