Tradition? (Golf) balls!

Last weekend golf fans from all over the world watched the US Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club.

Augusta is one of the best golf courses in the world. Its elite membership policy means it admits only the highest echelons of US society. Oh, and by that, I mean men. Yes, women aren't allowed to join Augusta. Seriously. In a show of sexism worthy of the Church of England, it's men-only all the way. How quaint.

The Masters is sponsored by IBM. Traditionally, the CEO of IBM has been offered membership of the golf club - the last four CEOs all became members. This year, IBM's CEO is a woman - Virginia Rometty. Has she been offered membership? Augusta has remained suspiciously quiet about the whole thing.

Now, if the powers that be at Augusta want to continue this archaic admissions policy, in the mistaken belief that it somehow makes them 'posher' then so be it. Actually, to be fair, I must confess that Augusta's membership list is one big massive secret. So, in theory, there could already be a female member that no one knows about. Somehow I doubt it, though.

Anyway, if they want to enforce a no-women policy, then fine. It makes them look like idiots but that's up to them. But why does everyone go along with it? Why do the golfers - who strike me as a very sensible bunch of rather nice chaps - all agree to play there? Why oh why don't they just say no? Why does the BBC spend my licence fee on televising the event? Why did Hazel Irvine do the commentary?

Presumably Augusta doesn't care much for the opinions of women so us complaining isn't going to give them much pause for thought (that's no reason to shut up, though). In fact, Barack Obama's press secretary Jay Carney said the president's personal opinion was that women should be admitted. So if they don't listen to him...

But money talks, my friend. If the golf establishment spoke up, something might happen. If IBM pulled its sponsorship for example. Or the TV channels refused to broadcast the event. If Hazel Irvine had said she wouldn't report from the competition. (By the way, the New York Times' golf writer Karen Crouse said if it were up to her, she wouldn't cover the event again until there was a female member. She was reprimanded by her sports editor for being so outspoken). And, most importantly, if the golfers refused to play - I bet your bottom dollar (see how I speak American!) they'd change that membership policy pretty damn quick.