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From Colin Farquharson
FIRST AUGUSTA NATIONAL MEMBER TO RESIGN OVER ALL-MALE POLICY
MARTHA Burk's campaign to force the all-male Augusta National Golf Club
to admit women members has received a boost.
A former chief executive of CBS has become the first member of the club,
which hosts the
U S Masters every year, to resign in protest over the club's refusal to
admit a female member.
Thomas H Wyman, a member of the Augusta National club for 25 years, told
the New York Times that club chairman Hootie Johnson's position not to
admit women was unacceptable and "pig-headed." Mr Wyman estimated that
as many as a quarter of the estimated 300 club members supported the admission
of women.
"I am anxious not to make this personal," Mr Wymnan told the newspaper.
"But Hootie keeps writing that there has not been a single case of protest
within the club membership. And he absolutely believes this will all go
away. It will not go away and it should not. I know there is a large number
of members, at least 50 to 75, who believe it is inevitable that there
will be and should be a woman member.
"There are obviously some redneck, old-boy types down there, but there
are a lot of very thoughtful, rational people in the membership and they
feel as strongly as I do."
The Augusta National Golf Club later issued a statement to the New York
Times about Mr Wyman's resignation.
"We are disappointed that Mr Wyman has chosen to publicise a private matter,"
said club spokesman Glenn Greenspan. "While we respect the fact that there
are differences of opinion on this issue, we intend to stand firm behind
our right to make what are both appropriate and private membership choices."
The debate over Augusta National's all-male membership escalated in July
when chairman Johnson denounced Marta Burk and the National Council of
Women's Organisation for demanding a female member should be admitted
to Augusta National Golf Club by the next Masters, to be held in April
2003.
The Masters already has dropped three television sponsors to keep them
out of the controversy and chairman Johnson said recently that there was
no chance that Angusta National would have a female member in the near
future.
Mr Wyman also called on Augusta members and former Masters champions Arnold
Palmer and Jack Nicklaus to support the admission of a woman member.
"Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus could be very helpful with their voices,"
said Mr Wyman. "It would be nice if they came out and said: 'Why can't
there be a woman member?' "
Palmer and Nicklaus have been reluctant to talk about membership at Augusta
National.
"I don't think I can lend anything to help the situation," Palmer told
Associated Press last month. "I'm a member and I appreciate the fact I'm
a member. And that's all I'm going to say about Augusta."
"CBS could at least come out in favour of a commitment from Augusta National
on the admissiosn of a woman," said Mr Wyman. "They have a constituency
that cares about this issue and I was disappointed CBS didn't do more.
They should say it is inevitable and it should happen sooner rather than
later. People say that if CBS takes on Hootie they'll lose the tournament.
I don't think so."
Mr Wyman, 72, was Chief Executive Officer of the CBS Television network
from 1979 to 1986.
+This year's Open championship was played at Muirfield, the home of the
Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers which has an all-male membership.
The Open championship is organised by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of
St Andrews - which does not have any female members.
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