Will Augusta National finally be forced to invite a woman?
Masters adheres to traditions. But Billy Payne, club may have to change one. (Curtis Compton)
The mild winter ensures full blooms on the azaleas. Five different winners in the last five years eliminates any hint of predictability. Tiger Woods’ first tour win in 2½ years last week teases us into believing golf’s preeminent figure can return to dominance and provide some red-shirt drama on Sunday.
Welcome to the perfect backdrop for next week’s Masters, bliss for the Lords of Augusta National.
Well, except this: That women issue.
If it had never quite died, it at least had gone dormant, like Bermuda fairways. But the question of whether Augusta National will finally open the doors to female members — even if “at the point of a bayonet,” to reprise the charges of former chairman William “Hootie” Johnson – is bigger now than ever before. Even bigger than when Martha Burk first sent her little letter to Johnson nearly 10 years ago asking about the club’s exclusionary policies, sparking a very public and ugly debate, from break rooms to board rooms.
In January, IBM, which is one of the Masters’ major sponsors and runs the tournament’s website and the technology in the media center, named its new CEO: She’s a she.
Rometty's predecessors all were Augusta National members. (Bloomberg photo)
Virginia “Ginni” Rometty is the ninth CEO in the company’s history but the first female. The previous eight previous CEOs all were extended memberships by Augusta National. The three former CEOs still living remain members, as are the CEOs of the Masters’ other two major sponsors, AT&T and ExxonMobil.
“They’ve got themselves into a quandary, and deservedly so,” said Burk, who organized protests outside of Augusta National’s gates in 2003. She now aids women in corporations who believe they have been victims of sex discrimination. “They need to come into the 21st century. I said it nine years ago and I’ll say it now: They have a Neanderthal attitude, and that doesn’t reflect well on the club or the membership.”
Your move, Billy.
Steve Ethun, Augusta National spokesman, said the club and chairman Billy Payne would have “no comment
Burk doesn't think Billy Payne will respond different than Hootie Johnson. (AP)
or statement” on the situation, which has drawn media attention this week from Bloomberg, Yahoo, ESPN and the New York Times. The response is no surprise. The club generally doesn’t discuss membership policies or much beyond pin placement or the length of the rough.
If Payne is asked about it Wednesday during his annual state-of-the-sod-and-azalea address, his answer likely will be brief and unrevealing.
This is the true Masters’ tradition like no other: One man speaks for the club, and it’s his job to respond with an extended digit, albeit with a well-manicured nail.
My position on this hasn’t changed. Augusta National is a private club, so the club technically is correct when it states it has the right to exclude anybody it desires. But the Masters is the most public of events. It’s on public television. The relative great unwashed can purchase admission (even if tournament badges are difficult to come be).
These aren’t old guys wearing their “Loyal Order of Moose” hats, yukking it up and telling old stories about Jayne Mansfield. (Well, they might be, but that’s not the point.)
Johnson once likened Augusta National’s policies to “sororities, fraternities, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts.” The flaw in that analogy: There’s no yin to Augusta’s and the Masters’ yang.
Payne has been progressive in many ways since taking over for Johnson in 2006. He has expanded television coverage, instituted a junior patron program, sanctioned a Masters video game, even developing an iPhone app with live video streams.
But there has been no movement on women members. Payne has never said “never,” but his actions now will reveal everything. He can’t leave the door open and then do nothing because, in the case of Rometty, it would be setting precedent.
Burk said Rometty (who has declined comment through a spokesman), “has the power in the company to exert influence if she so desires.”
But she’s not sure Payne really cares.
“I’m certain part of the deal when he became chairman was he would adhere to Hootie Johnson’s policies,” she said. “He’s no better or morally responsible than Johnson was.”
We’ll know soon enough. But it really makes no sense for Payne to put this off any longer. This much is certain: Even if the issue goes dormant, it’s never going away.
By Jeff Schultz
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266 comments Add your comment
rivercard
March 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
Would someone please give Burk a lifetime supply of Replens and ask her to kindly disappear. Find another windmill to tilt at.
Billy
March 29th, 2012
3:24 pm
Once again, it’s a private club. Now go iron my shirt!
PMC
March 29th, 2012
3:24 pm
Given that it’s a completely private club that only really has one public event per year that gives millions and millions of dollars to charity and is a boon to the local economy……
why does anyone even care?
PMC
March 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
Hundreds of thousands of women come to the Masters and lots of them play there regularly.
This is the biggest non issue in history.
harold
March 29th, 2012
3:29 pm
Women cannot be equal to men in professional sports. Think of them in the boxing ring or on the football field. Not my daughters.
David Granger
March 29th, 2012
3:31 pm
Billy Payne has proven that he doesn’t mind doing things differently than they have done them in the past. But Martha Burk needs to keep her damn mouth shut. The biggest factor that could prevent the Augusta National from extending an ex-officio membership to a woman is if they think Martha Burk will start crowing about how she “won” the battle.
Pongo
March 29th, 2012
3:31 pm
IBM also developed the iPad app and Android app too, with live video, sweet! Would love to see Ginny in a Green Jacket! Will we?
Carnac
March 29th, 2012
3:31 pm
There is only one and ONLY one answer: It is a FREAKING PRIVATE CLUB and they can invite whoever they want to invite to be members. They do not need sponsors and I am sure they pay IBM handsomely (no pun) and if IBM does not want the business I am sure the Augusta National club can find some computer geek (insert Tech grad) to run their website.
Simple answer....NO
March 29th, 2012
3:37 pm
The nice lady at IBM will understand.
Go make your own private club.
Abnerish
March 29th, 2012
3:38 pm
There’s nothing wrong with a Men’s only private club. Just as there is nothing wrong with a Women’s only private club. I doubt anything will change about this and I doubt the new IBM CEO will make much of a stink about it. Anyone who has been married should be able to understand the concept of a Men’s club. Interesting conundrum for Payne and the boys, however.
Simple answer....NO
March 29th, 2012
3:39 pm
She can play as a guest….visit as a guest….even shower with a guest, err oops, if she wants I guess.
Guests are treated very well.
George Stein
March 29th, 2012
3:39 pm
There isn’t a yin the the Master’s yang (unless you count the LPGA tour) because there isn’t a market for it.
The bigger issue here is that the supposed discrimination against women has no effect. The only women that might be invited are the elite of the elite, which means they have alternative venues to accomplish whatever happens behind the gates of Augusta National.
Essentially, there is no marginal gain for the women that might stand to acquire membership. Case closed.
ho hum, are they bringing this up again?
March 29th, 2012
3:42 pm
Burke is a jerk.
JB
March 29th, 2012
3:45 pm
Why……………There’s 4 dry cleaners within a mile from there……………………….I’M KIDDING……….
ho hum, are they bringing this up again?
March 29th, 2012
3:47 pm
If IBM chairlady makes it an issue and Augusta tells IBM to scram and take all their business with them…..then that lady aint gonna be CEO at IBM for long. Comprende?
Bryan G.
March 29th, 2012
3:47 pm
It’s an all men’s club. Get over it. This is such a non-story.
ty webb
March 29th, 2012
3:48 pm
It’s on “public television”?
Abnerish
March 29th, 2012
3:48 pm
Burke has already had her 15 minutes of fame, let’s not give her 15 more. She doesn’t deserve it.
JB
March 29th, 2012
3:48 pm
Read the book ” Money, Power and Golf in Augusta” and you’ll find that women were more than welcome in the beginning. It was just in the middle of the night through the back gate.
Hail Munson
March 29th, 2012
3:49 pm
Mr. Schultz, I love your column and find you to generally be hilariously insightful, but I am appalled that you gave Ms. Burk this forumn to name call the members of a private club. That said, I do hope Augusta National and its members extend Ms. Rometty an invitation to join the club. From all that I’ve read about her, she appears to be the perfect candidate to become the first female member at Augusta National.
Time to Woof up Augusta National
March 29th, 2012
3:51 pm
Got rid of that SC Hootie……Hey Billy, I’m a Bulldog. Where’s my membership?
JB
March 29th, 2012
3:53 pm
I would of loved to seen the look on Spurrier’s face when Hootie left the Chairmanship and Billy took over. That ole Gator/Chicken could kiss his chance goodbye.
August National....We make the rules, not you.
March 29th, 2012
3:55 pm
Who cares, as long as they keep the commercials to 5 minutes or less an hour…..Best damn Sporting Event Policy for TV EVER CREATED.
Carnac
March 29th, 2012
3:56 pm
Maybe Obama will get involved and then I can finally file suit against Shapes for not letting me join.
Where are they now?
March 29th, 2012
3:57 pm
Did Hootie take the Blowfish when he left?
