Scotland’s female political leaders "called for an end to sexist golf club regulations after it emerged that members of one of the country’s remaining men-only clubs were lobbying to continue excluding women," according to Libby Brooks of the London GUARDIAN. A group of around 30 members at Muirfield in East Lothian "wrote to fellow members ahead of a postal ballot on whether to end the historical rule, the result of which is expected on Thursday." An endorsement of its men-only admission rule "would place the club in danger of losing its Open status." A spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives said, "Ruth [Davidson] likes golf and attending events like the Open, but she certainly won’t be going to Muirfield as long as this rule remains in place." The Labour leader, Kezia Dugdale, said, "There is so much still to do to break the glass ceiling in our country, and clubs like these are a powerful symbol of that. If I watch the Open at all, it will be from the sofa." In letter, the "no women" lobby wrote to members of the Muirfield course, run by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, arguing, "Change must come slowly and choice should be evolutionary. A traditional resistance to change is one of the foundations of our unique position in golf and our reputation" (GUARDIAN, 5/18).
