Lothian golf club attacked over dress code for women

An East Lothian golf club once dubbed “the world’s stodgiest men’s club” has landed in the rough once again after telling a female journalist she must wear a “jacket or a longsleeved dress”, if wishing to attend the media day for the AIG Women’s Open.

Hannahholden,whoisequipment editor for the National Club Golfer website as well as a keen golfer, was stunned to receive an invitation to the media day at Muirfield Golf Clubstatingthestrictdresscode for event.

Ms Holden said it was “disappointing” that the Gullane golf club, which is hosting the Open just five years after voting to admit women members for the first time, had been chosen to host the prestigious event.

The invitation read: “The dress code will be smart/casual or golf attire for the morning andpre-golf.post-golfwouldbe jacket and tie for men, jacket or longsleeved dress for women”.

In a post on Twitter, Miss Holden said: “It’s 2022 yet to go to a dinner at Muirfield Golf Club I have to cover my arms and shoulders?

“Why is the Women’s Open at a course that clearly wants to restrict women and only let thembememberssotheydidn’t lose the Open. Plenty of other clubs that would love to host!”

She continued: “Also to be clear, I am not attending this event and I would not feel comfortable going to Muirfield because of their opinions and views on women.”

Muirfield was immediately removedfromtheopenchampionship rota after a first vote onadmittingwomenmembers narrowly failed to achieve the two-thirdsmajorityrequiredin May 2016.

It was restored in March 2017 when the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns and runs Muirfield, announced that the rule change had been passed by 498 votes to 123 after a second ballot.

A spokesman for the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers said: “The dress code for lunch or specially arranged dinners at the club is jacket and tie for male members and jacket or sleeved dress for female members.

“All dress code decisions in the club are carried out in consultation with both the female and male members.”