Augusta National admits women, and we all should smile
The man who did the right thing. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
That a day too long in coming has finally arrived probably shouldn’t touch off a celebration, but somehow this does. There was never a good reason for Augusta National not to include women among its membership. There was no reason beyond the stubbornness that human beings — both male and female, let’s stipulate — can sometimes mistake for “tradition.” But now the famous private club has admitted two women into its green-jacketed ranks, and that’s one less reason to regard Augusta National as the tin-eared old coot it has often seemed.
Yes, went the hollow argument, Augusta National is a private club and as such could admit whom it chooses. But Augusta National is a private club with a ragingly public face. It invites outsiders — at least those fortunate enough to land tickets — onto its premises for a week every April, and through television and the Internet and even iPhone and Android apps it invites the rest of us to partake of the Masters. It sells merchandise (lots of it) bearing the club logo. Given all that, could it reasonably argue that its membership rolls were of no concern?
Confronted by Martha Burk, former chairman Hootie Johnson sought to dig in his heels and succeeded only in digging a deeper hole. There was no way Augusta National could, in the 21st Century in these United State, remain stag much longer, and everyone who wore the green jacket had to know. Hootie held fast while Burk, who overplayed her hand, eventually went away, but the issue never did. It was raised again this spring, and Billy Payne chose to dodge the question during his annual Masters week briefing.
Say what you will about Billy Payne, but he is not tin-eared. The man who brought the world to Atlanta in the form of the 1996 Summer Olympics always figured to be the man who would admit women to the club on Magnolia Lane, and sure enough he was. Condoleezza Rice, once the Secretary of State, and Darla Moore, a financier known for philanthropy within her home state of South Carolina, are ideal choices, and having Rice, who is African-American, as one of the first women members of a club that not long ago included no African-American men is a most encouraging sign.
And, by adding Rice and Moore, Augusta National hasn’t just welcomed a woman. It has welcomed women, plural. “A joyous occasion,” Payne called it, via a press release, and it is. It should have been done long ago, but we take our breakthroughs where and when we find them. More Payne: “It will be a proud moment when we present Condoleezza and Darla their green jackets when the Club opens this fall.”
Some may see this as the fall of one of the last bastions of male-dom, but here’s what we say to such folks: Come out of that cave, men. Nothing is the way it used to be, and a lot of what used to be wasn’t right and/or proper to begin with. Credit Payne for realizing that there’s a world outside the gates of a golf course. Credit him for being the man who finally made happen what needed to happen.
So long as Augusta National was men-only, the question would have been asked: “Why is it men-only?” There was no good answer to that, and there could never have been a good answer. The only right response was to render the question moot. Billy Payne has, and Augusta National is better for it. And so, in a small but significant way, are we.
By Mark Bradley
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213 comments Add your comment
Alphare
August 20th, 2012
5:36 pm
“and, why, GTBob, do you think “most” rich people don’t deserve to be emulated or respected? It’s because you believe the liberal template of the wealthy, that they are mean, selfish, fat cats that care only of themselves and would step on the poor if they could.”
Sounds like somebody is fabricating facts again. How do you know what GTBob thinks of the rich people. You don’t live in his brain, do you?
Huh????
August 20th, 2012
5:42 pm
I remember when women were crying about not being allowed to play on the PGA tour. So, Sorenstam was allowed and she got her butt kicked all over the course.
Point: be careful what you wish for.
DawgNole
August 20th, 2012
5:44 pm
GTJoe
August 20th, 2012
2:12 pm
I cannot honestly believe that Martha Burke has the gall to take CREDIT for this happening……she really had NOTHING to do with it.
I guess it is her way to get back into the news…..maybe do a talk show or two…..
It is a sad thing, but someone will have her on to spout off about how important a role she played in all of this….when the reality is that she had ZERO positive impact on this happening.
If I had been Augusta National, I would have waited till she passed…..then admitted one woman for every year since 2002, and make the statement “these women all would have already been members if it weren’t for Martha Burke”
__________________
Agreed. All Burk did–if anything–was delay it for a few more years.
GTBob
August 20th, 2012
5:48 pm
and, why, GTBob, do you think “most” rich people don’t deserve to be emulated or respected?
Because I am not nearly as obsessed with money as you are. Everyone deserves basic respect until they do something to lose it. Higher respect is reserved for those who make the world a better place, and just having a big bank account doesn’t really do that. As far as emulation, I don’t think anyone should emulate anyone. Especially because of money.