Carnac
March 29th, 2012
3:58 pm
Maybe Barac will put the dept of justice on the case and force membership and then I can suit Shapes to let me become a member!
I'm Gumby, Dammit
March 29th, 2012
3:58 pm
Well, if this isn’t the most gall darnedest boys club, I ever done seen!!
You boys need to crawl on up out of the primordial ooze and get a life.
Woof, Woof
March 29th, 2012
3:59 pm
JB, Ever notice Spurrier always looks constipated on the sidelines? Probably same on the golf course.
Michael
March 29th, 2012
3:59 pm
You still don’t get it Jeff. ANGC will never, ever be forced to do anything it doesn’t want to. I’m fully convinced that they would sooner shut the doors and lock everybody out than be strong armed into anything. These men all have the money and power to be able to tell the rest of the world to go F themselves if they don’t like it.
Bosox9
March 29th, 2012
4:01 pm
Yawn.
evil visor
March 29th, 2012
4:02 pm
Think this is what the men talk about at Augusta? hehehehe
We’re men, this is what we do…….hey, who cut the cheese?
Time
March 29th, 2012
4:02 pm
I don’t know what part of “PRIVATE” people don’t get. But it’s a private club. They get to make their own rules. Period, end of story. No amount of liberal PC whining and crying is ever going to change that.
Women have clubs men can’t enter. Don’t see any blowhard media types drumming up controversy about them do you?
Get over it
March 29th, 2012
4:04 pm
Some darn woman will only wind up bringing up some mistake some man made 20 years ago.
No wonder they don’t want a woman as a member.
JB
March 29th, 2012
4:06 pm
Martha Burke ruined it for any woman to get in. And keeping woman out is breaking no laws. But, they are welcome. I was playing there once and a woman’s golf team was on the course.
Joey
March 29th, 2012
4:06 pm
Next thing you know, they’ll want to vote . . .
JB
March 29th, 2012
4:07 pm
Or want to drive…or decide where to go on vacation
Giving you a heart attack yack, yack, yack, yack
March 29th, 2012
4:08 pm
you oughta know by now
Thurston Howell III
March 29th, 2012
4:11 pm
Oh Lovey, get back to the hut and rattle the diamonds I bought you.
lefty fielder
March 29th, 2012
4:11 pm
i don’t know when or even if augusta will ever admit a female member, but you can bet the back 40 that it won’t happen while some battle-ax is calling them out via the media.
Marvin
March 29th, 2012
4:12 pm
Probably a dumb question, but does Ms. Rometty play golf? Isn’t that a prime consideration for membership, gender notwithstanding?
Carnac
March 29th, 2012
4:15 pm
JB Spurrier is already a member: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/members-295227-club-national.html
Joey
March 29th, 2012
4:15 pm
Billie should invite all Victoria’s Secret models and former Playmates to become members, and no others. Maybe Burke would be rendered speechless.
For once.
Pongo
March 29th, 2012
4:19 pm
Ms. Rometty plays golf, but is more into scuba with her husband. Read that on Bloomberg this week.
Contractor
March 29th, 2012
4:19 pm
Burk is a true idiot. Now she is relying on the mistreatment of others to fill her pockets and her celebrity appeal to the media. Augusta National has the right to do whatever they want, and when they want within their club. If you want in a club Martha Burk, go ahead and buy you some land, landscape you a golf course, and then invite whomever you want to join, all women if you want, but quit whining and crying about something you will never be apart of. Take your Liberal mindset elsewhere, because Augusta wants nothing to do with it, and people like myself don’t want to see or hear it. Go start a club somewhere else and you can let everyone in the world join, and like at Burger King, you can have it your way.
Mark
March 29th, 2012
4:21 pm
Dan Wetzel at Yahoo and Christine Brennan at USA Today have written about this already today. This issue has been beaten to death.
Carnac
March 29th, 2012
4:22 pm
Martha you didn’t get my collars clean!
Joey
March 29th, 2012
4:24 pm
“Burk is a true idiot. Now she is relying on the mistreatment of others to fill her pockets…”
********************************************
Nice Contractor, but needs a couple of inserts: “…Now she is relying on the alleged mistreatment and real or imagined hurt feelings of others to fill her sizable pockets …”
Contractor
March 29th, 2012
4:29 pm
Like someone previously said, Augusta National marches to its own drum, no one else’s in the world. The money and power that makes up all of its members can’t be ignored. IBM will regret the decision to pull away from their ties with the Masters every day for the rest of tournament’s days. Augusta is the most respected club in the world, and offers the most amazing spectacle in sports, so I highly doubt the new CEO will make a decision to compromise that.
Contractor
March 29th, 2012
4:30 pm
Joey,
Thanks for helping me out there.
Skeezix
March 29th, 2012
4:35 pm
Wasn’t Burke the one who called for a demonstration at Augusta a few years ago and no one, literally on one (except sap reporters of course), showed up. This is such an immaterial non issue that it’s boring. Who cares if Augusta National offers the new IBM CEO a membership or not? It is their business —-can we now talk some baseball?
Paul in NH
March 29th, 2012
4:39 pm
Wow – who knew that IBM being a sponsor of the Masters is critical to their business? Pity no-one told Steve Jobs that – all he did to make Apple 2x the market cap of IBM and about 4x as profitable was to develop better products.
Buzz
March 29th, 2012
4:40 pm
How come the LPGA can’t come up with their own big time golf tournament?
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
4:42 pm
Hail Munson — Thanks for the comments. I know some folks like yourself support the issue but are anti-Martha Burk. I just felt her voice would add to the column, given the history. But thanks.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
4:43 pm
Michael — That’s certainly the way it has been to this point.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
4:44 pm
Marvin: Ginny Rometty plays a little bit of golf but scuba diving supposedly her sports passion.
dean
March 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
I’m thinking Danica Patrick gets the first female invite. Nascar to membership at Augusta. It’s a logical path.
iTiSi
March 29th, 2012
5:13 pm
It would not surprise me at all to see Gloria Albright show up at the Masters this year. She does have a tendency to butt in on matters like this, just to get her “mug” on TV.
79
March 29th, 2012
5:16 pm
yawn…..OTOH….Rometty might use her scuba skills to find Seve’s ball that he hit left and short into the pond at 15 in 1986……so she’s got that going for her..
iTiSi
March 29th, 2012
5:16 pm
Sorry, that should be “Allred” not Albright. Where in the world did I get “bright” from. That would almost be an oxymoron! That’s funny really,
Paul in NH
March 29th, 2012
5:23 pm
Doesn’t Gloria Allred include a number of Tiger’s ex-girlfriends among her clients?
A Father
March 29th, 2012
5:27 pm
Georgia football going up in flames:
If you write about women and golf need pictures of Paula Creamer and other hot looking women LPGA players. Otherwise no one cares — Back to Georgia football up in flames
Caveman
March 29th, 2012
5:45 pm
End life–threatening hunger in USA and world, create peace in the USA and world, eridicate severe poverty in USA and the world and ALLOW A WOMAN/FEMALE to JOIN AUGUSTA NATIONAL golf club. Okay, let me think awhile…………………………………………what is more important?!?!!!??????? Please wake-up people…………………..
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
5:54 pm
Paul in NH –”Doesn’t Gloria Allred include a number of Tiger’s ex-girlfriends among her clients?”
Don’t know about “a number” but I know she rep’d Rachel Uchitel (socialite, reported $10 million settlement) and Joslyn James (porn “star,” not sure if she ever got settlement)
Herschel Talker
March 29th, 2012
6:03 pm
Schultzie:
Who gives a *$&#&^ about this? Can you please slam Richt for more circus shenanigans in Athens and stop wasting time on this non-issue?
FIRE MARK RICHT!!!
HT
gtfanfrom1951
March 29th, 2012
6:10 pm
PC cops are at it again when will the liberal media get a real life or real story!
Fan
March 29th, 2012
6:15 pm
Some would call Public television, PBS.
This is commercial television.
Brian Washington
March 29th, 2012
6:26 pm
Just for the record: Over one-third of the groups in the National Council of Women’s Organizations…that Martha Burk was Chairman of…refuse to allow men to join.
Guess that righteous indignation only goes in one direction…
Gordon
March 29th, 2012
6:35 pm
You just don’t get it Jeff. There is no issue, except in Martha Burk’s mind and your mind. Augusta hasn’t gotten themselves into a quandry at all. 9 years ago they said they would invite a woman member when they were ready, and today they will invite a woman member when they are ready. And when she is invited, it will be because they want her as a member, not because they are worried people like Martha Burk or you don’t approve. Augusta National would (and has) dropped it sponsors to protect them from attacks from Martha Burk types who think they know what is best for a private club.
