Muirfield has been banned from hosting The Open after voting against plans to allow women to join the golf club.

The club announced this morning that it would not be admitting lady members after failing to reach a two-third majority vote.

The R&A has now confirmed that Muirfield has been dropped from The Open rosta.

In a statement, the R&A said: "Going forward we will not stage The Open at a venue that does not admit women as members."

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.”

The Herald:

Henry Fairweather, the Muirfield club captain, said: “Our club committee recommended that our members should vote for the admission of women.

“The majority of members did vote for women as members but the two thirds majority that we require for a change in the rules was not met. The club will retain its male only policy.

“The members decide the rules, it is a members club. Women will continue to be welcomed at Muirfield and in the clubhouse as guests and visitors.

“The committee recommended that we admit women members so yes I am disappointed with the result.”

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."

Members of Muirfield had campaigned against women joining and sent out an extraordinary letter - claiming letting females in would "endanger our foursomes and speedy play".

Read more: Herald View - Time for golf clubs to admit women

The leaked letter revealed the depth of hostility among a significant proportion of male members towards any change in the status quo.

Under a headline entitled "the risks", the letter states: "We are not an ordinary club.

"Our special nature - 'a gentleman's club where golf is played' - is quite unique with its fraternity built inter alia on foursomes play with a round taking only the same time as lunch and leaving enough time for a further round after lunch (even in mid winter).

"This is one of the miracles in modern day play and is much admired. Our foursomes and speedy play would be endangered."

The Herald:

The letter goes onto make the claim that any woman member at Muirfield is "bound to feel uncomfortable" - and makes the bizarre suggestion that letting in women could disrupt the club's lunch arrangements.

Read more: Nicola Sturgeon reacts to Muirfield's decision not to allow women members

Then, in remarks likely to cause outrage among anti-sexism campaigners, the letter claims it would take a "very special lady golfer" to be able to perform at the same level as the club's men.

The letter, circulated among a group of 33 club members, said: "The introduction of lady members is bound to create difficulties.

"Regardless of the conventions when they first join they are likely over time to question our foursomes play, our match system, the uncompromising challenge our fine links present, our lunch arrangements.

"It will take a very special lady golfer to be able to do all the things that are expected of them in the template which is suggested and the ladies' membership as a whole may not meet this standard."

The letter adds: "We are criticised by some for being 'elitist', but if we are that is entirely due to a membership selection process which emphasises an overriding requirement that prospective members appreciate and accept our traditions."

As a "compromise" the letter suggested the creation of a "lady-friendly" second course and clubhouse at the venue.

The Herald:

The club also faced a barrage of negative publicity when it hosted the 2013 Open, with the then First Minister Alex Salmond saying it was "indefensible" in the 21st century "not to have a golf club that's open to all".

Television presenter Clare Balding later revealed she had refused to host coverage of the championship because of the club's stance.

Muirfield and Troon are the only remaining clubs on the 10-strong Open rota to have a male-only membership policy after Royal St George's voted last year to admit women members.