but sometimes, just sometimes, it's nice to be away ...
Posted on 09/03/2002 12:46:50 PM PDT by jern
Tuesday, September 3, 2002 Burk says players 'need to take a moral stand'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESPN.com news services
The fight between the Augusta National Golf Club and Martha Burk, the chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations (NCWO), grew even a bit more testy on Tuesday.
Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio, Burk said that her organization will begin targeting PGA Tour players in a bid to force Augusta National to allow women members.
The players "need to take a moral stand," Burk told Patrick.
"I think Augusta will eventually see that it will be in the best interests of their club ... to do the right thing and allow women members," she later said in the interview.
Through a club spokesman, Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson issued a written response to Burk. It said:
"1. This is not a legal issue. The Masters has a constitutional right to its private membership.
"2. Martha Burk tries to equate this to the Shoal Creek racial issue in 1990, but they are totally different. In America, there are women's colleges, the Girl Scouts of America and women's health clubs throughout the country. In Canada and overseas, there are women-only golf clubs.
"3. The Club possibly will have a woman member in the future, but it should be the Club's decision, not the decision of an outside group that knows little about the Club or Tournament. In Ms. Burk's initial letter, she placed a deadline on the Club to have a woman member (2003), and discussed the sponsors of the Tournament.
"4. The winner in this sponsorship issue is the viewer. There will now be 12 ½ hours of commercial free golf coverage.
"5. What is presently happening is a corporate campaign. The National Council of Women's Organizations is targeting anyone associated with the Masters.
"6. The reason we chose not to ask the sponsors to participate in 2003 was to spare them the inevitability of a continued corporate campaign that could have included protests and boycotts.
"7. Dr. Burk is now telling individuals what to watch on television. In three online polls conducted this weekend, nearly 90 percent of respondents said they would continue to watch the Masters on CBS. Over 4.3 million women watched the Masters last year.
"8. The Masters and Augusta National are different. One is a private club, and the other is a world-class sporting event that is completely inclusive.
"9. The Masters is being used as a symbol. Several other Clubs do not allow women to play or even to enter the grounds. Women play at Augusta National regularly, and there are no restrictions on tee times. Women played over 1,000 rounds at the Club last year."
Last week, Burk said that she will talk with CBS about its televising of The Masters, which will be commercial-free next year. Johnson announced that The Masters will drop its sponsors -- IBM, Coca-Cola and Citigroup -- to shield them from any controversy over the club's all-male membership.
Augusta National has not had a woman member in its 69-year history. It has had black members since 1990.
It's a private club. That's the issue. Nothing more. Nothing less.
If I and three of my buddies decide to get together and play poker on a Wednesday night, is this a constitutional issue? Do we have a right to gather in my friend's basement, free of females, and while away the hours? Or do I neeed to consult Martha Burk?
The same goes for the National. If 300 old guys decide they want to play golf, free of the female presence, good luck to them. Why should it be anyone else's business.
I'd quite like to join Cory Everson's Fitness Centers and cop an eyeful of women in leotards but they won't let me in.
Burk is a fascist.
Correct, but I don't think NOW knows what they're up against this time. Augusta National would nix The Masters altogether rather than cave in to the demands to these sexless beasts (not that they're going to do either). They [NOW] will be slaughtered like the pigs they are if they decide to pursue this.
There is a lot deliberately left out of the argument by the grumpy women's groups. 1.) Augusta is a private golf club of about 300 people. This isn't a million member men's only group we're talking about.
2.) No one's application is being denied here, there are no applications to deny. Members join through invitation only, how they're selected is their own business.
3.) It's freaking expensive. Yearly membership costs are probably well over $30,000.
4.) No pool, just golf. Family-friendly ammenities like a swimming pool are missing from Augusta.
The question isn't why women can't be admitted for membership; it is more along the lines of how many unmarried women live in Georgia, love golf, socialize with Augusta members, don't have kids to raise or entertain, and oh by the way have an extra 30 grand to toss around each year on a club membership.
I agree, but that isn't the point. Your vote and my vote doesn't count - it's a private club and only the members votes count.
Augusta National should have the freedom to make the rules for their club just as Wellesley College has the freedom to make rules that ban men from the school (hrc notwithstanding).
The hell they don't. What you fellas are missing here is that this all-encompassing women's organization has but one purspose -- to kick men in the balls. This isn't about membership at Augusta. It's about showing hubby who is boss come Saturday morning.
It really is none of your concern dearie. I will say though that maybe you should notice that men enjoy many activities that are quiet and peaceful...
You question is moot unless you are a member of Augusta National.
Out of curiosity, do you think the members of the club have the right to determine for themselves who should be included in the membership, or it should be determined by a judge?
Personally, I didn't like it when the Lions Club and Kiwanis Club started allowing women. I think it's good for men to have men-only clubs. You don't see men trying to join the Garden Club or the Junior League.
My guess is the women who play at Augusta are content with the way things are--letting the men pay the bills.
No argument there. My point is that Hootie and the guys at Augusta Nation won't take kindly to those attempts at emasculation, and will dish out more than they receive. NOW isn't used to such male boldness.
I understand your point, and you are right. But we disagree on their motivation.
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