Gordon
March 29th, 2012
6:40 pm
I fondly remember Martha Burk’s protest from 9 years ago. She wanted to stage it near the club to be visible. It ended up being about 50 people (half of which were female students bussed in from an all women’s college) and an inflatable pig (representing Hootie Johnson) in a muddy field about 3 miles from the tournament. It was an utter and complete failure, and was hilarious to watch.
Cabrera, Pettersson take early lead in Houston before rain arrives – Washington Post | Amazing News
March 29th, 2012
7:16 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
James
March 29th, 2012
7:30 pm
It’s a men’s club. I hope it will be and always will stay that way. Don’t cave Billy!
Members
March 29th, 2012
7:30 pm
I hope they let women in one day and ban Jeff Schultz from the media room–He is idiot no matter what sport he writes about–football, golf, you name it
GB
March 29th, 2012
7:56 pm
When private clubs are forced by government to do anything freedoms are diminished.
Swing for the Fence
March 29th, 2012
8:11 pm
Why is this a story. Private club. They make their own rules and the locker room has only one set of showers. The press room upstairs is male only too. Crummy TV though.
ed
March 29th, 2012
8:17 pm
burke is clueless, AN will/can do as they please.
Burke said at one time she could see the day when they would have to play the tournament at another course. ROTFLMAO
BobDawg
March 29th, 2012
8:35 pm
Schultzie, I was up at Pine Valley Golf Club during the “Crump Cup” (amateur tourney invite each year) and several members said this was about to hit Augusta when the news had hit about IBM and the new CEO. A lot of their members play at Augusta and vice versa in club competitions…. Talk about exclusive; try out Pine Valley sometime…..
Hypatia
March 29th, 2012
8:36 pm
Did I just wander into the 19th century or something? These sexist and misogynistic comments on this story are disgusting and the men who posted them should be ashamed of themselves.
duh
March 29th, 2012
8:38 pm
if you don’t want women griping about it, call it Augusta MEN’s club and not Augusta NATIONAL. Um, we are a nation of two different genders, you know . . . .
duh
March 29th, 2012
8:39 pm
actually, if you are insistent on women not joining, have the “balls” (pardon the pun) to call it Augusta Men’s club and then be done with it. Wusses.
BobDawg
March 29th, 2012
8:41 pm
I really thought Nancy Lopez would be the first female brought in, especially when she was married to Ray Knight… Seemed like a natural at the time….. My money is on Condaleeza Rice… she loves golf; former Bush crony and now a Stanford prof with a PHD….
Kevin
March 29th, 2012
8:41 pm
Like I always say…what’s the point in having a club if you can’t exclude people?
James
March 29th, 2012
8:42 pm
Augusta National should be ashamed. It is nothing more than blatant descrimination. How they could be allowed to carry on in this manner for this long is beyond me. I stand with the women on this issue and wonder what Augusta National would think of a boycott, or what would CBS advertisers think of a boycott for that matter. I think people other than women should stand up for the women and voice our concern to the authorities. And that’s how I feel about it.
tom bowden
March 29th, 2012
8:44 pm
Hey, Hypatia – aren;t you needed at an “Occupy” rally? Why the hell do you care about what goes on at Augusta National, or what REAL men think? (N
ot those Chardonnay swigging, brie chomping, purse wearing fruit loops you boss around,)
billy bob
March 29th, 2012
8:48 pm
When is the 100 Black Men’s Club going to invite a Caucasian?
billy bob
March 29th, 2012
8:49 pm
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Sick of the Liberal Ass Media! Amen, It’s a FREAKING PRIVATE CLUB!
Scotty
March 29th, 2012
8:49 pm
I’m with you James. I emailed Anderson Cooper and Rachel Maddow to give them the heads up that this would be a good topic for this week. I think it would be good for a national discussion. Hello, this is a democracy last I checked.
joe in tucker
March 29th, 2012
8:49 pm
blah blah blah – it’s a private club; blah blah blah – go start your own club; blah blah blah – get a life outside of whining for a living…
Jockich Ahn Smelley II
March 29th, 2012
8:49 pm
I’m a guy….these morons are in the early-1900’s…..when are women going to get wise ehhhh ticked off and stage a boycott……this is pitiful…..these Stepford wives married to these morons should get some “Kahunas” and cut them off…however we all know, wink-wink these geezers are getting it on the side anyway with their secretaries…..”that boy has gotten more putang than anyone I know”
JDW
March 29th, 2012
8:50 pm
Funny no one has thought to ask the most pertinent question of all…Does the woman even play golf?
This is a golf club folks nothing to do there but play. Kind of pointless to join if you don’t play, play well and are avid about playing.
Bob Storm
March 29th, 2012
8:51 pm
Exclusion is gay – kinda like golf. What a bunch of douchebags.
Timmer
March 29th, 2012
8:52 pm
I agree – golf is gay
Carl Spackler
March 29th, 2012
8:55 pm
BobDawg…..Had the chance to play Pine Valley and Merion several years ago, Great, Great courses. I have had the good fortune of playing Augusta National on numerous occassions.
bamaguy
March 29th, 2012
8:56 pm
It’s like a bunch of little pouty boys who won’t let a girl in the treehouse. Just invite a woman to join. It’s 2012. (I second the Condaleeza nomination).
Jay
March 29th, 2012
8:58 pm
I think women should be allowed in. Ironically, my parents are coming to Atlanta from Charleston to visit this week. They will drive right through Augusta. My dad has been to a couple of Masters Tournaments and he thinks the Masters is a gift from God. Good lord, he loves that golf tournament. He says it is the best. But guess what, I am going to hit him with this questions as soon as they come in Saturday. I really want to see how he will answer it, especially in from of my mother. I remember once when he took Wednesday afternoons to play golf with men from the office and my mom was irritated and said that she’d like to go down to that office on a Wednesday and see how many women got to leave at lunch and go play golf. She said she knew the answer to that and the women would be at work. I really think I will pose this most interesting question when he arrives.
tom bowden
March 29th, 2012
9:02 pm
Hey, bamaguy – it’s OUR freakin’ tree house – we brought the hammer, nails and boards; we get to decide who climbs in. If you don’t like it, go start your own club with James and Scotty (y’all can fight over who gets to play with the skip rope first).
PatDowns
March 29th, 2012
9:05 pm
What all you gleeful pundits either don’t get or fail to acknowledge…Rometty got to where she is by playing by the rules – and succeeding – in an overwhelmingly man’s world. She and Augusta National will work something out.
Carl Spackler
March 29th, 2012
9:06 pm
Amen Tom! All you little sissy’s go jump rope and suck on your pascifier!
Old Farmer
March 29th, 2012
9:07 pm
Sure the Master’s membership can refuse to extend membership to women since it’s a private club. But I hope those big boys won’t whine and pitch fits if they lose money over it.
Once you go down the road of seeking large corporate sponsors, you are no longer just a little private club in Augusta, Ga.
bamaguy
March 29th, 2012
9:10 pm
Excluding women makes you feel like more of a man? Interesting.
BobDawg
March 29th, 2012
9:13 pm
CARL, you are a lucky man…. I got to play Pine Valley right after 9/11 when they offered rounds for $1000 each to go towards the NY Fireman and Cops…. Totally worth it and I used to go on the roller coaster in Clementon when I was a kid just around the corner….
Blah Blah
March 29th, 2012
9:13 pm
Old Farmer..they have so much money they don’t need Corporate Sponsors! Do you have a clue as to who is a member there?
aaa
March 29th, 2012
9:13 pm
Since it’s a private club as so many of you point out, why should they allow blacks in? Please try to explain that. Isn’t that the same basic idea? Only allow the right ones in? But I love how the AJC opened this up to comments (knowing what idiots would show up) and all the poor sad henpecked men come around to post.
@Old Farmer 9:07
March 29th, 2012
9:13 pm
You do realize the year Burk held her little escapade the Masters was televised commercial free because Augusta National went ahead and PAID CBS for the air time. There goes that theory of yours. Next…
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
9:14 pm
Herschel Talker — Probably will weigh in on Georgia situation tomorrow.
Fishawk
March 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
I’ve never seen so many stupid comments on one blog. Most of you are just deplorable idiots attired in plaid shorts and polos.. Regrettable.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
Gordon — Safe to say the issue is not just in my mind and Martha Burk’s mind.
Old Farmer
March 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
The way those boys think, you could never have too much money.
BodDawg
March 29th, 2012
9:16 pm
I am very lucky indeed..I have several friends who are members of Pine Valley and Merion. If I told you my connection with Augusta it would make you sick.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
9:17 pm
Billy Bob — You should totally apply.
