One of the world's oldest golf clubs has voted to open its doors to female members.

The Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, which dates back to 1780, ended its men-only policy at a meeting on Tuesday evening.

Members voted overwhelmingly to back the proposed change to the club's constitution.

Aberdeen Ladies' Golf Club is based next to the Royal Aberdeen and a working group has been set up to discuss the impact of the changes to the membership rules.

The Royal Aberdeen is the world's sixth-oldest golf club and hosted the Scottish Open in 2014.

The club's secretary, Ronnie MacAskill, told STV News existing members had pushed for the change.

He said: "It's something we've discussed over many years.

"We've been around since 1780, that's 238 years we've been a single-sex club.

"Every year we get new members in so we're continually asking the opinion of members and we did that via a survey.

"The information we got back was that we should really address this."

He added: "I think the days of single-gender clubs are slowly disappearing and we didn't want to be left behind."

A statement from the club said: "The members of Royal Abedeen Golf Club have overwhelmingly voted in support of a change to the club's constutution whereby membership applications are no longer restricted to gentlemen.

"Royal Aberdeen Golf Club and Aberdeen Ladies' Golf Club have set up a working group to discuss the possible impact on both clubs of this change."

In March last year, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, at Muirfield, voted to allow female members.