August National admits 2 women

[aurademystere]

;D

www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/story/2012-08-20/masters-admits-female-members-condoleezza-rice-darla-moore/57160252/1

After three quarters of a century, women will be included on the membership rolls of Augusta National Golf Club, one of the most exclusive clubs in the world and the host of the Masters.

By Martin E. Klimek, for USA TODAY

Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne announced Monday that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and business executive Darla Moore will be the first female members of the club.

The news was first reported by the Associated Press.

"This is a joyous occasion as we enthusiastically welcome Secretary Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as members of Augusta National Golf Club," Payne said in a statement. "We are fortunate to consider many qualified candidates for membership at Augusta National. Consideration with regard to any candidate is deliberate, held in strict confidence and always takes place over an extended period of time. The process for Condoleezza and Darla was no different.

"These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf and both are well known and respected by our membership. It will be a proud moment when we present Condoleezza and Darla their Green Jackets when the Club opens this fall.

"This is a significant and positive time in our Club's history and, on behalf of our membership, I wanted to take this opportunity to welcome them and all of our new members into the Augusta National family."

Rice, who served as secretary of state under George W. Bush, said in a statement she feels very fortunate to have "this opportunity to grow my love for this great game."

"I am delighted and honored to be a member of Augusta National Golf Club," she said. "I have visited Augusta National on several occasions and look forward to playing golf, renewing friendships and forming new ones through this very special opportunity.

"I have long admired the important role Augusta National has played in the traditions and history of golf. I also have immense respect for the Masters Tournament and its commitment to grow the game of golf, particularly with youth, here in the United States and throughout the world."

Moore is vice president of Rainwater, Inc., a private investment company, and founder and chair of the Palmetto Institute, a nonprofit think tank aimed at bolstering per capita income in South Carolina. She also is the founder and chair of The Charleston Parks Conservancy, a foundation focused on enhancing the parks and public spaces of Charleston, S.C.

Monday's announcement marked a significant departure for Augusta National, which had always declined comment about membership issues. Most recently in April, when Payne was questioned at length about the lack of female members in his annual news conference the day before the Masters.

The most recent debate was sparked because one of the Masters' sponsors, IBM, had recently promoted Virginia "Ginni" Rometty as its first female CEO, and Augusta National traditionally had offered memberships to the CEO of IBM.

Payne deflected the questions with the statement, "Once again, that deals with a membership issue, and I'm not going to answer it."

Monday's announcement also comes 10 years after activist Martha Burk sent a letter to Hootie Johnson, Payne's predecessor as chairman, about admission of female members.

Johnson responded that Augusta would not be forced to change its policies "at the point of a bayonet."

Johnson pulled television advertising for the broadcast to spare Masters sponsors unwanted attention.

In 2003, Burk staged protests outside the grounds that mostly fizzled.

Edited to clarify wonky formating

[Velvetshady]

Well now I truly hope IBM withdraws sponsorship.

And not because I'm against them admitting women (sorry if it read that way). They had the perfect, easy, opportunity to start admitting women by using IBM's female CEO as a starting point. To now admit women a few months later and *still* not include Ginni--it's a direct slap in a major sponsors face and I hope IBM responds to the (now) specific exclusion of their CEO by withdrawing their funding.

[Deleted]

Awesome. Now I won't have to seethe when H wants to watch that crap tournament every spring.

[heyjude]

I have hard time getting excited over something they should have done decades ago.

[emilyj]

I just can't get excited over this. I don't really think we should be giving Augusta "credit" for accepting women into their club in 2012.

[Deleted]

Oh, please don't get me wrong. That "awesome" was TIC. Trust me. This should've happened ages ago. AGES.

But I do think my H will appreciate the fact I can't rail about it anymore while he tries to watch the final round. He's pretty progressive with a lot of things, but man, for some reason he loves to watch golf on Sundays (even though he doesn't play) and he loves to watch the Masters. Blech.

[terpsfan]

Aug 20, 2012 10:16:46 GMT -5 Velvetshady said:

Well now I truly hope IBM withdraws sponsorship.

And not because I'm against them admitting women (sorry if it read that way). They had the perfect, easy, opportunity to start admitting women by using IBM's female CEO as a starting point. To now admit women a few months later and *still* not include Ginni--it's a direct slap in a major sponsors face and I hope IBM responds to the (now) specific exclusion of their CEO by withdrawing their funding.

THIS. 100%, I can't agree more and will be absolutely pissed if IBM continues sponsorship

[ttt]

I didn't know Condi played golf.

[Deleted]

1929: "yay! amazing! so progressive!
1945: "wow, what a step. awesome!"
1965: "that's fantastic!"
1975: "damn skippy."
1990: "about time already."
2012: "wtf? you all are JUST getting around to this bullshit?"

[heyjude]

Aug 20, 2012 13:02:24 GMT -5 cville said:

1929: "yay! amazing! so progressive!
1945: "wow, what a step. awesome!"
1965: "that's fantastic!"
1975: "damn skippy."
1990: "about time already."
2012: "wtf? you all are JUST getting around to this bullshit?"

FTW!

[kcr1972]

I live in Augusta...1 mile from the national actually. I just read this in the paper and sent it to my BF. People here will start complaining shortly.