PTC Bernie
March 29th, 2012
9:20 pm
If they want equality let them share the same club house and showers.
Nativebird
March 29th, 2012
9:30 pm
Sorry Jeff. Your continued effort to change the world to make it better and nicer place because you are a nice and caring person…..has met its match. You can write about it all you want, but that doesn’t make it important….or even relevant. There are men who flat out disagree with you and don’t have to yield to the intended extortion that you writers think you can wield. And why are they this way? Because simply they want to be…and can. The End. Now, how bout some actual sports writing?
Jack Straw
March 29th, 2012
9:33 pm
How about we make 18 year old females register for the Selective Service? We want to be FAIR, don’t we? Mr. Schultz, I guess your editor made you write this drivel.
Walt McGuinness
March 29th, 2012
9:41 pm
Augusta golf course is private and they set the policy. They only want men as members and that is their right. If Mrs. Burke wants women in a private course why doesn*t she build her own course. Make it private and for women only and NO MEN. No I believe she only wants to make trouble and possibly a name for herself. Augusta hold your ground and send her packing.
Now back to living life. Have a great day.
Walt McGuinness
March 29th, 2012
9:42 pm
Enter your comments here
Trusslady
March 29th, 2012
9:45 pm
You neanderthals have missed a very salient point stated early in this article – IBM is a major “sponsor”. Rometty can sponsor something else – then let’s watch the scrambling begin.
suwanee dawg
March 29th, 2012
9:47 pm
I thought Schultz is a sports writer. What does the question about whether a private club limits its membership have to do with sports?
Billy Bob
March 29th, 2012
9:48 pm
Jeff ….don’t need to apply!
Walt McGuinness
March 29th, 2012
9:49 pm
I think Mrs. Burke has got to get a life. Augusta Golf course is a private club and they and only they have the right to make the rules on membership and all other facets of the club. She is like the little old busy body who lives in the neighborhood and has to know everybodys business. If she wants to really help other women golfers why doesn*t she go out and build a private golf course for women only. I bet you won*t find the men knocking on the front door to become a member.
Keep up the good work Augusta and stand your ground.
Billy Bob
March 29th, 2012
9:51 pm
Tursslady…Augusta National would not be hurt in the least bit if IBM left! wake up!
todd grantham
March 29th, 2012
9:51 pm
Is this all about letting the world be a little bit more equal? share the misery? God, there’s got to be some separation between the sexes. I have no ambition to put on a bikini and compete for Miss, Ms. or Mrs. America.
DawgNole
March 29th, 2012
9:51 pm
August National….We make the rules, not you.
March 29th, 2012
3:55 pm
Who cares, as long as they keep the commercials to 5 minutes or less an hour…..Best damn Sporting Event Policy for TV EVER CREATED.
_________________________
You said a mouthful there, bud. Can you even imagine how much better the world would be if ALL TV programs were limited to 5 mins or less (instead of the normal 20-plus mins) an hour of the obnoxious, loud, silly, annoying, grating, sickening, nauseating, abrasive, imbecile, moronic, irritating, ineffective, meaningless, repetetive commercials to which viewers are mercilessly subjected 24 insufferable hours a day?
I can only dream of such a world–a world without sore thumbs (from changing the damn channels or hitting “mute” every two minutes so I don’t have to endure yet another of the aforementioned mindless drivel spouted by “our sponsors”).
Gag me with a spoon!
Steve
March 29th, 2012
9:57 pm
This is SO old. It’s bad enough women nag men and overreact to almost every little thing like it’s the end of the world. Now they want to prevent menfrom have ANY place to get away from them.
Oh, we want to get in on the club for the big business deals and such .. blah blah blah. WRONG! This is pure and simple. They are annoyed that any single man, let alone a group of them, have a place they can hang out without the constant nagging and annoyance of women around.
Georgia Sports Report
March 29th, 2012
9:59 pm
Anybody think that Augusta can tell IBM to go to Hell and there are about 30 other companies dying to advertise?
todd grantham
March 29th, 2012
10:01 pm
the Masters told CBS a few years ago to go to hell so i hope they do it again.
Billy Bob
March 29th, 2012
10:03 pm
George Sports Report…BINGO! IBM needs Augusta more than augusta needs IBM!
Mjr
March 29th, 2012
10:03 pm
When we I built a club house as a kid, we said that our membership was a bond of mutual understanding and loyal benefit to those who understood and pledged to respectfully protect fellow brothers. The Red Hat Club, should they also take men? No, and we should not.
Kevin
March 29th, 2012
10:04 pm
I actually meet some of their membership criteria. I am a white male that plays golf, yet I expect them them not to let me in. It’s their club. And, I am not offended. By the way, the last two Masters that ended on Easter Sunday were won by Phil. I am on my way to the Wynn sports book to bet on Mickelson.
Douglas
March 29th, 2012
10:07 pm
You know what….there are a lot of men including me who are tired of women thinking they have the right to join every private club men belong to. The Masters does not need IBM — IBM needs the Masters as a marketing tool to advertise to make more money. What an idiot Burke is – the last time she forced the masters hand, they decided not to run any commercials and the men loved it — we could watch golf uninterrupted. If women’s sports are so powerful in Burke’s mind, then why are the seats empty to most of their sporting events? You know what most of the men in America are saying to the Masters: you go for it! Be a man about it — don’t let others push you around. Billy Payne might be progressive but he is also a businessman — and if he tries to force the board’s hand, he will be let go.
rivercard
March 29th, 2012
10:08 pm
If Burk succeeds in getting that first women in ,do you think we can start pushing for middle class guys with 10+ handicaps getting an invite?
Are you a member affected?....
March 29th, 2012
10:09 pm
I can appreciate a private club, however, would we see the same insulting comments posted here about a black person attempting to gain entrance to this private franchise? No! Do women have to get extreme in their position to obtain the same respect as other minorities? It is insulting to read these ignorant comments from the anonymous brave hearts. They wouldn’t dare speak this way about another minority group, especially if their name(s) were required to stand behind their prejudice posts. STFU bully! You are the drive behind classes resorting to legal remedies to stop your abusive behavior. Sad part is that you all have mothers, some have dumb female companions and even worse, daughters of your own. Have your club but be fair and stop attacking an entire class of people (women) because you have no better reason for your position or feelings.
Jay
March 29th, 2012
10:11 pm
I wonder if this might be better decided by the Supreme Court. It has the ring of a constitutional issue. If the women’s constitutional rights are violated, then game over, the men only rule will be struck down. As they say, this is a free country. It could get very interesting.
RC
March 29th, 2012
10:12 pm
Is that best picture of the IBM CEO that was available. It looks like a mugshot.
todd grantham
March 29th, 2012
10:15 pm
oh yeah
old school
March 29th, 2012
10:22 pm
Don’t give in guys—it will ruin everything you have worked for all these years. Let em form their own club.
todd grantham
March 29th, 2012
10:28 pm
my golf balls:
many times on the course
i often lose the source
of my golf balls.
whether a hack or a slice
i try to be nice
when i lose my golf balls.
my friends all giggle
when i only wiggle
my golf balls.
todd grantham
March 29th, 2012
10:31 pm
i carry my golf balls in a sack
and not on my back.
if i carried ‘em back there
i’d only swear
if i coulda seen ‘em better
i wouldnt hack
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
10:31 pm
Getting very close to closing commenting. Clean it up people or don’t comment at all.
Jeff Schultz
March 29th, 2012
10:33 pm
And 5150 UOAD — I’ve about had it with you. Deleting most of your comments.
todd grantham
March 29th, 2012
10:35 pm
once i fought a gator
against a beer fridgrator
for my ball.
i screamed it was mine!
but all of the time
he was acting like a brave gladiator
i rescued it still
and the gator did i kill
and made it 49-40 and 2
todd grantham
March 29th, 2012
10:38 pm
ok, i understand. seriously, enough tom foolery on the blog.
Just Another White Guy
March 29th, 2012
10:51 pm
All these same “Private Club” arguments were also used to justify the fact that there were no black members. Get all indignant if you want, but it’s true… And this issue is not going away, even if 98% of the commenters want it to.
Bobby Jones
March 29th, 2012
10:52 pm
Wish people would go after other “Private Organizations” if they are going after my beloved Augusta National. Can thing of many that the media doesn’t attack like they do my club.
endwomenssuffrage
March 29th, 2012
10:54 pm
Who rakes Burke’s sandtrap?
