Female golfers at Muirfield have officially been invited to join the club for the first time.

The world's oldest golfcourse in East Lothian, which was founded in 1744, has invited women to join the club as members for the first time since voting to change the club’s rules in 2017.

Twelve women and three men have been invited to take up membership.

It comes after the course was removed as a host of the Open Championship in 2016 by golf's governing body over its stance on women members. This has since been overturned. 

Muirfield had required two-thirds of its eligible voters to support admitting women.

A 2016 vote fell just short of that, with 64% of members supporting the move. However, another vote the following year returned around 80% backing from a total of 621 votes.

READ MORE: Herald View: Muirfield finally proves itself to be honourable 

Alistair Campbell, captain of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, said: “It is my great pleasure to announce that 12 women have been formally invited to join the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers this month.

"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."

Mr Campbell added: “This year marks the 275th anniversary of the club’s first recorded golf competition.

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"We are proud of our club’s rich history but equally excited for its future and the part all of our new members will play in the club’s cherished traditions.”