Street talk: Golf moves By Tom Murphy News-Chronicle Weather ready or not (except at Mystery Hills where the season almost never ends), it's golf time. There's a new clubhouse at Brown County Golf Course (which may host a major state championship soon) and upgrades at next-door neighbor, Thornberry Creek, and other area public courses. But some of the biggest golf news comes from just down I-43. Says Golf World, the weekly magazine of the sport and sister publication of Golf Digest: "Is Whistling Straits close to locking up a U.S. Open? "Officials at the Pete Dye-designed layout on Wisconsin's Lake Michigan think so. Steve Friedlander, general manager and director of golf for the Kohler Co., which owns Whistling Straits, told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 'We are pursuing a.....relationship with the USGA that has the opportunity to bring USGA championships to (Whistling Straits).' Say the item, "Sources told the newspaper the first championship will be the 2007 U.S. Senior Open and implied that it would be a springboard to the 2011 U.S. Open. "USGA officials wouldn't comment," said Golf World. Another feather in the hat of Herb Kohler. His courses, just about one hour south of Green Bay, already have hosted the LPGA and PGA club pro tournaments. If Kohler & Co. are successful, the economic benefits could reach right up this way. MORE BALL AND STICK The Masters Golf Tournament and Martha Burk are upon us this week. What a combination to welcome April. Once it was wonderful to anticipate April Fool's Day. It meant the first really meaningful golf tournament of the season was just around the corner. Augusta and azaleas and Amen Corner. This year April Fool's Day has been cornered by a distressed middle-aged woman who has nothing better to do than raise cain with a bunch of resolute middle-aged man. It justs happens that the rich old guys pay plenty for the privilege of belonging to a private club. We think they have the right to determine who can join them, just like the YMCA, YWCA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts can determine their memberships. Just in case you've been out of touch, Burk is the one person responsible for you being able to watch this year's telecast from Augusta without commercial interruption. Not that this is a big feat. In the past, the bosses of the masses at the Masters limited Travelers Insurance (Citigroup) and IBM to minimum commercial interruptions. (Whatever happened to Cadillac's sponsorship role?) Martha and her National Council of Women's Organizations (certainly and deservedly to be confused with the more strident and militant National Organization for Women) believe a woman should be admitted to membership at Augusta National Golf Club. Augusta National president Hootie Johnson says "Nuts," not unlike the reply from that famous World War II American general when asked by the Axis to surrender. Among others, Martha's premise has been disavowed by the Suburban Women's Club of Augusta, a member of her umbrella organization. Unfortunately, a contingent of holier-than-thou sportswriters have aligned with Burk's Bunch. This cadre of freeloaders (they haven't paid their own way any place since their eighth grade went to the zoo) should sit down at their PC and keep quiet. Hootie Johnson and his guys may still be living in the 19th century. That is their right. We don't believe their philosophy gives Martha Burk carte blanche harassment rights. Unfortunately it's those freeloading reporters' bosses who fan the flames. Once they were reporters, too. Hopefully, this will all blow over Sunday after Jim Furyk beats Ernie Els and Tiger Woods in a three-way playoff for Hootie's Green Jacket. Lord, let's hope so. See below. CURVES AND MORE Wisconsin's State Senate last month approved a bill, 18-13, that lets fitness centers limit memberships to a specific gender. Curves for Women, which has 12 exercise centers in Brown County alone, sought the relief after it was threatened with lawsuits for violating some guy's civil rights. We hope the bill passes the Assembly and is signed by the governor. Private organizations, under the first amendment, should have the privilege to set their own boundaries. In disagreement? Call Martha B.