Posted by Tina
The prestigious, formerly all male Augusta National Golf Club has chosen to invite women into their midst after eight decades of masculine resolve. The Hill reports on the two successful women who are to be the first ever women members:
The site of the Masters tournament has granted entry to female members for the first time in its 80-year history.
Augusta National Golf Club has admitted female members for the first time in its history, granting entry to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore.
Augusta, the site of the prestigious Masters golf tournament, has never before admitted women in the club’s 80-year history. Chairman Billy Payne called the change in policy a “joyous occasion.”
“These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf and both are well known and respected by our membership,” Payne said, according to The Associated Press. “It will be a proud moment when we present Condoleezza and Darla their green jackets when the club opens this fall. This is a significant and positive time in our club’s history and, on behalf of our membership, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome them and all of our new members into the Augusta National family.”
Rice said she looked forward to playing the famed course.
I don’t play or follow golf. I don’t have an opinion about the wisdom behind this particular change, it was the members choice to make. It sounds like they are pleased about it.
I do hope that feminist intimidation wasn’t part of the motivation behind this choice. Men should have the freedom to gather and form male only clubs whenever they so choose, as should women.
“I do hope that feminist intimidation wasn’t part of the motivation behind this choice.”
No, Tina. It was like always: “follow the money.” One of the major sponsors of the tournament, IBM, danged if they ain’t got a lady CEO.
Mind you, they have been lobbied, at length, for years, but refused to accede at “the point of a bayonet.” You tell me, which is more honorable? being bought off, or bayoneted on the point of public opinion?
If they actually had principles, I think they should have stuck to them, and put IBM in the position “reluctantly” to withdraw from the tournament.
It was inevitable and other than that I really have no other feelings one way or the other. I like their choices, they could not have picked a couple of nicer ladies, intelligence, charming and patriotic. Good for them… a win win, now lets move on….
After reading Libby’s cynical question and remarks…and after considering the sterling choice in these two very successful women, I have to applaud the generosity and esprit de corps that was undoubtedly behind this change at Augusta.
I had forgotten that inclusion is by specific invitation and then only when a spot opens.
The tournament they hold each year attracts plenty of money; replacing a sponsor would be quite easy. I imagine they stand in line…just like the folks that would love an invitation to become a member.
Remarks, my Aunt Fanny. Those are facts, sister.
There could have been successful ladies and esprit de corp ten years ago, twenty years ago, thirty years ago, fifty years ago, but there weren’t no sponsorship at risk then … no there was not.
Facts? Hmmmm….sounds like another fly on the wall fantasy to me. You imagined being at the meeting when they secretly discussed trashing a tradition for filthy lucre?
I’ll bet you were a caution as a little girl…down the rabbit hole…the whole nine yards!
I do not care one way or another. Golf is just a way to screw up a nice walk. Do you know why they call it golf? Because shit was already taken. That is a golfer joke, trust me it is funny!
Augusta can do anything it pleases. Why is this such a big deal? I have no problem with it. Especially considering Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore are the first accepted.
Women have exclusive organizations, why not men? Double standard bullpucky.
As for Libby’s “principles” comment, what sort of idiotic hogwash is that? Augusta decided to change their enrollment guidelines for whatever reasons which may include economic reasons. Big damn deal except to so called Feminists and the usual gang of morons.
“Women have exclusive organizations, why not men? Double standard bullpucky.”
That’s what I said! They should have stuck to their guns, but caved to fiscal/social pressures.
But the lady CEOs won’t be throwing in the towel, because a lot of business-type-networking and deal-making and whatnot is done during these disgustingly lavish and wildly exclusive social dos. If this is how the game continues to be played … the ladies will not be denied access.
Women were not “denied access” since “access” was not an option in this formerly all men’s club.
The term “denied access” is just another one of those word couplings used to charge people up. It’s based on a lie and it makes an appeal to negative emotion.
A smarter, more powerful option for women would be to establish a premiere course built by women golfers (for women golfers?)…surely Oprah or some of the other wealthy women of the world would love to be a sponsor/investor of something like that!