Country Club Accused of Bias

Posted April 2nd, 2010 at 9:20 am in Golf Courses, Golf News

Our friends at Phoenix Country Club are up to their old tricks again, drawing accusations of discriminatory practices. It's the second time in the past three years that the club has come under scrutiny involving discrimination.

In the first instance, a 2007 complaint launched an investigation by the Arizona Attorney General's Office's Civil Rights Division over the club's long-standing tradition of separate drinking and dining facilities for men and women members. After a protracted battle, the club ended up losing that one and opened up their dining facilities to all.

This time a female club member has filed suit in court, claiming that the club's board members breached their contract with her by taking full membership dues and failing to offer her the same services as men members. She alleges that the club's female members are no longer able to play in tournaments. This lady decided she had had enough, resigned, and asked for her dues back. No way says the club.

My question to the board of Phoenix Country Club is, what is it about discrimination that you don't get? In this brave new world of political correctness you would think that these country clubbers would have it figured out by now. I have heard that most of the board there are attorneys and maybe that explains why they like to litigate so much but it must be costing the members plenty. Why not just give the lady back her money and get on with it?

Can anyone out there tell me why they would want another discrimination case lodged against them? Especially since they lost the first one! Does anyone out there feel that the club's board has a right to restrict ladies involvement in tournaments?