Mark
March 29th, 2012
10:58 pm
It may be a private club, but there is no difference between Augusta discriminating against a minority, and lets remember Tiger Woods would have been excluded from membership at one time, and a female; discrimination is discrimination. The right move, the Profiles in Courage move, would be for Tiger to redeem himself by boycotting the Master’s until Augusta allows women members. That would not only take guts, but it would send a message that would be heard incredibly loudly and closely around the world.
Bill
March 29th, 2012
10:59 pm
Thanks for posting this thoughtful and fair minder article. I am pretty disgusted by the anti-female comments posted here. Thank you for fighting for fairness.
Bill
March 29th, 2012
11:00 pm
oops. “fair minded article…”
Dragon
March 29th, 2012
11:01 pm
It’s like Anne Frank said, “Why do women put up with patriarchy? The longer we do, the longer it lasts.”
Why women would date any of the morons commenting on this blog is beyond me,
It’s a private club full of morons.
Amanda
March 29th, 2012
11:02 pm
I like the idea of an all-womens club of my own,, so I say let them have theirs. I’m embarassed by women who focus on being included in anything…just “because.” If we women focused more on making our own “Augusta” courses rather than battling to unravel a long standing heritage, we’d have something to be proud of. The concept applies to everything. Let’s stop whining for change and go out there and produce an even higher standard.. I’d rather maintain my own right to exclude men that force my way into their because I use the media to say that I’m a “victim” of discrimination. If we earn respect, we don’t have to fight for it to be displayed through clenched teeth.
Mary L B
March 29th, 2012
11:08 pm
Who cares! I am a woman who has grown up in Augusta my entire 50+ yrs. It is a PRIVATE club! I for one am so sick and tired of people who insist its their “right” to belong to a club. NO it is not a right! Why would someone want to join a club where they are not welcome? Men and women ARE different. Clubs are different. Fraternities and sororities are inclusive also. Why can’t a person or an organization do as they please without bowing to gender and racial differences? Men and/or women, black, white or any other color need to accept it is NOT a God given “right” to belong to whatever one pleases!!!!
Smitty
March 29th, 2012
11:11 pm
I really don’t know how i fell about this. It seems like a private matter but maybe it has more underlining undertones. It seems like if they do it they do it if not no big deal. Either way the masters still has a special place in my heart.
rivercard
March 29th, 2012
11:12 pm
Amen Amanda.
Dragon- would you call an all womens college or Junior League “full of Morons” ?
Ken Stallings
March 29th, 2012
11:34 pm
Jeff,
Drop your political ax a moment and ponder this one question?
Are women routinely denied opportunities to play golf? Are they denied by matter of course the chance for playing golf on scholarship in Div-1A?
Given that the clear and true answer to both questions is a resounding, “No,” then why re-hash what was a hollow issue and give the hollow agendist her stage once again to find Augusta National guilty without being charged with any crime?
Flounder
March 29th, 2012
11:52 pm
Prediction:: Rometty will be extended a Membership Invitation, and she will turn it down.
JSS
March 30th, 2012
12:44 am
Man, that 21st century just jets over this region everyday! Must have been like what it was like when the socialist TVA ran the first electric wire out to the one room wood shack in Chattooga County… Gee, will the wonders never cease! Dangum!
elle
March 30th, 2012
1:07 am
I realize your Todd Grantham article came at a bad time and now there isn’t anything more you can say about the UGA Bulldogs so you turn to Golf but this is a stupid article Jeff.
computerchik
March 30th, 2012
2:07 am
Augusta native & Masters patron here. I’m a female and I have always been 100% fine with the club membership policy. Martha Burke needs to shut her mouth and go back to helping victims of discrimination. The year she staged her “big” protest, The Masters decided to run the tournament without sponsors. I think 9 people showed up for her protest, if I remember correctly. As another poster said, I’m sure the nice lady from IBM will understand and not male a fuss; otherwise, she’s not likely to be CEO for long.
computerchik
March 30th, 2012
2:16 am
Um, that should be MAKE a fuss. Thx, autocorrect, for that gem.
juice sourcer
March 30th, 2012
6:58 am
Thank you Billy Payne for extending TV coverage. Nothing pissed me off more than watching reruns of previous Masters moments while the live action was going on with the leaders on the course in the final round and we could not watch. It was the most absurd policy that the “Neanderthal” Hootie refused to change. As far as the other traditions…keep them..like a buck for a pimento cheese sandwich and no women members.
Jimmy Crack
March 30th, 2012
6:59 am
Once again….
G-entlemen
O-nly
L-adies
F-orgettaboutit!
BTW, when is N.O.W. going to let women join?
Paul in NH
March 30th, 2012
7:33 am
NOW (the National Organization For Women) has had men and women members since its founding.
Bobby Jones
March 30th, 2012
8:05 am
To Mark…Augusta National was there long before Tiger Woods was there. Augusta National will be there long after Tiger Woods is gone. Let Tiger protest. It simply does not matter! One person or sponsor is not bigger than the Holy Grail! People love the “Masters” and Augusta National far more than Eldrick ‘Tiger” Woods. Sorry to burst your bubble.
maddog
March 30th, 2012
8:10 am
The Loyal Order of the Moose openly welcomes women and spends millions of dollars yearly to benefit underpriveleged children. I believe Mr Schultz should pick another target for his ridicule.
Lacker
March 30th, 2012
8:14 am
Why no article on uga’s suspensions. Looking at 4 defensive starters out at least 2 games and you only write praise for the coaching. They are also mentors. Amazing how you guys bury your heads in the sand on uga’s discipline problems. And were only in March. There’s still 5 months before the season starts. 100% guaranteed another player or 3 will get booted or suspended by Sept.
Matt
March 30th, 2012
8:16 am
Why would anyone want to be a part of something where they are not wanted???? Chicks in fraternities??? Why??? Don’t they have sororities for that???
Jay
March 30th, 2012
8:17 am
Have women played on the mens pga tour? Yep. Have any men played on the womens? Nope. So stfu scultz and quit writing this left wing garbage.
David
March 30th, 2012
8:20 am
A tradition like none other, The Masters
Ghost from the past
March 30th, 2012
8:23 am
Jeff is just part of the ” LIBERAL LEFT” . Try another topic and stick to writing about sports and quit being a politician.
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
8:24 am
I see nothing wrong with a bunch of men wanting a place to get away from their old lady!!!
kaput
March 30th, 2012
8:28 am
I hope they make a big stink about it, and then we end up with The Masters completely commercial free. Have at it, ladies!!
observer
March 30th, 2012
8:30 am
Augusta National doesn’t need female members. They also don’t need TV “sponsors, so jusy who is going to “force” them to admit women?
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
8:30 am
When the sponsors get asked about this there responce is always ” We’re sponsors of the Masters not Augusta National”. Augusta National Golf Club is seperate from the Masters in the eyes of the members and the sponsors and at the end of the day that’s all that matters to them.
Ghost from the past
March 30th, 2012
8:32 am
Amen kaput! Bill and Warren could fund it out of their pockets.
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
8:35 am
I hope they make a big stink about it, and then we end up with The Masters completely commercial free. Have at it, ladies!!
LOL… I think maybe I’ll find some proactive ladies that would be interested in this issue and push them into joining the protest!!!! I loved the Masters when it was commercial free!!!
A Father
March 30th, 2012
8:39 am
Schultz:
We need a very hard hitting article about the CHAOS in Ga football and the Athletic Dept. One which demands responses and explanations from Michael Adams, Greg Mcgarity, Mark Richt, GA Board Members, Professors on the board, etc etc. I find it hard to believe that Atlanta is a top market in the U.S. and not one sports writer has the balls to step up for years now. Demand the response from the three Board of Regents on how they are involved with the terrible image and discipline taking place at the flagship University in the State of Georgia. We know that chip towers is weak at best and his articles are poorly written and thought out.
Someone Please: Step up at AJC and write a hard hitting article!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reid in EAV
March 30th, 2012
8:47 am
Had no one in the media brought attention to this, and had Martha Burk not opened her big mouth, I bet that Augusta National would have quietly examined the precedent with IBM and determined that this was a good time to ease into an unforced change. Instead, the usual busybodies crowing have all but ensured that it won’t happen. (I’d be very surprised to be wrong.) Way to go, guys.
Disgusted
March 30th, 2012
8:51 am
Hope not, leave the old boys from Augusta alone.
And send these uppity broads back to the kitchen to fetch me a beer like they were born to do.
Augusta National is fine, no need for change.
Alphare
March 30th, 2012
9:00 am
If I am the IBM CEO, I’ll give Augusta National a make-or-break warning. IBM doesn’t need Augusta National. There are tons of ways to advertise yourself than die in a bunch of Azelea.
IBM has $100 billion in revenue with 64 percent from overseas, which means only a third of its revenue is from the US.