StingerSplash
August 20th, 2012
5:50 pm
Yawn.
They don’t even have red tees at Augusta National, do they? How bout making the two newest members try it from the tips?
Then again, it’s not like the members are there every weekend to play. I’d best most members play only a handful of times a year, if that.
Really?
August 20th, 2012
5:55 pm
The Metropolitan Club, the Colony Club in NYC, the Century Club of Rochester, The Women’s City Club of Pasadena, the Saint Louis Women’s Club.
All clubs over 100 years old.
These are primarily social/ business/ networking clubs.
Men cannot join.
Odd that we’ve never seen the media speak of this. Or Martha Burke try to get these clubs to change their policies.
Bill
August 20th, 2012
6:07 pm
I think I will skip the Masters next year and the year after that…
Bernie
August 20th, 2012
6:07 pm
The only problem I see now….with Condi, She may mistake the regular morning FOG, as a Billowing MUSHROOM CLOUD and cause an International incident. She has made this mistake BEFORE and many of our Fighting MEN & WOMEN died.
rc
August 20th, 2012
6:08 pm
I COULD CARE LESS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS AND NONE OF MINE. PRIVATE CLUB PERIOD
WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WILL MATTER
Beast from the East
August 20th, 2012
6:32 pm
Mark,
I respectfully disagree. It is a private club and they have every right to be as selective as they choose in regards to membership. I’m not saying they should ban women, but if they choose to only have men as members then so be it. If people don’t like their position, then so what? What next? Men in the WNBA? Men on the WTA? Men on the LPGA? When does it end?
Bernie
August 20th, 2012
6:45 pm
Atlanta Olympics 2020 @ 3:46 pm – Out of All of the comments posted here today,
I found yours to be the most IRONIC and Funny. My Friend, The Olympics will Never return to Atlanta! EVER!
There is an Asterisk to all future Host cities, Never repeat the mistakes of Atlanta and neither will We! It was Truly a CARNIVAL of misfits! And Billy Payne was its Ring Leader!
Wilson Pickett
August 20th, 2012
6:53 pm
Yes , this is real big news.
Esquire
August 20th, 2012
7:11 pm
Thousands and thousands of women have attended the Masters Tournament and not worried one iota who was and wasn’t allowed membership. That smile on Billy Payne’s face is relief that the bull____ is over until one day soon someone complains that there are only 2 female members. God smiled on Fruitland Nursery and saw it was good.
SSIgator
August 20th, 2012
7:15 pm
Shhh. Do you hear that? It is the sound of Mark Bradley softly sobbing over the beer he is sharing with Jeff Schultz while they try and understand why all of their readers do not agree with everything they write.
Abnerish
August 20th, 2012
7:16 pm
GTBob, I was simply trying to point out that people are unfairly demonizing the members of the ANGC specifically and the rich generally for doing nothing more than organizing themselves in a private club. I guess that makes me a bad person because I am willing to defend the rich. So sue me…
dawg4u
August 20th, 2012
7:22 pm
The fact that ANGC admitted two female members is to me nothing to either smile or frown about. I grew up in the Augusta area in the sixties (aged 6 to 15). I have been an Atlanta native for the last thirty years. I was priviliged to be able to attend the Masters golf tournament from age 10 to 19 and though none of my family were ever members; we were acquainted with many members and their wives and children. I never once heard a single one of the wives or children complain about the National being a “men only” membership growing up or even on visiting the Augusta area now and talking to old friends. Our view was that it is and always has been a private club that had the right to include or exclude whoever they choose. It didn’t matter how prominent or famous the Master’s had become or how much national media coverage was involved – the bottom line was that it is a private club that does whatever it chooses regarding membership. Another poster stated it correctly in that you should not give Billy Payne the accolades for admitting two female members because he is merely the spokesman for the membership who voted these two ladies in. The membership of this club are the very wealthy in society and have been for years and they have been pressured for years to admit female members. If anyone thinks that they just all of a sudden caved under pressure to admit females then they are mistaken. They have been pressured for at least the last 20 years and probably much longer than that. They decided to do this among the entire membership for whatever reason. It still is a private club and decisions made by the club stay in the club!
