NEW YORK (CNN) - Last night in my commentary, I suggested to the Augusta National Golf Club that they end their exclusion of women for membership... and I tried to do so with some humor, and perspective. But even that did not satisfy some women in our audience... who in rather angry terms said I should have effectively ranted and railed against Augusta's head man, Hootie Johnson. Johnson, for some inexplicable reason, has tried to man the barricades of the Augusta male bastion against female assault. Those angry women might consider following the example of the woman who first asked Augusta to allow women to be members, Dr. Martha Burk. The National Council of Women's Organizations should be proud of her leadership. Dr. Burk has presented her case with reason, principle, humanity and humor. Mr. Johnson has, by all accounts, been an exemplary businessman and leader of his community, as well as Augusta. In this case, he's made a mistake...but if he's as bright and honorable as his life's achievements demonstrate, he'll fix his mistake very soon.

The members of Augusta make up a sizeable portion of the political and financial power structure of this country. They may be stubborn, but they are not stupid. We've all come too far, baby. They may be insular, but they're not isolated. Most of them are married, and have daughters, and granddaughters and I can't imagine that those women haven't already exerted significant influence on the membership. The members collective conscience must already have become a force for change. And surely the members innate good judgment has already captured the simple truth about Augusta: that if Augusta is to remain one of the world's most prestigious and exclusive clubs, it must disavow exclusion of any kind.