You go overseas and ask who care about Augusta National, or even heard of Augusta National?
JSS
March 30th, 2012
9:02 am
Nasty Pimento Cheese sandwiches…
Gator Mike
March 30th, 2012
9:04 am
The ###l with Burke. It is a privat club. If there were a private woman’s club which would not admit men, who would complain? Nobody! If it were an afro-american club only would anyone listen to a white guy complaining? No! I hope the good old boys at Augusta stand firm.
Highlands
March 30th, 2012
9:06 am
If there truly is a “War on Women”, I nominate Martha Burk for an air strike.
Amen corner
March 30th, 2012
9:07 am
No.
moo
March 30th, 2012
9:11 am
Mrs. Rommetty’s future success or failure will rest on the success or failure of IBM and not on the membership rules of a private club. Augusta National will be the last thing on her mind, and if not, I’m sure the BOD will find a suiteable replacement. I’m surprised you wasted valuable sports page space with this nonsense.
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
9:13 am
Sorry JEFF we were just making Jokes last night. Not sure Why giving names of possible members was bad but OK.
don’t understand wanting to be a member of a club that doesn’t want you.
Ghost from the past
March 30th, 2012
9:14 am
Alphare…Wrong! Augusta National does not need IBM!!!
Highlands
March 30th, 2012
9:14 am
Oh, and Jeff: CBS and ESPN are not “public television”. They are both for-proft subsidaries of larger entities (Viacom and Disney, respectively). If you want to insert your dumb liberal politics into the newspaper, go join you lardo colleague Jim Galloway in a section other than sports.
A Father
March 30th, 2012
9:16 am
Speaking of replacements: UGA ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT lacks total leadership and direction. Step up Schultz, make it happen, you can do it!!
Big Crimson 75
March 30th, 2012
9:17 am
Martha Burke —– I wouldn’t mess with him.
Mark
March 30th, 2012
9:19 am
To Bobby Jones: Augusta National may be there long after Tiger Woods, but it is, whether it likes it or not, an international symbol of discrimination against women. So when you take that stand, you’re saying discrimination should also be there forever. Yes, it’s a private club, but it gives golf, Georgia, and the US a black eye with its antiquated policy, just like it did when it excluded blacks. By virtue of hosting the Masters it wants to stand for something bigger, and so it should. And so should Tiger Woods; if he has the guts he should call Payne and tell the club either change the policy or he’ll never play there again. Watch how fast they drop that policy, and watch what the other players do if the club doesn’t change.
Tacusa
March 30th, 2012
9:20 am
I am glad that the Master’s stands firm against the bullying from the left. I wish more people would do it. And I’m sure Ms. Rometty can show Martha Burk a thing or two about how to be a REAL successful woman in the United States.
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
9:21 am
You go overseas and ask who care about Augusta National, or even heard of Augusta National?
First of all according to IBM and most of the other sponsors of the Masters say they are sponsors of the Masters not of Augusta National golf club. Also Golf is a very popular sport worldwide… everyone who has watched or played Golf in Europe, Asia, and Australia has heard of the Masters. It’s the most popular and well known Golf Tournament in the World!!!
Intelligent Masters Coverage | Lanny H Golf
March 30th, 2012
9:26 am
[...] on Augusta. Looks like his focus has already shifted to golf with today’s piece, “Will Augusta National finally be forced to invite a woman?“ What I like about Jeff is that he is a year-round resident of the area and, stealing a [...]
Alphare
March 30th, 2012
9:26 am
Ghost from the past,
“Alphare…Wrong! Augusta National does not need IBM!!!”
You sound like Rush Limbaugh saying he doesn’t need those deserting advertisers after apologizing.
Big Blue is a $240billion company with international fame, how big is Augusta National? a small fraction of a percentage of IBM?
Bobby Jones
March 30th, 2012
9:28 am
Mark…I know more about that club than you can ever dream about…believe me, they could care less what Tiger’s stance is! Especially after what he did.
Alphare
March 30th, 2012
9:40 am
CrαZy,
before Tiger Woods, golf on TV is a niche market. Even now without Tiger, the rating is still low. Master drew a very high rating of 12% a couple of years ago when Tiger was on track.
TV rating usually drops by 50% without Tiger.
A few days ago, Jeremy Lin of NY Knicks draw a 7.3%. I don’t have the number, I believe before Tiger, Master might have ratings of that NY Knicks game or lower.
PoliticalCorrectnessBS
March 30th, 2012
9:43 am
1970’s Boys posted no girls allowed signs on their tree house clubs.
2000’s Boy post’s no girls allowed sign and Dad beats him sinceless and forces him to find at least 1 girl to invite to their club!!!
mike
March 30th, 2012
9:46 am
Yeah we got to keep those women in their place. Dealing with abortions, birth contol and womens rights we have enough on our plate as is. Heck we gave them the right to vote and to make almost the same money a man makes. What else do they want. They just need to keep voting into office people who do not have their best interests at heart.
JASon
March 30th, 2012
9:47 am
If she’s allowed to go to the Masters, won’t that take away from her time in the kitchen
dave
March 30th, 2012
9:48 am
Not suprising that most of the anti women at Augusta comments come from men. Of course if it were their daugthers who were being kept out of a school or a job or even a country club it would be a different matter. Or would it? Barefoot and pregant-right fellas.
As to the private club part of the arguement-while it is a private club they do have a liquor license which is not a private thing. They must have a public license to sell food in the clubhouse or on the course. They use police for security (I’m sue they pay for it). The Masters is broadcast on the public airways. Now if Augusta National wants to run an event where there isn’t any food or booze and nobody but the people there can see it-then you can talk about “PRIVATE”
TBone
March 30th, 2012
9:52 am
Why not just get ahead of the curve and invite a female preferred transgender bathing suit model and be done with it.
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
9:53 am
Alphare…. You keep saying IBM and Augusta National together like they sponsor Augusta National, but they don’t. Back in 2003 or 2004 when all the Martha Burk stuff was going on they said “They are a sponsor of the Masters Golf Tournament not of Augusta National Golf Club”. I understand they are really the same thing, but if that is their stance still, then they obviously don’t care too much about this issue and really I can understand why I don’t see anything wrong with a all men’s or women’s group/club.
reebok
March 30th, 2012
9:54 am
It’s a private club. If you don’t like their policies, you are free to say so. You are also free not to tune in to the PGA event they host. As for Ms. Burke, she should be thrilled that Augusta National doesn’t yet have female members…it’s allowed her to be a D-list celbrity for 10 years. Perhaps she could go do something worthwhile now.
Alphare
March 30th, 2012
10:05 am
CraZy,
I am not arguing about exclusive man/woman club being right or wrong. I am arguing for the female IBM CEO to have the membership regardless of gender.
8 previous IBM CEO’s get memberships, all of a sudden a female is not allowed. What do you think if she is your daughter and not allowed the membership?
Ghost from the past
March 30th, 2012
10:07 am
Alphare…I guess you don’t understand the makeup of the memebership. There are companies equal to IBM within their framework.
Final Solution
March 30th, 2012
10:09 am
Hey Billy make her husband a member.
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
10:11 am
Make her EX-husband a member. LOL
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
10:15 am
What do you think if she is your daughter and not allowed the membership?
I’d tell my daughter, I wish I had a son then I’d get to play Augusta National!! Just kidding.. I’d tell her it’s just rules.
PMC
March 30th, 2012
10:17 am
I guess I don’t understand the logic behind “They’ve got themselves in a quandry.”
How?
PMC
March 30th, 2012
10:18 am
I mean really, there are no clubs for rich women?
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
10:18 am
8 previous IBM CEO’s get memberships, all of a sudden a female is not allowed.
It’s just rules hopefully people aren’t simple minded and can grasp that they are a private organization and that is simply their rules. Anyone can open a private club and restrict membership however they want including women!!
The Voice of Reason
March 30th, 2012
10:20 am
News Flash!! This isn’t about Agusta National or Billy Payne – it’s all about Burke who is a feminist and wants to ram her philosophy down the troats of anyone who disagrees with her ideology. Apparently, Jeff has bought into her retoric and is now on the “band wagon”. Beleive it or not – there are many PRIVATE WOMEN’S CLUBS that operate by the same rules as Augusta:
Century Club of Rochester, N Y
Century Club of California – San Francisco
Wonen’s City Club – Pasedena
Twentieth Century Club – Pittsburg
Colony Club – N Y C
Acorn Club – Philadelpha
Metropolitan Club – San Francisco
Duluth Women’s Club – Duluth, MN
St Louis Women’s Club – St Louis
just to name a few (Google will give you as many as you want to research)
The point is that neither Burke or Schultz looks at this situation with the whole view in mind but would rather push their own agenda because they have the media spotlight. And, Burke isn’t raising up her head in protest now for the “just cause” but rather to further her notoriety. She couldn’t force the issue in 2004 so now she tries again using a different approach and other people of ilk as a wedge to get her message across.
