But even on the edge of paradise, the ongoing controversy regarding Augusta National Golf Club and its membership is never far from the thoughts of the golfers who compete in the Masters Tournament.

Nobody knows that better than Charles Howell, the Augusta native who has the unenviable distinction of being the only person to be questioned more than Tiger Woods about the debate over Augusta National's all-male membership.

For Howell, it's personal. Howell loves Augusta, and he hates what this battle between the Augusta National and National Council of Women's Organizations chairman Martha Burk is doing to the people in his hometown.

"I think it's pretty sad because there's a lot of businesses and a lot of people around Augusta that are becoming hurt by it," Howell said when asked about the issue during his news conference before the PGA Tour's season-opening Mercedes Championship. "I think the impact goes well beyond the golf to hurting the city and the economy. A lot of people depend on income through the Masters. I think that's the sad part of it, that those people are getting hurt."

Howell spent the Christmas holiday at home, receiving an honorary membership to Augusta Country Club, where he honed his game, and dropping the puck at an Augusta Lynx game despite suffering from the flu. While he was in town mingling with some of the most prominent people in the local golf scene, he heard tales of the trickle-down effects of the issue in the community.

"I know one of the housing bureaus has had 40-some houses canceled already up to this point," Howell said. "I know the Radisson Hotel has had a lot of room cancellations. I know my younger brother's girlfriend works for the largest caterer in Augusta (Very Vera), and they have had a whole lot of orders canceled and a lot of parties that they were doing canceled."

Actually, house rentals through the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, one of the groups that rents houses during the Masters, are up 23 percent, said Ed Presnell, the chamber's president.

Darryl Leech, general manager of Radisson Riverfront Hotel Augusta, disputed Howell's allegation that the hotel has had "a lot" of room cancellations.

"I don't know where Charles got his information, but we anticipate selling out (during Masters Week) as we have every year since opening 11 years ago," Leech said.

Asked who should shoulder the blame - Augusta National or the women's group protesting the club - Howell turned as diplomatic as a politician. For the players, picking sides on the Augusta debate is a no-win situation.

"I don't know whose fault it is," Howell said. "It's hard to say, because what's right or wrong these days anymore anyway? I have an opinion. I'm sure everybody has an opinion. But nothing I say can be right. If I say one thing, well then half the people argue about it the other way. If I say the other ... .

"The best thing I do is, I kind of keep my opinion to myself, but I know the people that it's hurting. I know that I don't like anything to hurt Augusta National, as strongly as I feel about the place and as strong as I feel about Augusta. Obviously I have a lot of close ties to Augusta and a lot of friends there. I don't like to see anything tarnish that.

"Whether it's right or wrong, I mean, Augusta National is a private club. But yet this also is 2003, you'd like to see a woman member out there. I don't know who is right or wrong."

That question is central to every news conference in golf these days. Players can't get away from the topic that follows them all over the world. South African Nick Price said that every conversation he has - be it a dinner party or barroom chat - inevitably includes the subject.

"Oh! Hootie Johnson," Price said with a disgusted shake of his head. "He's made a lot of our lives very uncomfortable.

"Everywhere I go I'm asked that question, whether it's South Africa, New Zealand, at home, wherever. They're a private club; they can do what they want. But they do have a public event there. They make money from having us there. I've said this from the get-go: They're 10 years behind the times. They should have had a lady member there 10 years ago. ... If they don't want it, I can't do anything about it."

Price believes the economics Howell talked about is what ultimately will resolve the issue one way or another.

"It will come down to the numbers in the end, I suppose," he said. "The town of Augusta, how many homes weren't rented. There's a sign of the times right now because we're in a little bit of a depressed economy. I think it's going to impact it quite a bit."

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Thursday, January 9, 2003 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle