What do you think of the "No women members allowed" at Augusta

[bogeymike]

The PGA has nothing to do with Augusta, other than that I think Augusta employs a PGA professional or two. The PGA TOUR , a separate entity, also has nothing to do with Augusta, other than that they recognize the Masters results as counting towards their tour results - as does the European Tour.

This is the last post I'm writing in this thread because this is rude and uncalled for. Yes I joined because of their policies. Other clubs in my area are extremely discriminatory towards women and it was important that that was not the case for my family. I do not appreciate the way you said that. You can doubt whatever you want but that's an absurd thing to say, you have no idea what I look for in a club or anything else. When you write a giant check to join somewhere everything comes into play in your decision and things like how women and racial minorities are treated is important to some people, particularly if you have a wife or daughter who wants to play golf or if I want to invite a black friend of mine to play without disapproving getting stares from other members. If you still don't understand you definitely have not been to very many private clubs. I wash my hands of this weirdness. I'm not even going to bother looking at this thread again as I've already wasted enough time with it.

[benjiradio]

No women? NICE! I would join in a heartbeat

Im happily married, but there is nothing wrong with a men's golf club.

Women have all sorts of private clubs.

[NM Golf]

You know I believe if you look hard enough you can always find something to be offended by. Augusta National has to complete right to let in whomever they please. They own the land, they pay the bills, they aren't government subsidized, they are a private organization. I think its a ridiculous that some people think they have the right to be offended by something that is none of their damn business.

We have way to much of this type of thinking. People stick their noses into other people affairs just for the fact of trying to cause a fuss. Martha Burk is an idiot. The fact that the Augusta National stood firm against ridiculous rantings her just made me like the Masters even more.

I subscribe to the theory of "Do what you believe in and leave everyone else alone." If you don't like a certain organization don't join. If a private country club doesn't want to let in women members, and you want to play 36 a day with your wife, then join somewhere else! I myself would not join a mens only club. I live with my wife and 2 daughters and that would be unfair to them. That being said its none of my business what someone else wants to do. I don't have an ego so large that I believe I should be in charge of the policies of a club that I have never even been to much less am a member of. I mean come on, only public entities should be held to complete nondescriminatory regulations. A private club is just that, private.

[kafka01]

I cant see how this is discriminating. Its not only women they dont allow, but also like 99.99999% of the rest of the planet will never be allowed as a member in this club. So should i feel discriminated about it - no. They even turned Bill Gates away initally.

Like others said before - its private, and the owners can do what they want as long as its legal. If i want to found an all-womens golf club i´m sure none of the male golfing population would sue me for a membership, unless of course, the club has developed a huge prestige and has lots of wealthy members you want to get in touch with....

And lets be honest here - you think Martha Burk would have made all the fuss for some run down no name country club? No, she would have just took her money to another place.

I´m wonderng what Ms. Burk has to say about all the Womens-only fitness clubs/single sex schools and so on......

[Norm3333]

I think it is perfectly OK. In fact if they were forced to include someone they didn't want, I would consider that to be fascist.

[wachesawgolfer]

Absolutely nothing. It is their club and its great they run it as they see fit. When the bottom line dictates, they can alter their rules, if they want to, on any issue. Most clubs are struggling for menbers at this point, Augusta is not one of those clubs.

[verse214]

Also, I'm going to doubt the claim that you joined your club because they had a reasonable policy towards everyone. Was this really a consideration for you in distinguishing clubs that you might otherwise have joined?

Pretty ignorant statement

When someone is about to plop down 30k+ for something they tend to make sure they like every aspect of it.

[Golfgal]

Hello everyone

Well, this topic always seems to get things going ;) My post was initiated to gather opinions and it definitely did that for me :)

I did write the article (and yes I was asked to write it with this issue in mind). I used input from 4 forums (obviously this was one of them) to add to the stats I collected. But I did try and write an article that spoke more about The Masters than this one issue.

Thanks to everyone for their input into my story . I really do appreciate it.

