Royal Troon will hold a special meeting on Friday to propose the introduction of women members.

It comes after a consultation found that three quarters of members supported opening the club to women.

The meeting will come less than two weeks before Royal Troon plays host to the 145th Open, which begins on July 10.

Club captain Martin Cheyne said: "Recently we spoke about the need for our club to reflect the modern society in which we exist.

"I am pleased that a large majority of members who responded to our survey agree and support opening the club to women."

The move comes after the R&A said it would no longer consider staging The Open at Muirfield after the Edinburgh club voted against allowing women members. That decision was branded "indefensible" by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Troon is currently the only remaining club on the nine-strong Open rota to have a male-only membership policy, with Royal St George's voting last year to admit women members.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews also voted to end its 260-year-old male-only membership policy in September 2014.

Troon has always considered itself a special case in this respect as it shares facilities with the Ladies' Golf Club, Troon. Both clubs will shoulder the responsibility of hosting the Open via a joint Championship Committee.