Augusta National Invites First Female Members

For the first time in the history of the Augusta National Golf Club women will be walking the fairways and greens as members.Home of The Masters, Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia, extended invitations for membership to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina Financier Darla Moore.Rice and Moore accepted the invitations and will become the first female members in the 80-year history of the club.The members and prestigious grounds of Augusta National have always evolved at their own pace. It was 1990 before the club allowed an African American to join.The no women policy has been controversial for many years. In 2011, Virginia Rometty became the chief executive of IBM, one of The Masters tournament’s corporate sponsors. The four IBM chief executives before Rometty, all men, were invited to join the club. Rometty was not.Augusta National has a reputation for secrecy. The club doesn’t release the names of members or even how many members it has. But now two women will be adding their names to the list.Rice and Moore will receive their green jackets this fall.