Let me know what you think of the article in a direct message (I definitely do NOT want to start another thread on this :))
Gayle

[flanagan]

Not going to start another thread, but thought it was a good article.

One minor issue was the reference to St. Andrews. It is not normal or a tradition for the Club to offer membership to the Prinicipal of the University. In the long history of the Club, it has only happened twice. Now those two occasions were the immediate predecessors of the current Principal, but the memberships were not offered immediately or even soon, as demanded by some of those stirring things up, and were offered, it is reported, to actual golfers, which the current Principal is not. Just think that the reference overstates the situation a bit.

[DJYoshi]

It's a private club. They are not bound to any of the rules of inclusion of public places. While it may be unfortunate, they can do whatever they want. It does not seem to hurt attendance at the Masters nor has it slowed down the desire of many to become members.

AMEN HERB! They're just living off of the rules that they've had for how long? As people have said, why play in a place that doesn't want you?

Tons of rich, famous, powerful people...even presidents have petitioned to join Augusta...and have been denied... let them be... if you want to play it, just pay $150 and do it on a simulator..sure not the same thing... but hey.. it's a compromise... would people be asking the same question if they didn't allow people with higher than a 5 HC to join? And if you're a rich, powerful lady.... why bring yourself into a prison-like setting? Unless you like the attention of having a male-female ratio of 1000:1

[Shindig]

Thanks to everyone for their input into my

Very well written article. I'm glad to see that we aren't the worst-behaved golf forum on the internet

[Golfgal]

Very well written article. I'm glad to see that we aren't the worst-behaved golf forum on the internet

Thanks Shindig! TST is much tamer than some others - most definitely! ;)

Cheers Gayle

[GaijinGolfer]

As the others have said, Augusta is a private club and they can set up whatever rules they want.
There are plenty of places that are women-only as well. Women protesting not being able to me members of Augusta is about as silly as if men were to protest because they arent allowed to work out at Curves.

[Awsi Dooger]

I have read all the posts, many, particulary the most recent cite legal issues. For me it is morally wrong what Augusta National is doing. They have profitted handsomely from golf, their obligation now is to help promote it. If they were really forward-thinking, they would host a Women's Master's tournament; I guarantee it would be an instant ladies major. Lawyers are already taking over common sense in this country. It is not about your club Augusta National, it's about our sport. Take the high road and get off your high horse.

That's the best post by at least 10 shots. Naturally on a golf forum you are going to get pounded the other way, by the blinders-on technocrats emphasizing what is legal, as if that's end of story. Golf forums are easily the most simple to predict, in terms of majority view. There's not a threat of outside the box thinking.

Augusta has handicapped ineptly for decades, and particularly during the most recent one. The course needed mere tweaks and the policies a vast overload. A Lady Masters would instantly be the most publicized and fascinating event in women's golf history. Positive residue overflowing. Instead, they opted for fear to rule, in terms of altering the golf course and continued narrow-mindedness.

[flanagan]

Not going to start another thread, but thought it was a good article.

In fact she was quoted as saying the whole business is "a distraction", i.e., the rabble rousers care about it more than she does, if she cares about it at all. Need to be careful about facts and context if putting an article out on the internet, which others may in turn use as the "factual" basis for some other article or assertion.

[RobotDoctor]

Forgive me if this has been posted.

I know others have mentioned that there is no specific 'No women members allowed' rule. The membership committee at ANGC has just not invited a woman to be a member.

I have no problem with this as this is a private club and they can invite who they wish. I do not hear outcries for clubs that have women only membership, like a golf club outside of Toronto, Canada. Is Martha Burke protesting that club? I think not.

If a private club is subsidized with public funds then they should have a completely open membership policy. If a private club does not accept public funds then they are free to invite whom they wish.

[FLOG4]

It's high time a woman put her money up and built a women only course. In a private environment if someone wants to build something and exclude some/most it's their perogitive. So get a few wealthy gals together invest a hundred mill, build an Augusta and exclude men....Until then.....Play elsewhere.