Golf club grounds keeper claims age discrimination

"It also is unlawful to retaliate against an individual for opposing employment practices that discriminate based on age or for filing an age discrimination charge, testifying or participating in any way in an investigation, proceeding or litigation under the ADEA."

From the Hawk Eye

Golf club grounds keeper claims age discrimination
By JOHN MANGALONZO

A former Burlington Golf Club employee has filed a civil rights lawsuit against his former employer and two of its board members, alleging he was forced to resign due to his age.

Meanwhile, the golf club has filed a counterclaim, insisting Larry Albertsen has breached their contract and made promises to the board, which he did not fulfill.

The board has denied anything illegal - let alone discriminatory practices - took place.

The two board members mentioned in the lawsuit are Diane Sanders and Lorrin DeBlieck, who also was the greens chairman. Neither could be reached for comment Tuesday.

The petition originally was presented to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, which issued a right to sue.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of age with respect to terms, condition, or privilege of employment, including hiring, firing, promotion, layoff, compensation, benefits, assignments and training. The act allows employers to favor older workers, even when doing so adversely affects a younger worker who is 40 or older.

It also is unlawful to retaliate against an individual for opposing employment practices that discriminate based on age or for filing an age discrimination charge, testifying or participating in any way in an investigation, proceeding or litigation under the ADEA.

For the rest of the story click here.
On 7/28/71, Jack Sarver, temple member and member of the Tucson Jewish Community Council, sent a letter to the Tucson Country Club, the area’s oldest and most prestigious country club, alleging discrimination in member policies. He then sent an open letter to the Arizona Star, addressed to the citizens of Tucson , demanding an end to public events at the club. After a series of meetings between the council and the club, Sarver received a letter stating TCC would no longer discriminate in the screening of new applicants.

Not much has changed over the years..........

Golfer Wade Morris is a victim of religious discrimination
By Jill Painter, Staff Writer

SUNLAND - Five women stood on the sidewalk just outside Angeles National Golf Club on Wednesday morning with rally signs and Israeli flags.

One sign read: "Where's Wade Morris?"

The small group was protesting the absence of golfer Morris, a former driving range manager at Angeles National, from the PGA Tour qualifying event there for the Northern Trust Open.

Angeles National was one of the Southern California courses where golfers had the opportunity to play in a qualifier for next week's professional event at Riviera Country Club.

Brenda Morris, Wade's mother, held the sign questioning his whereabouts. Last year, Morris - who is Jewish - filed a discrimination complaint against Angeles National before the qualifying tournament. His attorney, Ann Hull, said he was told he could not play at the course, which was used as a qualifying event by the PGA.

For the rest of the story click here.

"In the end antiblack, antifemale, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing - antihumanism.” ~ Shirley Chisholm

“Prejudice, not being founded on reason, cannot be removed by argument” ~ Samuel Johnson
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Elaine Joyce wins golf discrimination suit

Elaine Joyce, champion amateur golfer has been awarded $15,000 by a jury in the federal discrimination suit she filed because she was denied a chance to play in a men’s tournament at a public course. Joyce has a single-digit handicap and has won multiple tournaments.

Her goal wasn’t financial, but ending gender discrimination at public courses. However, the golf world is minimizing the importance of her victory in their continuing attempt to marginalize women in the sport. They are focusing on the monetary award amount which was much less than she sought.

It was a major victory for women in the sport. Joyce sued the town of Dennis after she was told she couldn’t partner with her father in a 2007 men’s tournament at the Dennis Pines Golf Course.
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University of Minnesota discrimination lawsuit: Harris resigns, women give testimony

Gopher’s Golf Director Resigns Amid Lawsuit

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The golf director at the University of Minnesota accused of firing a coach because she’s lesbian is resigning. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports John Harris is leaving effective July 1.
 For the rest of the article click here.

In suit by lesbian U golf coach, claims of bias are met with denials

Two University of Minnesota women's golfers have testified that swing instructor Ernie Rose told them last fall that former golf director John Harris considered sexual orientation when hiring assistant coach Kathryn Brenny and prohibited her from staying with the team on the road after learning she was lesbian - an accusation Rose and Harris explicitly deny. For the rest of the article click here.
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Many of the same people who believe that segregated dining and the denial of equal access to women is acceptable are many of the same people who employ and determine the wages of many of people, including females. One could reasonably assume that segregated dining reflects their view of the value of women.At this time and place, this is not the most pressing issue our communities face, no doubt. More and more children are going to bed hungry. People are losing their businesses and jobs left and right. Our kids need equal access to safe quality public schools and more community involvement in them. Clearly there are more pressing matters and people deserving of our attention. However, discrimination should never be ignored and the effects of it are communitywide.

The deliberate subjugation of women, is simply unacceptable anywhere at any time. We urge people to avoid the trap of blaming the victims. For some it is easy to ignore or trivialize the plight of a few fortunate women, but realize as you marginalize them that you marginalize every person who is the victim of the economic effects of the Club's discriminatory practices and the discrimination it fosters throughout our community.

It is exactly the sort of tacit approval granted to gentlemen at country clubs by those who claim to be evolved, enlightened, or fair minded in town that leads to the development and acceptance of potentially discriminatory laws.

