Sports

Should Women Get Membership at Augusta? Blaze Writers Weigh In and You Can Take The Poll

One of the most revered golf tournaments of the year tees off this Thursday in Augusta, Georgia as the 2012 Masters starts its four-round battle for the coveted “Green Jacket.” (To the uninitiated, the winner of the Masters earns a huge check, but also gets a green blazer signifying their lifetime membership in the Augusta National Golf Club.)

Masters Debate: Will Augusta National Finally Admit Female Members? | Virginia Rometty IBM

While much of the attention will be focused on the anticipated battle between the resurgent Tiger Woods, the perennial favorite Phil Mickelson, and the newly crowned #1 player in the world, Rory McIroy, the real battle continues off the golf course. We are referring, of course, to the fight to have Augusta National accept female members.

Augusta National is a male-only, private club, and the members are the sole arbiters of who is allowed to join its ranks. That situation has bothered some women and women’s groups for years. In fact, back in 2003 the National Council of Women’s Organizations pushed to have Augusta change its by-laws and start accepting/inviting female members. The group’s chairwoman, Martha Burk, lead a protest outside the club. Nothing has changed — r has it?

IBM is one of the key sponsors of the Masters, and they have been so for ten years. The computer company also has a new CEO who also happens to be a golfer and a woman. Here name is Virginia Rometty, and she became the CEO of IBM in January, but has she been invited to join Augusta National? The Washington Post reports that the last four CEOs of IBM have.

At the tournament press conference, Augusta‘s chairman Billy Payne was asked several times about any changes to the club’s men-only membership policy and he answered it in typically cryptic Augusta fashion:

“One, we don’t talk about our private deliberations. Number two, we especially don’t talk about it when a named candidate is a part of the question.”

Perhaps that second part of Payne’s answer may have started the swirling rumor that Rometty has already been granted membership to the club. USA Today’s Christine Brennan has tossed out that possibility. But Rometty is not commenting and neither is IBM.

We spoke with our own CEO, Betsy Morgan about the subject. When asked how she felt about Augusta’s famous ban on female members and the public pressure to change their rules, Ms. Morgan answered:

“I don’t have any issue with anyone trying to change the rules or petitioning to change the rules. But, I agree with the club on their right to make their decisions.”

For the record, Betsy Morgan is not now nor has she ever been a golfer.

So we decided to ask the Blaze editorial staff: Should Augusta National be forced to accept/consider female members?  Several have responded.

Mytheos Holt:

Absolutely not. Private sporting events are no business of the government, and if people want to punish an event for being too sexist, they can always decline to pay attention, depriving that event of its prestige. Moreover, when a female golfer comes along who is so spectacularly gifted that refusing to admit her would be a travesty, love of the sport will likely take precedence over whatever parochial traditions are involved.

Becket Adams:

Only if:
a) The View agrees to replace Joy Behar with Rush Limbaugh as a full-time host.
b) I’m allowed admittance to the Belizean Grove. (A little-known, women-only group that once claimed Justice Sonia Sotomayor as a member)
c) Wellesley college goes co-ed.

 

Liz Klimas:

No, I don’t think they should be forced to accept female members. There is a fine line, I know, but when it comes to private, membership clubs, I don’t see a problem with this. If it is a private club, they should be allowed to limit acceptance based on certain criteria, such as gender. I realize this sentiment could open the door for discrimination based on race as well, but I think there is a difference between having male-only or female-only clubs. I think women want to be let in on some of these things to, ‘scuse the pun, stick it to the man.

Tiffany Gabbay:

I say keep it all male! I like tradition and think it’s ok for boy scouts to be boy scouts and girl scouts to be girls scouts and so on.  That said, my own niece lobbied to play varsity football and made it!

Erica Ritz:

If previous IBM CEO’s were given membership, I think the current one should have the same option despite her gender.  She can make her choice.

However, that doesn’t mean the club should be forced to change its policies for every woman.  It’s a private organization, and can make its own rules.

