Don't Break The Code (Part 1 of 3)

Hello. Here's part 1 of 3 on maintaining something I call "the code". This code is unwritten, yet it is followed as if it were cast in stone.
Let me preface part 1 (today) by saying I love watching the Masters golf tournament. There have been many memorable golf events at Augusta. It always is on just as I'm getting primed to play golf here. The scenery is wonderful. I have never been close to attending the Masters. I don't know anyone who's a member. I have next to no chance of attending it ever as a patron or a guest. I've never met anyone who has played there, member or PGA Tour pro.
It was announced that "Hootie" Johnson stepped down as Chairman of Augusta National. His successor is Billy Payne, the head organizer of the 1996 Olympic Games which were in Atlanta.
It is said Hootie will be remembered for his stance against Martha Burk, the feminist who challenged Johnson to allow women to become Augusta members. Women have been allowed to play Augusta, but only as guests. There has never been a woman member, there isn't one today, and according to Johnson, there never will be one.
Mr. Payne said he has no plans to get in a dialogue with Ms. Burk re women members, because he says everyone's position is the same on the issue.
The above describes "the code" of Augusta for the following reasons:

1. "Hootie" resigning is irrelevant. The Augusta membership position is not necessarily Hootie's position, and vice versa. If anyone thinks Hootie alone ran Augusta with an iron fist, listening to no one else, they are naive.
2. Billy being the new chairman is irrelevant. This man may be the least qualified of the membership to be in the position. While I don't know the member's names, the fact 1996 Atlanta was arguably the worst organized Olympics ever makes me think I'm safe in that assumption. If anyone thinks Billy alone will run Augusta with an iron fist, listening to no one else, they are naive.

If anyone thought anything would change with this appointment, especially women becoming members, they are naive. "The code" dictates a collective agreement on such matters. Augusta is its own entity, running strictly by "the code". Individuals saying anything against Augusta (see Jack Whittaker and Gary McCord as examples) are exiled.

If you took each Augusta member individually, and promised to be Roddy McDowell silent about their answer, many would say they have no issue with women being members. However, "the code" says no Augusta member can say something like that, because their membership would be terminated. At best in public a member will say "no comment".

To come out publicly in favour of women members would go against the entire tradition of Augusta and "the code". If it is ever done, it will probably be done privately, for a year or more, before the media finds out. Since now the spotlight is not as bright as it was 3.5 years ago, maybe there will be a movement to invite women to consider being members. However, if the media will signal the first woman member as a victory for human rights, it won't happen.

"The code" is all about saving face. If the Augusta collective is going to be embarassed by CBS on Masters telecasts, print media or anyone else, it won't do anything to change, and probably stonewall its attacker.

Let Augusta handle its issues internally. That is the only way "the code" will be rewritten. And it must be rewritten, because otherwise "the code" will bring Augusta to its knees eventually as the rest of the world changes.

Regards,

Steve