How Many Female Members at Augusta National

Augusta National Golf Club, located in Augusta, Georgia, is one of the most exclusive and prestigious golf clubs in the world. It is best known for hosting The Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in professional golf.

For decades, Augusta National had no female members, creating controversy around its male-only membership policy. However, in recent years, the club has started admitting women as members. This article will provide an overview of the history of female membership at Augusta National and look at how many women are currently members of this renowned golf club.

History of Female Membership at Augusta National

Augusta National Golf Club was founded in 1932 by investment banker Clifford Roberts and legendary golfer Bobby Jones. From its inception, the club did not allow female members. This men-only membership policy drew criticism over the years from women's rights advocates.

In 2002, the issue came to a head when Martha Burk, then chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations, wrote a letter to Augusta National calling on the club to admit female members. This sparked a national debate and put pressure on the club to change its policy.

Initially, Augusta National's then-chairman Hootie Johnson resisted these calls, saying that the club would make decisions regarding membership "when and if" it chose to. This led to protests and boycotts of The Masters Tournament by women's groups.

In 2012, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and businesswoman Darla Moore were invited to join Augusta National as its first female members. Rice and Moore slipped on the traditional green jackets in a private ceremony that signaled the end of Augusta's males-only membership history.

Current Number of Female Members

While Augusta National does not provide an exact count of its roughly 300 members, it is estimated that there are currently around 10-12 female members.

Some of the notable women who have been invited to join the prestigious golf club include:

• Condoleezza Rice: As mentioned, the former US Secretary of State under President George W. Bush was one of the first two women admitted as members in 2012.

• Darla Moore: A successful South Carolina financier and philanthropist, she joined alongside Rice in 2012.

• Virginia Rometty: The CEO of IBM was invited to join in 2014.

• Diana Murphy: The former CEO of financial services company Cargill and the first female president of the US Golf Association became a member in 2019.

• Marla Bilonick: Bilonick, who leads financial services firm TIAA, was reportedly invited to join in 2021.

• Abby Wambach: The retired Olympic gold medal-winning soccer player was also invited to join in 2021.

While not confirmed, other prominent women rumored to be members include former Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman, private equity executive Solange Brooks, former DuPont CEO Ellen Kullman, and Wall Street executive Ana Botín.

Overall, while the total number of female members remains low relative to the total membership, it represents significant progress from Augusta's complete exclusion of women for over 80 years. The club appears to be gradually diversifying its membership, although most new members still tend to be high-profile male business leaders.

Controversy and Criticism

Despite opening membership to women, Augusta National continues to face scrutiny over the demographics of its membership and whether the culture is welcoming to female golfers.

Critics argue that the number of female members is still too low, and that the club has an obligation to be more proactive in diversifying given its prominence in the golf world. There are also concerns that the club's culture, facilities and limited women's locker room capacity make women feel unwelcome.

Many advocate for Augusta to demonstrate a stronger commitment to inclusion by setting goals for gender balance and minority membership. However, as a private club, Augusta National ultimately has discretion over who it selects as members.

The club has defended its decisions, saying it does not provide gender breakdowns of members, but considers all candidates based on their merits and potential contributions to the club's culture. The admission of its first women as members in 2012 suggests Augusta is taking gradual steps to update traditions.

Conclusion

The question of female membership at August National Golf Club reflects broader issues of gender equality and inclusion in golf, business and society. While the club now has some prominent female members, their numbers are estimated to be just around 10-12 out of 300 total members.

The milestone of admitting the first women in 2012 was an important symbolic step, but pressure remains on Augusta National to continue diversifying its membership. However, as a private club, the pace of change ultimately depends on the choices of the current leadership and membership. The coming years will determine whether the green jackets of Augusta National eventually reflect a more equal gender balance.