March 6, 2003

A Look at Golf's Big Debate

TFK Kid Reporter Mia Kabasakalis weighs in golf's debate over allowing women to play on men's turf

By Mia Kabasakalis

Women's golf. Usually it's totally ignored but lately it has been high up in the headlines. Heard of Martha Burk? I hadn't either until a few months ago, so don't feel bad. She's the chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations (NCWO).

Heard of Annika Sorenstam? I hope so! She is the highest-ranking player on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. Both of these ladies have or will influence women's golf in ways that I feel will ultimately better the game.

The Augusta Debate
Burk has been publicly criticizing the Augusta National Golf Club for its no-women-members rule. She says the rule discriminates against women. Hootie Johnson, chairman of Augusta, defends the club's rule by saying that since Augusta is private, only it should have a say in deciding who is allowed to be a member.

Sorenstam won 11 LPGA tournaments last year.

Discrimination against the sexes is almost as bad as segregation, which we supposedly ended in 1954, with the Brown vs. Board of Education case. However, if Augusta does allow women to become members, then there shouldn't be any gender-based groups at all. Martha Burk would have to open her doors to the opposite sex, as would many other organizations. Ultimately, though, I think Burk is right. Augusta closing its doors to women is discriminatory.

Annika Breaks Down Barriers
Annika is the best woman golfer on the tour right now, and is known as the Tiger Woods of the LPGA. She broke the tour's scoring record by winning 11 tournaments last year. But it gets boring playing the same people over and over again, the same people that you've beaten multiple times.

Naturally, Annika wants to move up, not down. But the only way for her to expand her abilities is to compete against people who are better than she is. Right now, those people are the men on the Professional Golf Association (PGA). So, Annika will soon be playing against the men.

On February 11, Annika announced that she would play in the American Colonial Golf Tournament. Many people question her actions. Is it fair for a woman to play on the men's tour, they ask. Will she succeed? Will men say they are now eligible to play on the LPGA?

A Good Move for Women's Golf
I personally think that what Annika is doing is great. If she wants to be the best golfer she can be, shouldn't she play people that actually challenge her?

I'm 14 and have been playing golf for 5 years. My sport is beginning to blossom, thanks to the efforts of two very unique women. Maybe when I'm old enough, I'll be able to play in the Masters, right alongside Annika.

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