Muirfield Golf Club has been removed from the list of courses that can host the (British) Open Championship, after the Scottish club voted against admitting female members in a move on Thursday (19th May) that provoked sharp criticism from players and lawmakers.

Muirfield Golf Club has been removed from the list of courses that can host the Open Championship, after the Scottish club voted against admitting female members .

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns Muirfield, announced its decision to retain the club's male-only policy following a ballot of its 750 members.

A two-thirds majority was required for a change, but 36 percent voted against allowing women.

Muirfield was one of 10 courses on the British Open rotation, it has staged the event 16 times, most recently in 2013.

Royal Troon, which hosts this year's tournament from 14th-17th July, is the only other club on the rotation to still exclude women.