<Outrageous, Ridiculous, Over-the-Top Male Chauvinist Pig Mode Turned On>

In a dark day for men, especially male golfers, the Augusta National Golf Club, hosts of the venerable “Masters” Golf Tournament, have made a shocking announcement. For the first time in their history, the Augusta National Golf Club is granting membership to women. The two ladies who will join the Augusta National Golf Club are Condoleeza Rice and businesswoman Darla Moore.

Needless to say, this is terrible news for me and my fellow male chauvinist pigs. The golf course was the last refuge for guys looking for a good place to get away from their better half. Now even that is gone. If women are allowed on the golf course, it is only a matter of time until they’ll be demanding to do other “guy” things – like driving race cars, writing computer software, getting elected to Congress – and playing poker! (Oh wait, women are already doing all those things! Never mind …)

<Outrageous, Ridiculous, Over-the-Top Male Chauvinist Pig Mode Turned Off>

Editor’s Note: Condi and Darla are two great choices to join the Augusta National Golf Club. I’m glad I’ve lived long enough to see this come to fruition.

Wow! I never thought that would happen. Congrats ladies

Shocking and way overdue!

Oh my stars and garters!

*waves fan and faints upon a settee*

Wow, it'll be the you-know-what's next.

Please let me start by saying that I think the selections that Augusta National made were excellent. HOWEVER:

Why, and here is where I expect to get flamed, did/do women WANT to belong to a club that they are told point-blank that they aren't welcome into? I don't get the attraction. It isn't like there aren't other clubs. Or other golf courses. And honestly, it isn't about the golf course at all. Women have been allowed to play ANCC for years.

I guess my mid-western laissez-faire is getting in the way of my understanding of this particular issue.

One reason is that it's the site of the most prestigious golf tournament in the world, the Masters.

I'm not super knowledgeable about golf, but isn't it reasonably possible that a woman might come along some day with the talent to compete at the highest level? A quick Google search tells me that the difference in average driving distance between men and women (on the PGA and LPGA) is only about 10 yards. So it's not a contest of upper body strength, right? That doesn't seem like a huge disadvantage. It would be pretty lame if some women started cracking the top 20, but get shut out of the Masters because of Augusta's old-fashioned nonsense. I wonder how the PGA would deal with that. It seems that they already support the policy to some extent by continuing to host a Major there.

A better reason is just the principle of the matter. For example, frame your logic in the context of Jim Crowe laws. I doubt many people shrugged it off and said "that's cool, I don't want to eat at those racist diners anyway. There's plenty of other places in town."

Maybe that's different because Augusta National is a private club. Anyway, they've always been quite backwards. Apparently they only started allowing black members in 1990, and for a long time required caddies to be black!

You are off on your Google search. The top average PGA driving distance is 315. The top LPGA driving distance is 280. The 50th best PGA driving distance is 295 yards. The 50th best LPGA driving distance is 255. So there is about a 40 yard difference. Also, PGA courses are set up way tougher, with narrower fairways. Being 40 yards behind would eliminate most chances for scoring well.

Women have been playing for quite some time as guests of members at Augusta. When the Masters is held, everyone competing is not a member. They are invited to participate, based on play. If a women qualified or was high enough on the men's money list, they would be invited to play.

There currently is no woman very close to competing versus men. Michele Wie missed every cut for all tourneys that she played versus men, when invited on sponsor's exemption. And the greatest women's player, Sorrenstam missed the cut when she tried.

If a women was good enough to play, they would likely be allowed to play anywhere on PGA. Good for ratings.

I think it is fine that Augusta have brought the women in as members. There was some discussion as to whether as a private club they should be publicly forced to do so. Through media pressure, etc. Kind of like if men should be allowed to join women-only fitness clubs.

Augusta has been behind the times for a long time regarding minorities and women. Smart move to address it now.

Exactly. I can't go and join "Ladies Only" fitness club, no matter how hard I try. Why not? Well, first of all, I don't want to. I guess it is a slippery slope if you start exclusionary tactics....whatever. I still don't understand WHY women would want to join. Just my denseness I guess.

Precisely. Locking this up.