PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A South Jersey golf club, perennially ranked by Golf Digest as America's top golf course, is getting hit with a civil lawsuit by New Jersey’s acting attorney general. The suit follows accusations of discrimination against women.
The Division on Civil Rights complaint against the Pine Valley Golf Club in Camden County alleges a pattern of gender discrimination by the historically male-dominated club.
Acting Attorney General Matt Platkin announced the suit Wednesday, citing an “extensive history of past Law Against Discrimination (LAD) violations” at the club which was founded in 1918.
He says they banned women from becoming members, restricting their ability to golf and access club facilities. The club relaxed their policies when the investigation started, allowing women to become members and play the course without restrictions in late April 2021.
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The complaint further alleges that women were prevented from owning houses on the land, and the club encated a pattern of discriminatory employment policies.
As of July 2021, only three women were members of the 700-member club – less than 0.5% of its overall membership.
Women also make up fewer than 4% of employees, working only in domestic positions such as dishwashers, food, and laundry workers.
“Gender-based discrimination has no place in New Jersey, period,” said Platkin.
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“Our Division on Civil Rights is committed to rooting out unlawful discrimination and holding accountable those who violate our laws.”
“New Jersey will not tolerate policies or practices that discriminate on the basis of gender, including those that perpetuate the effects of past discrimination,” said DCR Deputy Director Rosemary DiSavino.
KYW Newrsadio reached out to the club’s management for comment, but as of Wednesday afternoon, they had not responded.
Golf Digest picked Pine Valley as the number one-ranked course in America 29 times since 1985.
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