The Scottish National Party has condemned a decision by Muirfield Golf Club to exclude women members.
First Minister Nicola Stugeon called the decision not to allow women members "indefensible."
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 19, 2016
The club announced this morning that it would not be admitting female members after failing to reach a two-thirds majority vote.
The R&A has now confirmed that Muirfield has been dropped from The Open rosta.
Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the R&A, said: “We have consistently said that it is a matter for the Honourable Company to conduct a review of its membership policy and that we would await their decision.
“The R&A has considered today’s decision with respect to The Open Championship. The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and going forward we will not stage the Championship at a venue that does not admit women as members.
“Given the schedule for staging The Open, it would be some years before Muirfield would have been considered to host the Championship again. If the policy at the club should change we would reconsider Muirfield as a venue for The Open in future.”
R&A statement on the announcement at Muirfield: Going forward we will not stage @TheOpen at a venue that does not admit women as members.
— The R&A (@RandA) May 19, 2016
SNP Equality spokesperson Angela Crawley MP said: “I welcome the decision by the Royal and Ancient not to permit The Open to be held at a Club that excludes women.
“Muirfield has caused great embarrassment for Scottish Golf, and Scottish sport more widely when great efforts are being made across Scotland for sport to be made more inclusive - the SNP Scottish Government has led efforts with sporting bodies to encourage more women in to sport.
“Excluding women from a golf club is simply not acceptable, and I urge the club members to reconsider.”
Read more: Herald View: Time for golf clubs to admit women
Former Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Maria Miller, who in 2013 predicted an Open ban would force clubs like Muirfield to open their doors, said: "The decision to hold the prestigious Open Championship at clubs that treat men and women members equally is welcome and sends a very strong message to those clubs who cling onto an outdated 'men only' approach
UK sports minister David Evennett said: "It is an extremely disappointing decision from the members of Muirfield. We want to encourage more women to get involved in sport and this sends out completely the wrong message. Although not before time, it is right that the R&A has decided that it will no longer host the Open Championship at clubs that do not admit women members."
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