Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers

 

WOMEN MEMBERS WELCOME AT MUIRFIELD   14 March 2017, Gullane: Members of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (HCEG), the world’s oldest golf club, have voted in favour of women as Members of the Club.   A two-thirds majority of those who voted was required to make the change that has immediate effect. The result of the postal ballot of members, independently scrutinised by Electoral Reform Services, was 498 votes (80.2%) in favour of change, 123 votes (19.8%) against.  621 votes were counted, a 92.7% turnout. The Club owns and plays  at Muirfield.   HCEG Captain, Henry Fairweather said:   “This is a significant decision for a Club which was founded in 1744 and retains many of the values  and aspirations of its founding Members. "We look forward to welcoming women as members who will enjoy, and benefit from, the great traditions and friendly spirit of  this remarkable Club”. The current waiting list for membership at Muirfield suggests that new candidates for membership, women and men, can expect to wait two to three years, or longer, to become a Member of the Club. Muirfield’s position in golf is reflected in the fact that of the current courses that host The Open only the Old Course in St Andrews has staged golf’s oldest Major on more occasions.     Founded in 1744, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers is the world’s oldest recorded golf club. In that year the Club organised  the first tournament open to all golfers and set down the original playing rules of the sport. With The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of  St Andrews and Prestwick Golf Club, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers played a leading role in the formation and development of The Open. Muirfield has staged The Open on 16 occasions from 1892 through  2013 when Phil Mickelson was crowned Champion Golfer of the year.