The Augusta Club Golf Course

The Augusta Club is the host of the annualkeeping women off the green for the Masters
championship Masters Tournament. The Masters,was not only sexist, but offensive. Johnson
much to the chagrin of feminists and equalitysuccessfully argued that his first amendment
activists, remains a men's only competitionrights allowed him the right to choose who the
because Augusta is a year-round men's onlypaying members of his private club were.
private golf club.Therefore, any club had the right to restrict who
Famed golfer Bobby Jones and businessmanplayed their greens any day of year. There have
Clifford Robert co-founded the green in 1933, andbeen women on the club's waiting list for years,
it began hosting the Masters Tournament in 1934.but to date none have been invited off.
Unlike the other Grand Slam events, the MastersThe Augusta National Golf Club follows a strict
location remains stagnant, with participantsinvite only membership policy. It is believed that
returning each April to Augusta, GA, to play. Thisdues are incredibly low, as the fees for Masters
has allowed viewers to become familiar with thebroadcasts are in the millions.
wooded course.Surprisingly, there is no official difficulty rating for
Though the club has been successful in fendingthe course, though it's unofficial rating is 76.2
off unfriendly feminist fire, they were also(judged by a team of USGA raters and Golf
accused of racism for having no minorities asDigest at the 1990 Masters).
members. Under the accusations, they invited aMembers include Bill Gates, Red Poling of the Ford
black man to the club in 1990.Motor Company, Jack Welch, former CEO of GE,
Martha Burke was not as lucky when she wentex-Georgia Governor Carl Sanders, Hugh L. McColl,
head to head with Augusta Chairman HootieJr., former CEO of Bank of America, and Warren
Johnson in 2002. Burke, of the National Council ofBuffett.
Women's Organizations, argued that the policy of