HEADLINES around the world have condemned the controversial decision by the men of Muirfield Golf Club to retain its ban on women members prompting politicians to defend the country's reputation.
"Muirfield members are one hell of a bunch of misogynists," said France's Liberation, while El Espanol described the club as "one of the last bastions of misogyny in sport".
Others noted the discrepancy between the golf club's policy and progress in other areas of Scottish life: "The prime minister of Scotland is a woman," said Italy's Repubblica.
Read more: Jenny Hjul: Walking with the dinosaurs of Muirfield
"The leaders of the three main parties - independentist, Conservative and Labour - are women. But women, in the land of Braveheart, cannot become members of a golf club."
French sports paper L'Equipe called the decision an "anachronism" before citing the greats of golf approving of the R&A decision to strip the club of its right to hold the Open. Golf writer Karen Crouse in the New York Times said club members "would certainly seem to be stuck in a bygone century, one in which men and women didn’t harmoniously coexist in boardrooms and legislative chambers, much less clubhouses".
US sports broadcaster ESPN ran an op-ed under the heading "Why Muirfield's outdated, sexist policy hurts golf."
Fiona Hyslop MSP, minister for external affairs has been forced to defend Scotland's attitude to women amid the storm of criticism.
She said: “We are a nation where women have shown they can reach the top in politics, business, the law and many other fields – and as the home of golf it is regrettable that one of our most famous clubs should continue to maintain such an outdated membership policy.”
Read more: Readers' Opinion: Muirfield right to stand firm in face of a feminist grievance culture
“Muirfield’s decision is deeply disappointing and in terms of our international profile it paints a completely distorted picture of modern Scotland."
The club continued to face pressure to overturn its decision, with Labour MSP Iain Gray tabling a motion demanding a rethink at the Scottish Parliament.
It calls on the Holyrood to register disappointment at the vote and says the club should consider the decisions again at the earliest opportunity. "Scotland has a duty to be inclusive and reflect modern society and that to do so clubs need to be open to both male and female golfers," it reads.
The East Lothian MSP said the decision - which has already cost the club any chance of hosting the Open - would have a detrimental impact on the local economy.
He added: "Muirfield Golf Club's decision to reject female membership was wrong and outdated. It should be reversed as soon as possible.
Read more: Muirfield vote to continue bar on women could cost economy millions
"We live in the 21st century, where men and women should be treated equally - whether that's in the workplace, in the community or on the golf course. A decision like this has no place in Scotland in 2016."
Although the R&A, which administers the Open, has said Muirfield will not host the major again if the policy of barring women members is not changed, the course will co-host the Boys Amateur Championship in August.
An insider said the venue would have been chosen up to four years ago, and plans were too advanced to change. However it is understood that a meeting of the R&A governing committee will consider whether any future tournaments will be held at Muirfield. The R&A has also indicated that Royal Troon could be denied the Open in future, depending on the outcome of its current deliberations.
The Ayrshire club also has a male-only membership and is due to host the 145th Open in July. Only last month, officials stated that there would be no change to the current set-up before the Open.
Earlier this week, however, the Royal Troon captain, Martin Cheyne, released a statement which seemed to hint that the process would be accelerated as the club looks to reflect “the modern society in which we exist.”
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