Christopher Santarelli:

Barred membership: yes
Barred from the event: yes
Would it be tasteless and would the public have the right to look down on them for it: yes
As long as it does not directly hurt another’s liberty, govt can’t be the thought police for individuals or institutions. However, if I worked for Augusta’s PR, rules can be broken, exceptions can be made.
Madeleine Morgenstern:

A private club absolutely has the right to make its own decisions, but let’s be real here: Payne ripped Tiger Woods after his sex scandal two years ago for failing to “live up to the expectations as a role model” for our children and grandchildren. Are we really saying there‘s no inherent conflict in blasting Woods as a role model while those same children grow up in a world where women are actively and unapologetically blocked from Payne’s organization?

Where do you stand on this highly charged topic?  Take our Blaze poll and let us know:


MASTERS GOLF POLL

Comments (96)

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  • BrerRabbit
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:14pm

    Women just need to get OVER it. Boy Scouts is for boys & so is Augusta National.

    Report Post »  
    • BlenGeck
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:31pm

      Brerrabbit, has put it as succinctly and realistically as anyone could. Thank You Sir!!!

      Report Post » BlenGeck  
    • football lady
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:51pm

      Absolutely. As a woman, I say not just no but HELL NO!

      Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:55am

      Forget it. Open your own club for women.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 7:33am

      While we don’t belong to a country club now, we have in the past. I grew up in a country club and, while it was open membership, the men had their own ‘cave’ and women were not allowed. Poker night was Tuesday night and alot of business was conducted over their card games. My father‘s funeral fell on poker night and the ’boys‘ didn’t miss a beat – it was still poker night. Leave the tradition alone.

      Report Post »  
    • iowabassboy
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 8:52am

      They should let women in Augusta National the day they start allowing men at Curves…

      Report Post »  
    • old white guy
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:06am

      no

      Report Post »  
    • May Clark
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:17am

      Women should make their own club and stop forcing their way in where they are not wanted.
      I have no interest in golf whatsoever, but private clubs should be able to make their own rules.

      Report Post »  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:30am

      .
      They’re called “private clubs” for a reason.
      I want to go into “Skull & Bones”, and the Bildebergers too.
      Good luck with that.

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:19am

      @Grandmaof5:
      @May Clark:

      Agreed.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Willik
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:11am

      @rulerforyou: Next door to give the ‘girls’ somewhere during the tournament is being played. Their high heels play Hell on the fairways!

      Report Post » Willik  
    • truthb4fiction
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:45am

      Sure…. someone has to clean up and make the meals!… JUST KIDDING.. Jeeeshh no sense of humor!
      No by the way… build your own club. Ex. Pres. of my local HE-MAN WOMAN HATERS CLUB!!!

      Report Post »  
    • kmet_51
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:49pm

      I agree with brerrabbit 100%! I am a female (married for the record) and I say……..really ladies……do get over it! Who on earth cares and who on earth would want to be in an all boys club with green jackets!

      Report Post »  
  • Russ_Jo
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:06pm

    I remember a year or two ago Michelle Wie was on a path to qualify for the masters if she won some qualifying tournaments. She subesquently did not qualify but the question was asked of Augusta National that if she did win entry to The Masters would she be allowed to compete. I believe the answer to that question was that she would be allowed to compete. Then the question was asked what would happen if she won The Masters and although the answer was a little vague I remember the answer was that she would be given a green jacked and invited to join just like any other champion.

    Now my memory could be wrong but these are the memories I have from this situation.

    Perhaps Michelle Wie was playing her way into the US Open which if she won would grant her an automatic invite to The Masters the following year.

    Anyone have a better memory than me?

    Take care.

    Russ

    Report Post » Russ_Jo  
    • Itsourtime
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:08am

      The Masters is an invitational. You don’t play your way in so to speak. She would never be invited.

      Report Post » Itsourtime  
  • HuckleberryFriend
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:53pm

    Freedom of association folks. Take that away and people could sue to have dinner at your house whether you wanted them to or not.

    Report Post » HuckleberryFriend  
    • lukerw
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:16pm

      Agreed — Christ did not hang out a sign: Everyone Welcome to the Last Supper!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Aquinas
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 5:50am

      Or to the party after

      Report Post »  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:47pm

    I have a private club.
    It is called MY HOUSE!
    Private makes it’s own rules.
    You do not like it?
    Get your own house.

    Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 2:18am

      Amen to that comment and I’m a female for the record.

