Why I'm Teed Off: The chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club defends an all-male club

Wall ST Journal ^ | November 12, 2002 | HOOTIE JOHNSON

[SJackson]

In recent months a group called the National Council of Women's Organizations, led by their spokeswoman Martha Burk, has been threatening Augusta National Golf Club and anyone even remotely associated with us for allegedly discriminating against women.

As the chairman of that club, I'd like to share some of my thoughts with you about the debate that has now spent several months meandering through the national press. Ms. Burk has misrepresented the issue.

[laconic]

Interesting that the head of the Council of WOMEN'S Organizations is complaining about the all-male membership of a golf club. I assume Madame Burk will be changing the name of her organization to the Council of People's Organizations (of course, then the animals and plants have something to howl about their exclusion).

[Sacajaweau]

You know EXACTLY what I meant!!

You sound like a schoolteacher!!

[harpu]

"Give 'm hell, Hootie", and to those sorry-assed losers (some members and players - 'Tigger' for one) who have publicly suggested caving-in to the Fems - 'eat my shorts'!

[billbears]

ESPN's Sportscenter last night covered this again for the 980th time it seemed. They interviewed a golf reporter from the LA Times and then they interviewed this woman. Talk about softball questions. She kept calling Hootie a bigot. I don't think the sportscaster was trying to lay up for her, I just don't think he knew the questions to ask because it didn't relate to an actual sports event. I just wish someone, somewhere would ask Martha Burk why there can be colleges and societies that are strictly for women.

[mountaineer]

As a woman and an avid golfer, I say Hootie shouldn't even have dignified Burk's stupid demands with a response in the first place. Instead of that lengthy letter he wrote a few months ago, he should have just said, "Well, she's entitled to her opinion," and left it at that. By responding, he acknowledged her as more than the solitary complainer she is.

[steve in DC]

Is it the fact that the club isn't open to women members?

If so, there are plenty of other clubs which are similarly structured. Is NOW protesting against them as well?

Is it the fact that the Masters is a high profile event and is being held there that irks NOW?

If so, that would be peculiar, given the fact that the Masters exists because (for better or worse) that Club founded the tournament. And it is doubly peculiar given the fact that the Masters is a men's golfing event!

Oh the horror! A men's golf championship being held at a men's golf club!

Is it really so important for the women's tees to be shown on national golf broadcasts?

[RooRoobird14]

Go Hootie!!!!

[Houmatt]

Women's colleges like Smith and Wellesley, historically black colleges like Spelman, the Girl Scouts of America, the Junior League, fraternities and sororities would all have to be dissolved or radically changed from the single-sex profile that has become an essential part of their character and, indeed, the reason they are sought after. Do they, too, "discriminate"?

In a word? No. Not according to them, anyway.

Everyone remembers how Shannon Faulkner forced herself into an all-male military school (only to drop out shortly thereafter, citing, "I don't want to kill myself to make a political point."), but how many people recall when Mills College made the decision to go co-ed? The throng of girls instantly turning into bawling messes, as if they had all received word their mother had just died. (The college changed their minds after about a week due to protests and more of the aforementioned action.)

If anything, this shows hypocrisy on the part of these girls, but it also brings to the surface the anti-male attitude Christina Hoff-Summers has spoken so eloquently about.

[pray4liberty]

Everyone remembers how Shannon Faulkner forced herself into an all-male military school (only to drop out shortly thereafter, citing, "I don't want to kill myself to make a political point.")

Doesn't that sound as if the NOW girls put her up to it, and she failed? These hypocritical women are all for women being like men, going into combat, etc....just as long as it's other women doing it, surely not them.

[upchuck]

Bully for you, Hootie. Hang tuff!!! BUMP!!

[Iscool]

If I never get to go back, that's OK. I've been there.

Good...Promptly send your next batch of tickets to my address...Thankyou...

[alancarp]

Sally Jenkins Second Amendment dittos.

[fuquadukie]

Sure... the tickets are in the mail. Hehehehe!

[Iscool]

Ha!!! Don't I wish...

[going hot]

So, the NOW organization is complaining about an exclusive club for men only.

What does the letters NOW stand for anyway? National organization of wo...wo...wo..wo..er.. people?

[Ohioan]

Of course, it must be obvious that this is the right stand--the only stand that men of honor could possibly take. Let us hope that the Left and their Feminist allies continue their assault. Let us hope that they pull out all the stops and become totally obnoxious--no great stretch for that crew. It is through such unreasoned assaults upon traditional values and elemental fairness that we have the best chance to wake up the sleeping majority, who have been cowed or hypnotized into going along with the egalitarian cult that has challenged American freedom for three generations.

This controversy is an opportunity for Conservatives. Let us make the most of it!

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[oldironsides]

Get used to it. This is not unusual at all. It takes big bucks to belong to the "Hootie Club" and many women golfers do not need to waste all that money trying to feel accepted and have a good game of golf. Many the old farts do not women watching them hit off the reds anyway.

Face it ladies, do you really want to watch the Bill Clinton golfer types whiz on trees because they have to urge to act like a cocker spaniel while on the links? There are too many golf courses to put up with all this crap.

I had the pleasure of golfing with some 2 "important " men in Las Vegas. The course was plush and very expensive. We were a duo and did not mind them joining us. We were not out very long before I noted that both these important male golfers were "hung over" and were suffering more than a little. They took extra shots, cheated like hell and had gas puffing out each time they leaned over to pick up a missed putt. We noticed they had the most expensive golf equipment and lost lots of high priced balls. Just consider how fortunate you are not to end up with this type every outing at Hooties Haven.

[Dante3]

NOW is not a feminist organization (except for the Dulles branch), It is an arms of th Democratic party ready to fight for select wealthy women.

Perhaps the media has misrepresented NOW. But where is NOW support of the one surviving victim in the horrible Carr brothers case?

Where is NOW when designers push sexists clothes and harmful high heels on women? Where is NOW when week after week we get reports of rich athletes rape or otherwise abuse women and get off?

Seems to me NOW is involved in few of the feminists causes. Their main concern seems to be membership in a PRIVATE, ultra-expensive country club. NOW is ending up looking ridiculous and only alienating the average woman.

[Darlin']

"Good, I hope they stick to their guns. It's a private club and they can dang well do as they want with their membership"

Amen to that. If Ms Burk wants to join a private club I suggest she start one of her own then she gets to set the rules. Of course, that won't garner a tenth of the publicity for dying feminist causes as trying to force herself on the venerable Augusta National. Maybe Hootie should 'splain it in language that even a feminazi can understand, tell her that it is "about choice".