When both Burke and Schultz prove they care as much about ALL SINGLE GENDER social clubs – men or women and spend as much effort breaking down the barriers of PRIVATE WOMEN’S CLUBS, then their message will become honest and all peoples begin to listen.
PoliticalCorrectnessBS
March 30th, 2012
10:25 am
Come on people nothing is wrong with the promotion of Women’s rights, but this isn’t going to prove anything. What exactly does forcing a PRIVATE organization to remove there all men’s rule to allow women going to do to improve women’s rights? They have the SAME DAM# right as men to open up a golf club and restrict their membership to women only!! This is nothing, but a bunch of drum beaters beating their drums for the sake of making noise.
Alphare
March 30th, 2012
10:38 am
CraZy,
just a few days ago my 8-year daughter was asking me why there is no woman president. I had to tell her in the ancient time men had to go out to do the hard manual labor because the hard labor would be too hard to women. Then it became a tradition that women stay home to take care of children while men work outside the home. When voting started, women staying at home didn’t get to vote because they were not familiar with the outside world.
Now, if a little girl asks you why she is not allowed, you simply tells her that’s the rule? rules can be good and can be bad, rules can be changed too.
I always thought going out of one’s own way to help is a worthy trait, not any more?
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
10:41 am
Come on in Honey but No female showers or bathrooms.
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
10:42 am
We will get you a port-o-john and a garden hose
PMC
March 30th, 2012
10:58 am
You could just tell your daughter that it hasn’t happened yet, Alphare but we have a Female Secretary of State currently and that’s one of the highest offices in the land.
lanier
March 30th, 2012
11:03 am
you are susposed to be a sports writer. why this garbage that belongs in the National Enquirer
please get with the program Jeff
CrαZy
March 30th, 2012
11:05 am
Alphare
Everything in your explanation to your daughter is great!! Except this isn’t a public issue it’s a private organization… it’s not holding women back from anything because women are allowed to do the same thing and have done the same thing in Women only golf clubs around the US and world!! This isn’t a noble cause or an important cause it’s just a freaking private club that only allows 1 gender and it’s not the only club that does this!!
Rodster
March 30th, 2012
11:20 am
i think it’s okay to admit a woman as long as she is willing to help with the dishes.
rivercard
March 30th, 2012
11:20 am
Dave – If it was my daughter , wife, sister or mother I would not feel any differently. First I would be ecstatic that they had reached this level that they would even be considered to be included with the 1% of the 1%. But this isn’t the Chamber of Commerce or some other organization designed to further her career. It is a private mens golf club. I fully support the rights of women to realize their full potential ,but doesn’t mean I support their infringing upon the free association of others.
There are all womens colleges and I fully support that idea. My wife at one time belonged to Junior League. I sure didn’t whine about not being able to be a member.
I don’t buy your reasoning concerning a private club being required by government to obtain licenses and such. The local government forbids me from growing my grass head high, to build my house to code and so on, but they don’t require or even suggest that I invite you into my house.
I hope one day Augusta finds a women they want to invite, but until that time it is their decision .
Tide Rising
March 30th, 2012
11:22 am
Is there something about “private” as in private club that people don’t understand?
“just a few days ago my 8-year daughter was asking me why there is no woman president.”
Alphare,
I do not believe you.
How many 8 year olds would be politically saavy enough to ask why there has never been a female president? How many of them would even know if there has or has not ever been a female president? And what would prompt an 8 year old who is more interested in the playground, barbie dolls, and other 8 year old interests, to ask politicized questions? And where and when would an 8 year old simply come up with this question out of the blue? How would she even know that there has never been a female president? I’m not saying its impossible- just that its extremely unlikely that 8 year olds go around asking political questions such as this.
macho dude
March 30th, 2012
11:29 am
Can I please join the LPGA
Ladies Professional Golf Association ?
Therut
March 30th, 2012
11:30 am
Marvin, you are right on. SHE DOESN’T PLAY GOLF. I have no desire to join a tennis club.I DON’T PLAY TENNIS!
Joey
March 30th, 2012
11:30 am
Jeff Shultz: “And 5150 UOAD — I’ve about had it with you. Deleting most of your comments.”
********************************************
Jeff, um, could you make that permanent? You know it’s hard to have a debate with someone whose posting name begins with U = Urinate.
I’m hopeful.
Thanks.
Buckshot
March 30th, 2012
11:46 am
Good God Almighty! It is a private club! Leave them alone!
Hoorah for Hootie
March 30th, 2012
11:51 am
I am a middle aged white guy who loves golf and plays to a 17. I am as pissed off as Ms Burke about the fact that I can’t get a membership. I am going to send Billy Payne a letter and call a news conference to discuss Augusta’s discriminatory policies against people such as myself. My rallying cry will be that we, the 99.999999999999999999999999999 percenters have had it with their exclusionary policies. Think that the liberal, politically correct, socialist media will give me any press?
It is a PRIVATE CLUB. Get over it. Burke the Jerk has probably single handedly guaranteed that Rommety will not get in. In fact, high profile publicity stunts like this (I mean come on, there are probably less than 250 Augusta members in the world) that undermine rather than help the cause for equal rights. Next thing you know Burke will be complaining that there are no female members of SEAL Team Six – another exclusive club that 99.99999999999999% of us will never belong to.
250 white guys have a club that clings to tradition, so what. Heck, Eisenhower was the only President who has ever been a member, and other than Carl Sanders, I doubt that any other Governors of the State of Georgia have been members. Burke needs to focus on a legitimate issue, like pro choice or equal employment.
Hoorah for Hootie
March 30th, 2012
12:00 pm
Has it ever dawned on anybody that 1) IBM already has three representatives (former CEO’s) in its membership, 2) They may have very well already extended an invite to Rommety as they never publicly discuss membership. I mean when is the last time that you saw a news wire out of Augusta regarding their new members? and 3) Rommety may not even want to be a member.
I think that it would be cool if Rommety showed up at the Masters wearing a green jacket and embarrassed the press and Burke by saying, “I have been a member since January” or Billy Payne announced that Augusta had extended an invitation to her when she assumed the CEO role in January and she politely declined.
Wow
March 30th, 2012
12:05 pm
You people should really read the article before commenting.
1) – Burk did not generate the issue again.
2) – It simply arose by the fact that IBM CEO’s have historically been asked to join.
3) – No one is forcing Rommety on Augusta National.
charliedawg
March 30th, 2012
12:21 pm
Nice to know you read USA Today….
heartofdarkness
March 30th, 2012
12:26 pm
I can not understand how basing a veto on membership because of gender, which is a matter over which a person has no control at birth, could in any way bring credit to an organization. I would expect public corporations with boards of directors composed of women and men might take a dim view of their chief executive being denied membership that has been routinely granted to others in their organization at the same level, who were of a different gender. While one sponsor may not be important to this event, social trends would suggest that the PGA will come under increased pressure to remove this issue from its public image.
Augusta National may choose to remain obstinate on this matter, as they have every legal right to do. Wealth is often an effective insulator from the need to be wise. The problem seems to be that the club seeks to gain great prestige in public from their golf tournament. Increasingly, the contradiction between public attitudes and private preferences will diminish that prestige, as there is nothing admirable in a policy of excluding women per se.
If this were a local boys club, planning their annual tractor pull, the public would rightly pay it no mind. And perhaps that is the direction in which things should go.
jimjones
March 30th, 2012
12:30 pm
Augusta admits the CEO’s of IBM as a courtesy and it is not a rule, male only membership on the other hand, is a rule of the club.
Paul in NH
March 30th, 2012
12:33 pm
Yes – Augusta National IS a private club but if they want to keep it private why do they invite the entire world to their little invitational golf tournament, broadcast it on TV, etc? Augusta could take a leaf out of Cypress Point’s book.
Cypress Point was faced with maintaining their limited membership makeup rather than conform to the PGA Tour’s requirements and they decided to drop out of the ATT National Pro-Am.
PureEvil
March 30th, 2012
12:34 pm
Seems private organizations sould be allowed to do as they please regarding who gets in. Not that any of us should really care it’s not like I’m getting in anytime EVER!! If it gets us another commercial free Masters I’m all women getting pissed off!!!
PureEvil
March 30th, 2012
12:35 pm
I’m all *for* women getting pissed off!!!
resno2
March 30th, 2012
12:39 pm
R-E-S-P-E-C-T that’s what private means to me!!!! Augusta National has been private since before even Martha Burk was born… what part of that 7 letter word does she not understand? We didn’t care then what she thought and we don’t care now.
