Muirfield members have experienced the fallout from failing to vote in the affirmative of allowing female members, and now they want a second chance at the vote.
The club's male-only membership will pursue a follow-up vote on the question, announcing the decision six weeks after the voting members failed to reach the two-thirds majority required to change the club's constitution and allow women.
“A substantial majority of our members voted for change and many have voiced their disappointment with the ballot result and with subsequent events,” said Henry Fairweather, captain of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.
“The Club Committee believes that a clear and decisive vote in favor of admitting women as members is required to enable us to begin the task of restoring the reputation of the Club that has been damaged by the earlier ballot outcome."
In the May vote, 64 percent of voters -- just shy of the 67 percent required -- wanted to admit female members for the first time in the club's history.
The decision to not admit female members triggered a near-immediate proclamation from the R&A that the 16-time Open Championship host would fall out of the Open rotation. The R&A has made it clear that male-only clubs cannot host the Open. This year's host, Royal Troon, will vote on Friday to combine its separate male and female memberships. In a test ballot, 75 percent of the membership suggested support for the measure.