Strange Murphy
August 20th, 2012
7:35 pm
Augusta National caved in to the god of PC.
bamaguy
August 20th, 2012
7:36 pm
And neither of the women admitted are Georgians. Rice (Alabama), Moore (South Carolina).
The Factor
August 20th, 2012
7:38 pm
SSI Gator is a weasel and needs a GIRLFRIEND!! What a Pinhead!! lol, lol, lol…Good gosh son, get a life…
The Factor
August 20th, 2012
7:43 pm
@GT Bob,
Man, I agree with every post I read of yours here, very rational. Yet, when it comes to UGA you are completely not?
3d
August 20th, 2012
7:49 pm
Because it’s a private club.
People tend to forget that AN had to tell CBS in the past that they are allowing them to televise the tournament.
GTBob
August 20th, 2012
7:49 pm
Man, I agree with every post I read of yours here, very rational. Yet, when it comes to UGA you are completely not?
I am a bit of a different person in a UGA discussion.
One final word
August 20th, 2012
8:05 pm
Somewhere Furman Bisher is wringing his hands.
The Truth
August 20th, 2012
8:09 pm
Actually espn radio/tv also hiring more women for mens sports!! Replacing more men.
Dirty Dawg
August 20th, 2012
8:35 pm
OK so they did it…big deal. Now for the heavy lifting… As in what’s the over/under on when they’ll admit a Democrat?
Tom Ferrell
August 20th, 2012
8:41 pm
This is so long over due and so unreasonably 30 or 40 years late, I think it should be greeted with oppobrium instead of celebration. I wish Dr. Rice and Ms Moore would have rejected the membership until a more thorough going reform and serious indication of changing their old boys ways was in motion.
Tom Ferrell
longtimefan
August 20th, 2012
9:16 pm
It seemed the right thing to do. It’s more complicated than “It’s a private club and it is their choice”. Yes, it is their choice and they thoughtfully made the right one. All the other clubs and institutions discussed are not nearly as high profile as Augusta National.
Sideline Dude
August 20th, 2012
9:43 pm
A sad day for good ole boys.
Pat R
August 20th, 2012
10:50 pm
I, as a female, am sick of the push to include women in all things male. I have worked in a male-dominated field in the IT arena for years but have always made sure I could do the work. Even then, when the guys went out for drinks after work, I didn’t always go with them. Sometimes guys need to be with just guys. And men should be allowed to have a club that is all their own just as women should be allowed the same privilege. Lastly, I must say that if Condi Rice was the conservative she claims to be she would have declined the offer. Women need to learn to leave men alone and them be men.
tdawgmoney
August 20th, 2012
10:53 pm
Bradley, caving in to the politically correct crowd is never something to be proud of.
billyBobjacket
August 20th, 2012
11:36 pm
Love it! Hootie still gets to thumb his nose at NOW, because those leftie pinko lezzie b!+che$ HATE Condi Rice, so they don’t even get to enjoy it and they have nothing to squawk at Augusta National for anymore. Also did it when this was completely off the radar, so Martha Burke gets NO credit, try as she might to take it. Well played!
Hootie Jr.
August 20th, 2012
11:38 pm
Good job Billy. That’s playing the PR card by the book. Let in ONE Black Woman and ONE White Woman. Not that I give a rat’s a@# who gets in there but Billy just punked out. Maybe Martha Burk can look into why I can’t join the all FEMALE Gymn right around the corner from where I live. What’s the difference? We live in a shi#$& world.
Mutley
August 20th, 2012
11:56 pm
Could an LPGA tournament be far behind?
zeke
August 21st, 2012
12:05 am
One well deserving pick, Darla I am not so sure, except that she and her husband have loads of money.
At least Hootie and Billy snubbed their noses at M. Burk and her NAGS!
There is a place for PRIVATE CLUBS. They are validated by the Constitution!
Milton Friedman
August 21st, 2012
12:17 am
“and we should all smile”….your right, for a short period Augusta National reminded us that we still have freedom of choice in this country. A completely out of style concept that the PC police and their surrogates the media will assail until it no longer exists. The society that seeks equality over liberty will get less of each, the society that seeks liberty over equality will get more of both.
SSIgator
August 21st, 2012
12:22 am
Well now, let’s see. As long Augusta National is going this far with women being allowed to join, do not mess up at this point. To keep Mark Bradley and the rest of the PC Police happy you will also have to include women that are catholic, arabs, jews, atheists, mormons, communists, socialists, lesbians, bisexuals, etc. Oh, and don’t forget also devout readers of the AJC since they endorse this type of foolishness.
