Augusts National Membership Controversy

The significance of the Augusta National membership controversy lies in its demonstration of the inevitable tension in American society caused by the fundamental human rights recognized in two amendments to the U.S. Constitution: the First Amendment right of free speech and free association, and the Fourteenth Amendment right to equal opportunity. The First Amendment protects each individual's right to associate with whom he or she chooses. On the other hand, the Fourteenth Amendment protects each individual's right not to be barred from opportunities that are available to others. But the U.S. Constitution only applies to governmental action and a private club in Augusta, Georgia retains a right to define with whom its members will be required to associate. The civil rights movement made the strides that it could against de jure discrimination in the United States. But the failure of many to adhere to Burk's protest against Augusta National may demonstrate many people's belief that people will always retain some right to choose with whom they will associate, even if such choices are offensive to others.

The controversy surrounding this year's Masters golf tournament began on June 12, 2002, three months after Martha Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations, read a column in USA Today about Augusta National Golf club's men-only membership policy. Burk wrote a private letter to club chairman Ho