Royal St George's to allow female members for first time

Open Championship venue Royal St George's has voted to allow female members for the first time in its history.

More than 80% of members took part in the ballot and 90% voted to allow female members when a 75% mark was required to pass the motion.

In a statement released to PA, the club said: "The Royal St George's Golf Club is pleased to announce that, following an extraordinary general meeting held on February 14, 2015 and a subsequent ballot of the full members of the club, a resolution to alter the club's rules to make ladies eligible for membership has been duly passed."

The course, located in Sandwich, Kent, is the one of four courses in England on The Open's rotation and the only one in the South, last hosting in 2011.

With Royal St George's ditching its male-only policy, there are two remaining Open venues which don't allow women - Muirfield and Royal Troon.