The Augusta National Golf Club has no women among its nearly 300 members - and there is nothing wrong with a private club exercising that right.

Who cares? Of what possible relevance can this be to the Masters Tournament that includes only men and welcomes patrons of all races, creeds and genders?

Well, apparently the National Council of Women's Organizations cares. It cares enough to challenge the private club to a public battle over the issue.

Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson brought out his sledgehammer to shoo away a gnat, issuing a defiant three-page statement Tuesday saying the host club of the Masters would not be "bullied" into inviting a female member before the 2003 tournament.

In the old days, Masters chairmen would have merely ignored the issue. But with a major women's organization issuing threats to apply pressure on sponsors of the Masters, Johnson opted for a preemptive strike in the public domain.

"We do not intend to become a trophy in their display case," he said. "There may well come a day when women will be invited to join our membership, but that timetable will be ours and not at the point of a bayonet."

Johnson also said he is "puzzled as to why they have targeted our private golf club."

With good reason. The women's council didn't fire off any demands to other prominent men-only clubs such as Pine Valley, Seminole or Muirfield - the site of next week's British Open. It hasn't called for the immediate inclusion of male members at the Ladies' Golf Club of Toronto, which has operated since 1924 as North America's only golf club with membership reserved exclusively for women.

Nor did NCWO chairwoman Martha Burk call for the immediate sexual integration of the nation's private women's colleges or increasingly popular female health clubs that exclude men so its members can feel more comfortable working out without too much testosterone in the room.

The NCWO singled out Augusta for no relevant reason - except that it's high profile and a cliched mark when it comes to social debate. Coercing the club to add women to its rolls hardly advances the cause against worldwide abuses against women or workplace inequities.

Critics will quickly equate this with the civil rights movement, but it's not the same. Anyone who refuses to associate socially with someone based on race, religion or national origin is shallow and small-minded. It's easy to work up a righteous indignation in the face of bigotry.

But having a private club for men to enjoy the game of golf doesn't engender the same passion. Men typically play with other men anyway. Women generally play with other women.

It would be harder to defend Augusta's policies if the club barred women from the course. But the club welcomes women to play, which they do regularly as guests and without restrictions. Johnson himself invited the South Carolina women's golf team to play this spring, and LPGA Tour players Karrie Webb and Kelly Robbins were recent guests.

Personally, I hope Augusta National opens its membership ranks to women sooner rather than later. It would be good for the club in an ever-changing society. I also hope it establishes a financial aid program to recruit more fiscally challenged golfers such as myself. The club could use a few regular guys and gals to mingle with the usual titans of industry.

Left alone, Johnson is the kind of liberal-minded leader who would open the door to women members just as he helped desegregate South Carolina's colleges and universities. Change already seemed close over the horizon.

Challenging him with threats, however, only worsens the cause.

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