MUIRFIELD will cease to become an Open Championship venue after it voted against allowing women to become members.

The result of a "close" vote was announced at the golf club, east of Gullane, at 11.45am today.

A two-thirds majority was required for The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers - the world's oldest recorded golf club - to change their policy and allow women to become members at Muirfield, but the 64 per cent of votes in favour was not quite enough.

The R&A, which organises The Open, has now stated that Muirfield will no longer host the championship.

The statement following the announcement at Muirfield read: "Going forward, we will not stage The Open at a venue that does not admit women as members."

Subsequently, Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said: “We have consistently said that it is a matter for the Honourable Company to conduct a review of its membership policy and that we would await their decision.

"The R&A has considered today’s decision with respect to The Open Championship.

"The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and going forward we will not stage the Championship at a venue that does not admit women as members.

"Given the schedule for staging The Open, it would be some years before Muirfield would have been considered to host the Championship again.

"If the policy at the club should change we would reconsider Muirfield as a venue for The Open in future.”

Royal Troon, which hosts this year's Open, is the only other venue on The Open Championship circuit which does not allow women to become members.

Currently, women are allowed to play at Muirfield as guests or visitors.

The Open was last held at Muirfield in 2013, when American Phil Mickelson won.

East Lothian Council has said it is "disappointed" at Muirfield not changing its policy.

Angela Leitch, chief executive, said: "East Lothian Council is extremely disappointed at the outcome of the vote at Muirfield on whether to accept female members.

"While the majority of members have voted in favour of a more inclusive approach, a minority have prevented a change which would have benefitted not only the club but the economy of East Lothian.

“As Scotland’s Golf Coast, East Lothian has a fantastic range of courses that suit all levels and budgets and we would encourage the membership of Muirfield to re-consider their position.”

A number of East Lothian politicians have also criticised Muirfield's decision.

East Lothian MP George Kerevan said he was "outraged" by the "very selfish" decision, adding that the club "must think again".

And East Lothian MSP Iain Gray said that not allowing women members was "very bad" and added that Muirfield losing The Open as a result was "a disaster for East Lothian".