      Report Post »  
  • imsteph
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:46pm

    i’m a woman-
    don’t care-
    private club-
    they can do whatever they want-
    will always watch-

    REAL issues now please-

    Report Post » imsteph  
  • Bukirob
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:43pm

    Madeleine Morgenstern,

    Seriously? You want to somehow equate a private club that excludes female membership with a man who presented him self as one thing and turned out to be involved in MULTIPLE affairs? On what planet is there ANY similarity between the two?

    Report Post »  
  • Bukirob
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:38pm

    Augusta is a private club. End of story.

    Report Post »  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:37pm

    As a woman, sometimes I think women need to just let men be men and women be women. We are NOT equal in everything! Men for the most part are stronger, but hey, women are SMARTER! :)
    Seriously, there is nothing wrong with private clubs, organizations being selective in who they allow to be members, whether it is all men, all women, certain religions, gays, etc. This is what makes certain groups to be “special” and attracts certain kinds of individuals that all have something in common. If every group allowed every human being inside then all the groups would be the same, and where’s the fun in that? The only exception to this MIGHT be one that excludes certain races, but frankly, that is only my opinion, and I wouldn’t ever join a group that did that.

    Report Post » Tigress1  
    • Nasado
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:51am

      I would have to agree with you. Being male I have come up with a theory, women in general are smarter than men while men in general have more common sense then women. You could replace common sense with rational thought if you prefer. But that is why men and women go so well together, we complete each other.

      Report Post »  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 10:57am

      Men and woman are different – we used to remember and celebrate that fact.

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
  • let us prey
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:21pm

    Ha. Clearly you are a legend in your own mind. You have an a-list ego, and d-list status. I could eat some alphabet soup and crap out a better paragraph than that. Take it easy mooncalf, I have had enough of your Inflated sense of self worth. I normally don’t feed the trolls.

    Report Post » let us prey  
  • Beachbaby
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:59pm

    No, I think men should have a place to go to without women. Women are loud and cackle like chickens. Their dress is too revealing and actually disgusting. Too much make-up, too much plastic surgery blah blah blah

     
    • wwwjr
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:23am

      There should be places where total segregation is allowed, including race. Although not universal blacks are simply loud in public. I prefer quiet, and nobody should have the right to deny me going to a place that protects against such uncouth loud-mouth behavior .

      Report Post »  
  • Abraham Young
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:49pm

    I finally get the culture shift the New World Order wants. They want no boundaries between men and women, they want to destroy the family, they want to be our daddy and mommy.

    Report Post »  
  • BigFoot
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:39pm

    Let’s just do away with all organizations, sports, places, etc. that separate by sex. No more Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA, YWCA, LPGA, NBA, NWBA, Men’s washrooms, Women’s washrooms, NFL Men’s locker rooms, NFL Cheerleader’s locker rooms, etc., etc., etc. Let’s just pile up in a big old a-sexual sweaty wad.

    Report Post » BigFoot  
  • khayesmom2
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:36pm

    Women don‘t belong at the Master’s. If they wan‘t their own Master’s tornament, then go for it. I am a woman, and I think, this lib thing has gone way over board. And, we are a golf family! Enough already.

    Report Post »  
    • Zipit
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 8:45am

      Yo MOM! Women are welcome at the Masters, it’s a tournament! Women are welcome at Augusta National, it’s a place! The membership at Augusta National is comprised of a very traditional group of men. The success of the Masters throughout it’s history can be attributed to an undaunting goal of maintaining that tradition. It is one the most beautiful places on earth, and the finest sporting event that I have ever witnessed! If you ever get the chance, GO!!!

      Report Post »  
  • matinva
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:21pm

    No

    Report Post » matinva  
  • Constructionist
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:18pm

    Augusta should put out a public statement that it will accept women when the Congressional Black Caucus accepts white people

    Report Post » Constructionist  
  • floridacockleburr
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:16pm

    #1 Rory is not #1 in the world at the moment. Luke Donald is.

    #2 It is up to the membership whether a woman becomes a member or not.

    Report Post » floridacockleburr  
  • bulldawg
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:14pm

    It’s a Private Club, has been for years, tell women if you want an Augusta build your own. Nothing against women but this has been a private men’s course for many years, and by the way tell Sharpton, Holder and Jesse to piss off.

