Douglas Branson begins his book, No Seat at the Table: How Corporate Governance and Law Keep Women out of the Boardroom (New York University Press: December 2006), with the vignette about the National Organization of Women (NOW)’s Martha Burk objections to the Augusta National Golf Club's exclusion of women. If Branson wanted to learn a little more about “how real women do it,” he might have taken a look at top women corporate directors such as Maureen E. (“Moe”) Grzelakowski.

“Moe” also saw the challenge of limited play opportunities and “persistent clubhouse rules that exclude women” at golf course amenities. Rather than simply sit back and whine like a poor little girl victim, “Moe” went out and bought her own golf course in Clarendon Hills, IL. Now, she can play golf anytime she wants.

“Moe” is one savvy businesswoman, drawing upon top executive experience at AT&T, Dell, and Motorola. She sits on the board of Broadcom Corporation, is a senior advisor to Investor Growth Capital Inc. (a venture capital and private equity firm) and still is an active technology consultant.

The National Golf Foundation estimates that women constitute 24 percent of adult golfers: that is equal to 6.1 million women, with 2.5 million of them described as “core” golfers – equally as serious as their male counterparts. PGA America estimates that the average woman spends about $4,000 a year on direct golf expenditures (e.g., golf fees, lessons, equipment and food and beverages). That does not include indirect expenditures such as golf-related travel and clothing.

Maybe it’s time we stopped with the “poor little girl” victim mentality, emphasizing how “Women Golfers Still Feel Mistreated,” and instead start to follow the most excellent example of role model “Moe” Grzelakowski who used her business acumen to make one smart investment in something that gave her great personal satisfaction and which also happened to be one brilliant investment: a golf course where “Women Can Feel Welcome” to conduct their business and to spend their money.

Oh, and by the way, Ms. Grzelakowski also wrote a book entitled Mother Leads Best: 50 Women Who Are Changing the Way Organizations Define Leadership (Kaplan Business, 2005) which examines the positive impact motherhood can have on the leadership skills of senior executive women.