Martha, a pleading word of advice, go away.
jimjones
March 30th, 2012
12:50 pm
I only hope Augusta has the good sense to ban Schultz from the grounds.
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
12:59 pm
No stinking women!! The He-man Women-Haters club lives at Tech!!
dean
March 30th, 2012
1:00 pm
I tell you. This is getting out of hand. The next thing you know some girl is going to want to join the Boy Scouts.
Dumb dawgs
March 30th, 2012
1:01 pm
“Will Augusta National finally be forced to invite a woman?”
Sure, when frats start inviting women, sororities inviting men and congressioanal black caucus inviting white people.
Dumb dawgs
March 30th, 2012
1:03 pm
“250 white guys have a club that clings to tradition”
NAACP, congressional black caucus…
Nuff said.
SERIOUSLY
March 30th, 2012
1:09 pm
I believe that tryouts should be mandated to determine who the 1st woman to join this private club is!! IF she can show how to correctly use a mans putter & clean his balls THEN & ONLY THEN should she be allowed MEMBERSHIP!!!
Dumb dawgs
March 30th, 2012
1:09 pm
A few years ago Sorenstam played on the PGA tour and came in far behind on the tour. Women were all excited and thought she’d beat the men when it turned out that she was not that great playing with men.
Make sense?
PTC DAWG
March 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Biggest non story ever. Why the big deal?
I don’t want to joint a Women’s Club.
Larry30
March 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
I hope the club will respond with a collective yawn. The 4 previous CEO’s of IBM weren’t members because of their job titles. They were obviously passionate about the game of golf. Augusta national is not a country club or a business/networking club. It is a golf club. Im astonished you even waste ink on this non story.
Buzzed
March 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
Comparing a private club’s membership to whether a woman can be president is stupid. A woman can’t yet join this particular private club; a woman can be president of the US – if she can get herself elected. And both circumstances are perfectly legal and OK by me. Now, if you want to compare the presidency with AGNC, you could say they are both now a busted flush.
Equality fo All
March 30th, 2012
2:07 pm
I wonder if Martha can influence any of these “Women Only” clubs to open up and let some men in:
American Association for Women Radiologists AAWR
American Association of University Women
American Heritage Girls
American Woman Suffrage Association
Association of Women Professionals
Association for Women in Science (AWIS)
Big Sisters
Business and Professional Women
Concerned Women for America
Commercial Real Estate Women
Daughters of the American Revolution – Historical society (founded 1890)
Daughters of Utah Pioneers – Historical society (founded 1919)
Equal Rights Advocates
Family of Women
Feminists for Life
Feminist Majority Foundation
Degree of Pocahontas
General Federation of Women’s Clubs (1890)
Girl Scouts of the United States of America
Hadassah
Junior League
La Leche League
League of Women Voters
Mommy Mentors
National American Woman Suffrage Association
National Association of Female Professionals
National Association of University Women (NAUW)
National Council of Jewish Women
National Federation of Republican Women
National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Woman Suffrage Association
National Women’s Political Caucus
Pythian Sisters
Rebekah Degree
Royal Neighbors of America
Refugee Women’s Network
Woman’s Christian Temperance Union
Women’s Bowling Congress
Woman’s Missionary Union
Women Open Network
U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce
Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children
Younger Women’s Task Force
Women In Prison
James
March 30th, 2012
2:08 pm
I still think we must ask ourselves if this descrimination is indicative of the type of society we want to live in. Do we want our state of Georgia to constantly be on the wrong side of history. I would like to see this type of case heard by the Supreme Court. I would be very interested in the ruling.
Bob
March 30th, 2012
2:13 pm
Can I as a man join the –
1) “Colony Club” it is a private women only social club in New York City. Founded in 1903
2)”The Metopolitan Club” in San Francisco – This is a women’s club, with a spa, fitness center, library, bar, and lunch room
3) Century Club of Rochester is the oldest private women’s club – Rochester NY
4) The Women’s City Club of Pasadena, where since 1945 we have provided a private club environment for women
And the List goes on (What’s good for the Goose is good for the gander)…
Gritz Blitz
March 30th, 2012
2:20 pm
“The previous eight previous CEOs” — I have no comment on the subject, but thought I would point out some editing that needs to be done.
PonGT
March 30th, 2012
2:31 pm
I find it interesting that emasculated sports writers like yourself are always quick to throw defamatory jabs at the men of Augusta National, presumably because they still have their masculinity and you don’t, by quoting such Gentle Ladies of America like that femi-nazi Martha Burk and call the Men of Augusta “NEANDERTHALS”. Truth is, they aren’t neanderthals, just men who haven’t caved to the fascists of America demanding castration. The men of Augusta National are not behaving like Neanderthals; the women are acting like Athaliahs! Too bad and so sad that you have been transgendered.
PureEvil
March 30th, 2012
2:31 pm
James the Augusta National Golf club could give a flying (word that rhymes with Duck) what the supream court says!! They’re a private club any order to disband would mean the same for hundreds of different organizations around the nation thta only allow 1 gender to join!!
abby normal
March 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
It has been said a zillion times…Augusta National is a private club, they can control their membership as they please. However, now seems the perfect time to invite their first woman member. Who knows, Ms. Rometty may decline and take Billy Payne off the hook.
Ghost from the past
March 30th, 2012
3:03 pm
Great Post “Equality to All”
We live in a free enterprise society!
Paul Revere
March 30th, 2012
3:08 pm
Augusta National is a private club and entitled to set rules and carry them out as it sees fit! Let the busybody nazi wannabees keep their nose out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
blueforever
March 30th, 2012
3:22 pm
I’d like to play on the LPGA tour. Is Martha available to help me?
Juggs N Bunns Magazine
March 30th, 2012
3:23 pm
There are a lot of uptight women…….Time to head back to the kitchen.
AuburnCreed
March 30th, 2012
3:45 pm
Are you stupid????????????
Do you have any clue as to how many OTHER worldwide corporations are banging on Augusta National’s door to beg to be a major TV sponser???????????
You’re dense son.
Larry W Tucker
March 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
You need to drop this. You are as dumb as she is.
Adam Richard
March 30th, 2012
4:52 pm
Wow after reading the majority of comments on here, I am starting to see Why Rednecks in GA have the reputation they do. “Its a private club” let them do whatever they want. Screw that you bunch of redneck hillbillies and go back to whatever cave you are living in… It is not 1930, you ignorant asinine far right nut jobs…
SERIOUSLY
March 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
@ EVE DICK 4:52…….go HUG A TREE or BETTER YET GO FIX DINNER FOR YOUR “LIFE PARTNER” IT’LL HELP YOU FIND YOURSELF!!
Ghost from the past
March 30th, 2012
8:01 pm
Adam Richards…You far left assinine nut job! go back to your government job and live off of Obama!
Ghost from the past
March 30th, 2012
8:02 pm
Its 2012 Adam Richards you far left assinine nut job!
MaleReader
March 30th, 2012
9:11 pm
There are women’s only clubs just like Augusta(an example being the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto) that operate the same way in reverse. If we are going to talk about gender specific membership at golf clubs we need to be sure that we don’t forget that women are just as guilty of it as men are. By the way, most of these courses, including Augusta, do allow the opposite gender to play the courses. They simply cannot obtain full member status. It is that way for women at Augusta National and men at Ladies Golf Club of Toronto(and others, if you look it up). We should either have no clubs that are gender specific or let it go. *I personally think there should not be gender specific clubs at all* but in this case since IBM can’t change every gender specific club in the world perhaps they should fight to have the masters moved to a more gender neutral course(there are plenty of equal caliber and beauty to Augusta out there) and make their point that way. That would pack some punch and take a stand for both men and women!
Paul
March 30th, 2012
11:10 pm
Why Bless your Heart, Ginni darlin. You just can come into the club through the kitchen entrance. That’s how we handle these situations in our tradition. We can keep it secret. Like marrying our cousins. The IBM brand shoud not mind that association.
Disgusted
March 31st, 2012
8:57 am
Martha Burk Iron my Shirt & fetch me a beer & sandwich.
And start to get ur place like Edith Bunker
scotty
March 31st, 2012
1:04 pm
There is an easy way to address this. If equality is the goal, then Augusta National should say they are more than willing to invite women as members AS SOON AS the LPGA agrees to allow men to play on their tour.
former masters champion
April 2nd, 2012
1:42 pm
First of all Jeff your reference to “exclusionary policies” show that you havent done your research as well as you might. Membership is by invitation and has no stipulation as to gender or race. period.