Even the Christian Science Monitor asked: Was it a coincidence that President Obama asked a female staffer to join him on the golf course yesterday or a move to squelch media criticism? via NewscomTrust me, POTUS can say “bunk” to growing criticisms of the real role of women in his administration, but it was no accident that Melody C. Barnes, his chief domestic policy adviser (referred to as a white house aide in much of the press), played golf with the president Sunday afternoon, with two other men.

Every woman knows that what happens on the golf course and in the locker room is where networking relationships are made. One of my Wall Street friends assures me that the golf course is always the place where real deals are made, even moreso in the digital age where speaking privately is next to impossible.

Initially White House spokesman Bill Burton challenged Chicago Sun-Times Lynn Sweet’s assertion that this was President Obama’s first female golfing partner since he became president. Madame Sweet is correct.

No word yet on whether or not we’ll see women on POTUS’s basketball court. Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius played basketball for Trinity University in Washington, D.C. She’s number 21 in the above photo.

President Barack Obama, center, shakes hands with his golf partners outside of the main residence of the White House on Sunday before the start of a busy week today. May 31, 2009 via APMake no mistake, many women are examining the Obama Administration with a more critical eye when it comes to positions filled and policy making.

Sports is just the visible metaphor for a more intense scrutiny of women in the whole White House shooting match.

Melody Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council breaks through the President’s greens ceiling for a round of golf.I agree with new NOW president Terry O’Neill who says: “It’s extremely important now especially for the president to have as many women as men in his closest circle of advisors. … If women had been at the heads of the companies on Wall Street instead of these masters of the universe then we might not be in the predicament that we’re in today.” She says the ratio “needs to be 50/50. Women are 52 percent of the voting public so obviously there needs to be 50/50 of any Cabinet.” via ABC News

Mind you, American women must want to serve in politics and survive the “take no prisoners, every thought you ever had is public fodder campaign” style of American politics.

I could not, which is why I refused to run for office in when approached by the Village Democrats 20 years ago. If writing sexy stories about eating dates gets me in trouble, I can’t imagine a political campaign.

Another clarification on the Obama Administration. They have seven women in key posts; President Clinton had six.

I don’t believe this is so much to crow about, given Hillary’s active and enthusiastically involved — if sometimes controversial — role as First Lady.

I hope that Helen Thomas asks the next question: Did President Obama ever play golf with a woman before Melody Barnes? Just curious. Anne