For almost three centuries it has been a bastion of male privilege, a men-only zone where ladies need not apply.

But now Muirfield, the world’s oldest golf club, has finally caught up with the rest of the world by formally inviting its first female members to join.

A dozen women have been selected to join the club more than two years after it voted to change its male-only constitution following a barrage of criticism.

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, who are based at the East Lothian Links, received a number of applications and had been assessing them through their traditional lengthy procedure.

The club have now invited 12 women to take up membership of the 275-year-old organisation from July 1.

Alistair Campbell, captain of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, said: “This marks a milestone in the club’s illustrious history, and we look forward to welcoming all of our new members to share in the great values and traditions of our club.”

Muirfield has staged the Open 16 times and produced a Who’s Who of champions, including Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo (twice), Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.

The men-only policy at the club attracted considerable negative publicity the last time the course hosted the Open Championship in 2013.

The club had required two-thirds of its eligible voters to support admitting women. Calls for change, however, were initially rejected by the club after a vote in 2016 fell short, with with 64 per cent of members supporting the move.

Muirfield was subsequently suspended from the Open rota by the R&A. Among those criticising the decision was four-time Major champion Rory McIlroy, who said he hoped the club would “see some sense”.

Muirfield was reinstated to the rota after another vote was taken in 2017, when 80.2 per cent of members backed a change in policy.

Yesterday’s decision sees the club finally join the 21st century with regard to women’s rights, and indeed the 20th and possibly the 19th as well.

A Women in Sport spokeswoman said: “We’re pleased to finally see the first women accepted into Muirfield Golf Club. This is long overdue and a positive step for the club and the sport.

“It’s vital that institutions like Muirfield lead by example and include women in not just the membership but also on committees and boards.

“We are looking forward to seeing what further strides towards equality the club can achieve and the opportunities they will be providing for women and girls.”

The decision comes as researchers tee-off the first in-depth study of the history of women’s golf in Scotland.

Glasgow Caledonian University is working with the British Golf Museum in St Andrews, which is run by The R&A, to chart the development of the sport from the Second World War onwards. It’s hoped the study will trace the ‘hidden’ history of the women’s game, from 1945 to 1995.