For months, the two most publicized names in golf have not been Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. William "Hootie" Johnson and Martha Burk have taken control of the golf media through the membership controversy at Augusta National Golf Course, site of this weekend's Masters.
Burk, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations, has engaged herself in a public debate with Johnson, the chairman of Augusta, about the club's all-male membership.
She contends the policy is not fair and that women should be admitted to the private club, while Johnson has maintained that his club will not be "bullied, threatened or intimidated" when deciding on who should be a member.
And so this week, the controversy comes to the forefront at The Masters golf tournament. Some members of both the men's and women's golf teams at Ohio said Augusta being a private club is the most important designation.
"I think that Augusta has the right, since they are a private club, to allow or not allow female members, and I don't think they are going to change it," Ohio golfer Cari Mozingo said. "I don't know if that's right or not because I'm all for women's golf, but I think no one's going to be able to stop them from doing it. It's their right to."
Ohio golfer Brian Edwards said the club's status is the biggest issue.
"I have no problem with (women) being members of Augusta, but I have a big problem with the men not being able to have a private club," Edwards said.
Augusta, however, has not completely shut out females. As guests of the male members, females have played the course and enjoyed the other facilities at the club.
"I kind of lean both ways because women do have the opportunity to eat dinner there, play golf there, and it is a men's club," Ohio golfer Jeff Chadwell said. "Since women are equal, they can organize their own organizations and their own golf clubs."
As The Masters drew closer, Burk began organizing protests against the club's policy and gathering public support from Augusta members and other organizations. LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw has voiced support for Burk, and so has Woods, who said letting females become members at Augusta is "the right thing to do."
But despite protests and public outcry, no professional golfers have backed out of playing in the Masters because of the controversy. Ohio golfer Luke Korner said the prestige and history of the tournament greatly outweighs membership issues.
"I don't think there's a PGA pro anywhere who would (not play in the Masters)," he said. "Just to get to play in the Masters is such a big deal for these guys, and even if they did feel strongly one way or the other, I don't think they would skip out."
While some Augusta regulars, like former CBS executive Thomas H. Wyman, have withdrawn their memberships - most have not stopped playing the course or being active participants in the club.
"Obviously, it (all-male membership) is not making people not want to play the course," Ohio golfer Diane Rubin said. "If it was that big of an issue, people would stop playing. But if they did allow women members, they would get a lot of business."
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Laurie Duffy
