My Take on Augusta

Augusta National Golf Club, located in Augusta, Georgia, is home to one of the greatest PGA events of the year, The Masters.  Augusta National is a privately owned and operated golf club with notable members such as, Warren Buffet, Pete Coors, and Bill Gates.  Membership is by invitation only and, needless to say, I have yet to receive my invitation. (I am sure it just got lost in the mail.)

Over the years, August has been heavily criticized for some of their membership criteria.  Most recently, Augusta was lambasted for their men-only membership policy.  The Chairman of the Board in 2002, Hootie Johnson, responded with the following:

"Our membership is single gender just as many other organizations and clubs all across America. These would include Junior Leagues, sororities, fraternities, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and countless others. And we all have a moral and legal right to organize our clubs the way we wish."

Needless to say, this comment, along with others from Mr. Johnson, did not help to extinguish the controversy.  Fanatics, such as Martha Burk, continued to espouse her opinion that Augusta was a "sexist" organization.  (I have yet to have the opportunity to ask her opinions on the "sexism" of the Girl Scouts or all female sororities.)

Almost ten years after this widely publicized controversy, yesterday, August 20, 2012, Augusta National invited its first two women to become members of the golf club.  Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore are both successful, powerful women who will now wear the coveted green jacket.

It is my hope that the members of Augusta have made this decision for the right reasons.  In a time were political correctness and an everybody-should-feel-good-about-themselves attitude is overtaking our society, it is easy to be cynical.  Hopefully, the members made the conscious decision to move in this direction and did not simply cave to the onslaught of pressure to be politically correct.

Personally, I agree with Mr. Johnson's sentiments regarding private organizations.  (Obviously, this argument goes out the window if an organization accepts or is funded by public monies.)  However, this is not to say that every person should agree or feel comfortable with the make-up of a private organization.

There are plenty of examples of private organizations that are, in my opinion, ridiculous.  (Nazi organizations, Ku Klux Klan, Communist organizations, etc.)  But, just as these organizations have the freedom to peacefully organize, I have the freedom to decline membership and laugh at the absurdity of their beliefs.

Political correctness has never been my strong suit, and I am sure, as with Mr. Johnson, many people will disagree with my opinions on this issue.  So, to those who disagree, feel free to pick up your "participation ribbon" on the way out.