Are all-male golf clubs bad?

The Scottish club’s decision prompted the R&A golf’s governing body outside of the United States and Mexico to remove the spectacular Muirfield course from the British Open rotation.

There’s Butler National in west suburban Oak Brook, Black Sheep in far west Sugar Grove and two in Highland Park: Bob O’Link and Old Elm.

Black Sheep is a links-style gem, a pure golf club whose members value male bonding and minimalism, eschewing the snobbishness prevalent at some country clubs.

Muirfield says ‘no’ to female members, off British Open list Muirfield says ‘no’ to female members, off British Open list Instead, its stubbornness deprives Chicago-area golf fans of witnessing the crowning of our national champion, just as Muirfield’s decision now precludes it from hosting a British Open.

Muirfield already permits women to visit the course and enter the clubhouse, just as Augusta National allowed women to play there long before welcoming in Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as members in 2012.

And given that 64 percent of Muirfield members voted to add women (just shy of the two-thirds needed), here’s guessing that public pressure will tilt the club in the proper direction.