Wednesday 4 March 2015 13:24, UK
Royal St George's has voted to allow women members to join the prestigious Kent club for the first time in its history.
The Sandwich links has staged the Open Championship 14 times since 1894, most recently in 2011 when Europe's Ryder Cup Darren Clarke left with the claret jug.
In a statement, the club said: "Royal St George's Golf Club is pleased to announce that, following an extraordinary general meeting held on 14th February 2015 and a subsequent ballot of the full members of the club, a resolution to alter the club's rules to make ladies eligible for membership has been duly passed.
"Under club rules, the resolution would only be passed if it obtained the support of three-quarters of the votes cast on the ballot. More than 81% of the full members took part in the ballot and a decisive 90% voted in favour of ladies being eligible for membership.
"The alteration of the club's rules has immediate effect and the club looks forward to welcoming ladies as junior and full members."
Of the other courses on the Open rota, Muirfield and Royal Troon have retained male-only membership policies.
Muirfield, which is owned and run by The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, is reviewing its membership criteria with a report due to be completed this month.
Troon, meanwhile, announced in January its intention to undertake a "review" of its membership policy. Troon has always considered itself a special case in this respect as it shares facilities with the Ladies Golf Club of Troon.
Royal Troon captain, Bob Martin said: "We will undertake a comprehensive review to consider the most appropriate membership policy for the future.
"The recommendations from this review will be presented to the membership for their consideration."
Scrutiny of the clubs intensified after the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews voted to end its 260-year-old male-only membership policy in September.
