Protesters looking for a spot to picket outside Augusta National Golf Club this year will be hard-pressed to find a place anywhere near the course's front gates.
That's according to local law enforcement, which reports that public safety will take precedence over public protest during this year's Masters Tournament.
"You can be assured we would not even consider the sidewalks around the Augusta National," Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength said.
Two civil-rights groups - the National Council of Women's Organizations and the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/Push Coalition - have promised to show up in force outside Augusta National's gates this year to voice opposition to the club's male-only membership.
Although no one has applied for a permit to protest, Sheriff Strength says that when protesters do request permission, he doesn't know where they'll go. He only knows where they won't be.
"It will not be on Washington Road in front of the Augusta National because of safety," he said, explaining that the sidewalks are too narrow, the foot traffic too heavy and the number of vendors along the right-of-way too numerous for protest activity.
"The same thing on Berckmans Road," the sheriff said. "There are no sidewalks on Berckmans; therefore, it won't happen there."
Chief Deputy Sid Hatfield said some public places being considered as possible protest sites include two city parks: the Julian Smith Casino and Eisenhower Ball Park - neither of which is visible from Washington Road, the main corridor travelers use to reach the club's walk-in gates.
Julian Smith, in the 2200 block of Broad Street, is 1.4 miles away from Azalea Drive and can be reached only by exiting Washington Road. Eisenhower Park, in the 1400 block of Eisenhower Road, is less than a mile from the club's main entrance, but the park can only be accessed by driving through the residential National Hills neighborhood and across a set of railroad tracks. It also is at the end of a dead end street, which backs up to - but is not visible from - River Watch Parkway.
Protesters could assemble on nearby private properties, but they must get permission from the property owner, Chief Hatfield and the sheriff said.
"Almost every Masters week, some pedestrian trying to cross Washington Road is struck and seriously injured," Chief Hatfield said. "You just can't let a group of protesters try to be with - let's call them patrons - and expect them to blend."
Martha Burk, the chairwoman of the women's council, says she is consulting her attorney and a federal attorney about local law enforcement's jurisdiction over the matter.
"I doubt if it's up to the sheriff to decide this," she said.
"There are laws about peaceful protest, so we will be investigating those, as well as what our civil rights are," Mrs. Burk said. "I don't know whether we will be (denied) or not, but we will be prepared for any eventuality."
In 2001, five animal-rights protesters picketing on Washington Road without a permit were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
Beginning this month, local law enforcement officials will start meeting with Augusta National officials to plan for tournament traffic and other safety issues, Sheriff Strength said. He expects the placement of protesters to be part of that plan.
"Our No. 1 objective is public safety," Sheriff Strength said. "We would not allow anyone to be there and picket and cause a public safety problem."
Reach Heidi Coryell Williams at (706) 823-3215 or heidi.williams@augustachronicle.com.
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