Augusta National to admit women

Home of the Masters extends membership invitates to females for first time

Masters chief: Billy Payne has invited the first two women to become members of Augusta National

Augusta National Golf Club has announced that is to admit female members for the first time in its 80-year history.

The previously male-only club has broken with tradition to allow former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore to become full, Green Jacket-wearing members. Club chairman Billy Payne made the announcement yesterday.

“This is a joyous occasion,” he said. “We enthusiastically welcome Secretary Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as members of Augusta National Golf Club.

“These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf and both are well known and respected by our membership.

“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.”

The announcement came as something of a surprise on two counts. One, Augusta National had previously stood behind a non-disclosure policy when it came to revealing the identity of its members. To reveal the identity of two new members by way of a press release was unprecedented.

Secondly, Payne’s predecessor in the club chairman’s seat, Hootie Johnson, was immovably opposed to women joining the club, even in the face of damaging protests like those led by Martha Burke outside the club’s gates in 2002.

At the time, Johnson reacted by saying the club would not be forced to change its policies “at the point of a bayonet”.

However, when the younger, more politically astute Payne succeeded Johnson in 2006, hopes were raised that he might be the man to oversee the admission of female members – and so it has proved.

The former chief executive of the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, Payne has made it his mission to “grow the game” around the world since he took the hotseat at arguably the most famous golf club in the world. That mission has just taken another massive leap forward with the admission of Rice and Moore.

The 57-year-old Rice was, understandably, thrilled to be invited to join. Formerly a key member of the Bush administration in the White House, Rice said: “I am delighted and honoured to be a member of Augusta National Golf Club.

“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.”

Membership of the club is strictly by invitation only. It is believed to cost between $10,000 and $30,000 per year and it is believed there are in the region of 300 members at any given time.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered