Augusta National Slammed as "Secret Golf Club”

Note, he did not say anything about changing the rules, merely being invited.

We don't know what the membership rules are, they won't reveal them, but it seems silly to debate whether or not the rule exists. If they have never been "invited", it means they are not wanted. The membership want to keep it exclusively a men's golf club and maybe it's an unwritten rule written in stone. We have no way of knowing for sure. What we know for sure is that there are no women members.

41 posted on 09/27/2002 12:48:07 PM PDT by Orual

How about this then:

"Johnson has said the club has no exclusionary policies, although it has never had a female member its 69-year history and only welcomed its first black member in 1990. In response to Burk's letter, Johnson defiantly said that Augusta National will not be "bullied, threatened or intimidated" to add female members.

42 posted on 09/27/2002 12:53:00 PM PDT by TomB

I was just joshing you. I would not want to join a men's club anyway. I mean, men don't talk about draperies and stuff!

If I had an exclusive women's club going, I sure as heck wouldn't want to have to invite some guy because someone told me I had to invite some guy.

43 posted on 09/27/2002 12:54:05 PM PDT by Slip18

Any club with the sense to keep out Clinton and Trump has much to recommend it.

LOL! Amen to that! They can still discern class.

44 posted on 09/27/2002 12:56:29 PM PDT by ELS

"Johnson has said the club has no exclusionary policies, although it has never had a female member its 69-year history...

Common sense prevails here. If they have never had a female member, there must be some exclusionary policy, written or unwritten. Read the subtext.

45 posted on 09/27/2002 12:57:33 PM PDT by Orual

Actually people were wondering whether Bill Gates would get in because he told Buffett that he really wanted to join.

But he was admitted this year, and with it came speculation that the TV may go to a pay per view tourney on the Yankees Network and possibly a tie in with footage on Microsoft sites.

46 posted on 09/27/2002 12:59:41 PM PDT by tip of the sword

Common sense prevails here. If they have never had a female member, there must be some exclusionary policy, written or unwritten. Read the subtext.

How about we just read the TEXT? From Johnson himself:

BACKGROUND OF AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB AND THE MASTERS TOURNAMENT
Augusta National was established in 1932 by legendary golfer Bobby Jones as a place where kindred spirits could meet to enjoy the game they love, in privacy. The original members were essentially personal golfing friends of Bobby Jones and the other founders of the Club. The Club functioned in this capacity when it was decided in 1934 to have an invitational golf tournament with specially invited professionals of the day. This invitational tournament, in what was at the time a small Georgia community, became the Masters.
Except during the Masters, Augusta National has not changed from what was envisioned by its original founders - a small, private club for the enjoyment of golf. The Masters, however, has changed. The Masters is one of the four major golf tournaments in the world and traditions surrounding the Masters have become part of the traditions of golf. Augusta National has an obligation to the game of golf. We accept this responsibility and will continue to fulfill it to the best of our ability.
Augusta National, which has less than 300 worldwide members, has no membership restrictions based on race, color, religion, gender or national origin. Our society is changing, and it is only natural that our Club should reflect these changes in contemporary society. We are finding more and more, our existing members' suggestions for new members have broadened to include a varied cross section of this society. We expect this trend to continue.
Augusta National has no timetable for change, as any such timetable would be artificial and unrealistic. We can say, however, that our membership procedures will be administered in accordance with the principles above. We will continue to respect the privacy and the enjoyment of golf for our membership, and we will continue to preserve and protect the traditions of the Masters Tournament, for the good of the game.

47 posted on 09/27/2002 1:01:28 PM PDT by TomB

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Don’t you just know that Martha Burk was one of those children at kindergarten who liked to knock over the bricks that other kids had stacked up?

48 posted on 09/27/2002 1:03:50 PM PDT by Flashman_at_the_charge

To: tip of the sword

I'm so glad that there is at least one organization who has the fortitude to stand up to these extortionists.

To the bitches who are campaigning against Augusta National, the fact that the chairman is named "Hootie" is one of the factors that drives them.

49 posted on 09/27/2002 1:05:33 PM PDT by Guillermo

As I said it is silly to debate the point. Their policy is, at this point, not to admit women. Period. That's what the NOWers are complaining about and that's the point Hootie refuses to concede. Augusta needs no heated defense, by the way. It's a private club, with private rules. End of story.

50 posted on 09/27/2002 1:07:11 PM PDT by Orual

Yes, It is silly to debate a rule exists when no one has any evidince that it exits. Do you people believe that there is a law that does not allow women to be president? There must be a law, how else can you explain the fact that there has never been a female US President?

51 posted on 09/27/2002 1:08:26 PM PDT by On the Road to Serfdom

As I said it is silly to debate the point

Especially when you're losing the debate. ;-P (I'm kidding)

Their policy is, at this point, not to admit women.

Which is, of course, different from a RULE not to admit women.

I'm sorry, I'm nitpicking.

52 posted on 09/27/2002 1:11:01 PM PDT by TomB

To: On the Road to Serfdom

There must be a law, how else can you explain the fact that there has never been a female US President?

We have been extremely blessed.

53 posted on 09/27/2002 1:11:14 PM PDT by Orual

Their policy is, at this point, not to admit women

They stated there is no such policy. You have not evidence to contridict their statement.

54 posted on 09/27/2002 1:12:08 PM PDT by On the Road to Serfdom

We have been extremely blessed.

LOL, I guess Augusta as been too :)

55 posted on 09/27/2002 1:15:01 PM PDT by On the Road to Serfdom

I'm sorry, I'm nitpicking.

Not at all, you're presenting a spirited defense to support your argument. I just happen to believe that there really isn't any argument. Written rule or no, the evidence that they don't want women in Augusta is clear and convincing.

56 posted on 09/27/2002 1:15:11 PM PDT by Orual

To: On the Road to Serfdom

They stated there is no such policy. You have not evidence to contridict their statement.

Name one woman member of Augusta National.

57 posted on 09/27/2002 1:16:50 PM PDT by Orual

I once read a legal opinion from a trial in Scotland or England where the presiding judge ruled that no man is a gentleman while playing golf.

58 posted on 09/27/2002 1:16:55 PM PDT by JackelopeBreeder

"Common sense prevails here. If they have never had a female member, there must be some exclusionary policy, written or unwritten. Read the subtext."

Why do you insist on this baseless argument? What do you know about Augusta National's rules? Do you think there are membership dues? There aren't. Members are simply assessed for annual expenses. So next year, in order to televise the tournament, members will probably be assessed a hundred thousand or so each to provide coverage. Did you know that? What else do you not know about Augusta National?

59 posted on 09/27/2002 1:18:39 PM PDT by groanup

"Name one woman member of Augusta National."

Name one woman member of the Dallas Cowboy's starting lineup.

60 posted on 09/27/2002 1:22:01 PM PDT by groanup

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