    Report Post » bulldawg  
  • lel2007
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:01pm

    The PRIVATE Augusta National Golf Club for Men Only absolutely should NOT accept the ever present overbearing attention demanding intrusive women. Women have ‘special’ needs which are a burden to a Men’s Club, besides, they’re inferior golfers. I wonder which part of the term “MEN‘S CLUB’ confusses women.

    Report Post » lel2007  
  • BetterInformed
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:57pm

    Years ago, after charges of racism, August membership was offered to various successful African American Males (prior to Tiger becoming a member by virtue of his Masters Victories.. Not one would accept the membership because they had not requested membership and felt that their lives were fulfilled by family, friends and their successes in the private sector. They had no interest in political statements or as one who was offered membership stated, “I have no friends in the club and have no interest in becoming the token black.
    I can’t understand why any female that would meet the membership criteria would want to be the sole female member of Augusta National. Those that would likely won’t participate beyond the political statement.

    Report Post »  
  • let us prey
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:54pm

    Who cares, Let them circle jerk in private.

    Report Post » let us prey  
    • BetterInformed
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:03pm

      I could answer this with all types of similar ignorant filth. We’ll leave it to the Blaze to deal with your “little boy” talk.
      BTW I herald you finished first and second in your last C.J. (I couldn’t help it)

      Report Post »  
    • let us prey
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:26pm

      Betterinformed
      Are you a pompous @$$ or what? All the the things to worry about, and Augusta is at the top of your list? There are too many problems in this country and this makes headlines? Hey, if you want to hang around with a bunch of dudes hooray for you. I thought I was being kind, must have struck a nerve with your all guy love fest. Boohoo.

      Report Post » let us prey  
    • BetterInformed
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:50pm

      letuspray

      Busted your bubble? You need to go back to the kid’s table and let the grown-ups communicate. It’s obvious that my comment about your prowess in the “circle jerk” struck a cord. Must I remind you that your anonymous religious fanatic trolling obscure blogs. You’re kidding yourself if you believe that anyone cares if your being “kind”. Give us a break“nobody”.

      Report Post »  
  • Paul
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:54pm

    No.

    Report Post » Paul  
  • americal sgt
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:51pm

    Can men join the WCTU? What’s the problem? Women have their clubs and men don’t complain; at least I don’t. What is the problem with men having their club?

    Report Post »  
  • consrv
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:50pm

    No

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:42pm

    It‘s a private club so it’s their rules unless congress sticks it’s nose in their business and dictates how they run their club.How many white people ever get a scholarship from the united ***** college fund? They can discriminate based on color so Augusta should be able to discriminate based on sex.

    All male club,I‘m surprised it’s even allowed in this country since you need a permit to fart.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:44pm

      You censored that word? Can I have some crackers with my soup?

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • CatB
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:50pm

      LOL .. political correctness .. you can’t even post a legit name of an organization. As for Augusta .. it should be up to the members PERIOD!

      Report Post »  
    • booger71
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:54pm

      I wish women were banned at my club

      Report Post » booger71  
    • qzak491
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:17pm

      .
      ‘Kill That White Man!’: 78-Year Old Man Beaten By 6 Youths in Alleged Racially-Motivated Attack
      Crime

      78-year old Dallas Watts says he was walking home around 4:45 p.m. on Saturday in Toledo, Ohio when a group of six youths, both white and black, nearly beat him to death for the color of his skin.
      progressiveslayer
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:42pm

      It‘s a private club so it’s their rules unless congress sticks it’s nose in their business and dictates how they run their club.How many white people ever get a scholarship from the united ***** college fund? They can discriminate based on color so Augusta should be able to discriminate based on sex

      If you can use the word black in your articles we can use it in our comments.

      Report Post »  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:35pm

    It is a PRIVATE CLUB. They can do whatever they want as far as membership goes. tell the Government to shove it.

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • SoupSammich
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:43pm

      We are in agreement. And on a side note I think golfers should be hunted and culled. 2 per day, either sex for say 2-3 months a year. 3 per day if plaid is worn.

      Report Post »  
    • Mike Opelka
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:47pm

      @SoupSammmmm – The author of the post is a golfer… so are most Presidents… you post could be considered a threat! Careful!

      Report Post » Mike Opelka  
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