Hamad Meander
August 21st, 2012
1:58 am
I think the decision by Augusta National’s members is to be commended, though I would have supported them either way. I love how they admitted women on their own terms, and picked two fantastic and dynamic women. Sports loving women. Self made women. Not hairy-armpitted feminists.
This is good for Augusta National, and completely deflates any future criticism. Money will flow into this place like never before. It’s a great business decision.
Hamad Meander
August 21st, 2012
2:01 am
And for you that say this was caving into political correctness, I see it as exactly the opposite. It’s an in-your-face, we’ll pick women who we WANT to hang out with, not you screeching equalists decision.
By no means is this caving in. It’s a brilliant move and will pay dividends for years to come.
Buckeye
August 21st, 2012
7:16 am
I wonder if Cynthia McKinney and Maxine Waters were on the short list?
Billy Boy
August 21st, 2012
8:23 am
Since when does Augusta National announce new memebers? Last I checked their membership was a matter of privacy. I am pleased with the addition of these two members but not with Billy Payne. He has brought bigger crowds to the Masters, greater media attention, and less mystique to Augusta National.
Tacusa
August 21st, 2012
8:30 am
Who would you rather play golf with? The gentlemen (and now ladies) of Augusta National? Or members the ALL MALE sports writing team at the AJC?
max j
August 21st, 2012
8:39 am
Why would I “smile” because some millionaire, connected women join a club with a bunch of other connected millionaire/billionaires at augusta. There are more important things to worry about.
333
August 21st, 2012
8:54 am
A commendable decision by Augusta National–We all knew it had to happen sometime. Condi Rice—What a sexy lady!!
richie
August 21st, 2012
8:54 am
WHOOOOOO CARESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!
Jimnalph
August 21st, 2012
9:13 am
A sad day for the First Amendment right of freedom of association.
The Blowfish
August 21st, 2012
9:13 am
Hootie, where art thou?
Fuzzy Zoelleous
August 21st, 2012
9:15 am
Great, now i have to use the men’s room instead of the trees.
PMC
August 21st, 2012
9:46 am
This is not sufferage, it’s not Sally Ride on the space shuttle. It’s a freaking elitist club for perhaps the most elitist sport in the world.
Two extremely wealthy, powerful and connected people who happen to be women just became members of an exclusive club.
How is this news? It matters not to virtually anyone on the planet.
Marvin Mangrum
August 21st, 2012
9:51 am
I cant for the life of me understand one thing, Augusta, members, women. None of my business, none of yours. My God, why all the words. And if it mattered to the Members what we thought, dont ya think we would be members?
DeShaun Sanders
August 21st, 2012
10:19 am
@ Skram30082
re: Your 1:45 of August 20
“Doesn’t the fact the Lee Elder was the first African-American to play the Masters in 1975 make that time seem like the Stone Age?”
Skram, the Masters has always had very strict requirements as to exactly what a golfer had to do in order to qualify to play. In 1975, if you won a PGA tournament, you were automatically guaranteed a spot in the field. You could also qualify if many other ways. But there has never been any “supplemental” entry slots…no “sponsor’s exemptions” as with other tournaments. And until Lee Elder did so in 1975, no African-American had ever met those qualifications. There were many people around…including a lot of sportswriters…who felt that the Masters should make an exception and extend an invitation to Elder before then, because it would have sent a “message” and been (according to them) the “right thing to do.” But that would have been relaxing standards, and patting an African-American golfer on the hand and (symbolically) saying “Bless your heart, you’re Black…so you can’t be held to the same standards those White golfers have to meet. You just come on and play anyway…we’ll slip you in somehow”…which the Augusta National refused to do. And then…when Lee Elder finally qualified the way EVERYONE else had…he was able to play knowing that he had legitimately EARNED his way there.
I was glad to see Lee Elder in the Masters that year, and was thrilled to finally see someone who looked like me playing in the most prestigious golf tournament in the world. And it was very satisfying knowing that he deserved to be there, and had gotten his invitation the same way as every other golfer there. And I’m glad the Augusta National refused to knuckle under to the politically correct notions of the day, misguided though they were. It gave African-Americans a sense of great pride watching Lee Elder play in 1975 (and in following years as well), knowing that…in order to do so…he had earned his right to do so.