"In the face of an obstacle which it is impossible to overcome, stubbornness is stupid." ~Simone de Beauvior

Tucson Weekly: The local Women's Commission backs a complaint against the Tucson Country Club

by Mari Herreras

When women go to the Tucson Country Club, they can enter every building at the members-only golf club—except for the one everyone calls the men's grill. Some say that's gender-based… for the rest of the article click here.
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And on it goes

Tucson Country Club faces second discrimination claim

Bradley S. Klein June 4, 2010

Kenneth J. Costich II, a decorated infantry officer of the Vietnam War, has filed a claim with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office alleging discrimination by Tucson Country Club. The filing – the second pending discrimination claim against the club – alleges that as a public accommodation, the club violated his civil rights on the basis of his………….

For the rest of the story go to Golfweek……

(correction to Golfweek article, there are three complaints pending)

Visit the Legal Issues Page

STATE OF ARIZONA ANNE TITUS HILBY

DEPARTMENT OF LAW PRESS SECRETARY

1275 W. WASHINGTON STREET

PHONE: (602) 542-8019

PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85007-2926

WWW.AZAG.GOV ANNE.HILBY@AZAG.GOV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phoenix Country Club Agrees to Stop Sex-Based Discrimination

(Phoenix, Ariz. – January 21, 2009) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the settlement of a landmark lawsuit against the Phoenix Country Club (PCC) in which the club agrees to drop all sex-based discrimination in its dining facilities.

The State’s lawsuit, filed last September, alleged that PCC violated the Arizona Civil Rights Act’s public accommodations provision prohibiting sex-based discrimination by refusing to serve women in its Men’s Grill. The suit further alleged that the club retaliated against Logan and Barbara Van Sittert when they voiced opposition to PCC’s segregation policy and filed a charge of discrimination with the Attorney General’s Office.

“During this week of celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, we are proud to eliminate one more vestige of discrimination from a bygone era,” Goddard said. “I also want to recognize the courage of Logan and Barbara Van Sittert in bringing this issue forward.”

Under the agreement, upon the reopening of its indoor dining facilities in February when extensive renovations are completed, PCC will open all of its dining facilities, including the Men’s Grill and Women’s Grill, to all members, members’ families and club guests and will not discriminate in providing any dining accommodations, advantages or privileges on the basis of sex.

PCC will also amend its internal rules to reflect this policy change and will send out a notice to its members advising that the club’s dining facilities are, without condition, open to all members, members’ families and guests and that anyone seeking to interfere with this change in policy will be in violation of club rules.

In addition, the agreement prohibits PCC from discriminating against the Van Sitterts for complaining about the sex discrimination in the Grills, for filing a charge of discrimination with the Attorney General’s Office and for assisting the Attorney General with its lawsuit.

The State’s lawsuit alleged that PCC fit the legal definition of a public accommodation. In the agreement, PCC says that it has made over recent months changes to its policies, procedures and practices to operate as a private club. The State accepts PCC’s representation that it has taken steps to operate as a private club upon its planned reopening next month.

""When powerful people send the message that sex discrimination is no big deal, even at a golf club, it's a short leap to the idea that a little pay discrimination is ok too, not to mention a pat on the butt at work. After all, it's just the girls. They shouldn't be so sensitive about these things." ~ Dr. Martha Burk

When deciding whether or not a complaint of discrimination against your country club is worth your time and effort, consider a few pertinent items. There are bigger issues here that do impact your entire community, not just club members.

"Many of the same people who believe that segregated dining and the denial of equal access to women is acceptable are many of the same people who employ and determine the wages of many of your community's residents, including female residents. One could reasonably assume that the Men's Grill policy reflects their view of the value of women. Discrimination should never be ignored and the effects of it are communitywide.

The deliberate subjugation of women, is simply unacceptable anywhere at any time. We urge people to avoid the trap of blaming the victims. For some it is easy to ignore or trivialize the plight of a few fortunate women, but realize as you marginalize them that you marginalize every person who is the victim of the economic effects of country clubs' discriminatory practices and the discrimination it fosters throughout your community.

If you believe that your club is a public accomodation due to the leadership’s decision to rely on nonmember events to survive, consider filing a discrimination claim with the Attorney General in your state.

"In the face of an obstacle which it is impossible to overcome, stubbornness is stupid." ~Simone de Beauvior

"La Sangre se hereda y la virtud se aquista.” ~ Don Quixote

Dr. Martha Burk from the Huffington Post........

One More Black Eye for Arizona

We know Arizona has been in the news lately for it's "hunt-'em-down-and-make-'em-show-their-papers" law aimed at brown people, most of them also poor. Discrimination at its rawest.

Members of the genteel country club set are no doubt holding their noses and trying to ignore the stink the state's action has created around the country. Meanwhile, discrimination of another stripe continues on those hallowed golf greens. Both the Tucson Country Club and the Phoenix Country Club, sites of U.S. Open qualifying rounds this week and next, continue to discriminate against women in tee times and use of club facilities, some 60% of which are reserved for men only.

Yeah, I know they can't actually deport women, so many would say there's no comparison with the racial profiling that's bound to occur with the new anti-immigrant law. But women have been openly gender-profiled, and publicly declared second class citizens by both clubs. And by continuing to discriminate against women and telling the world "we do it because we can," as a former Country Club president said recently, they send a message that sex discrimination doesn't matter.

So what? It's only a game of golf, after all..... for the rest of the story go to the Huffington Post.
There has been resistance from lawyers because the rules contain a cultural change...” ~ Thomas Zlaket

"Your Honor, in an interview with a law publication, you stated that lawyers will resist new rules because they require a cultural change, well the change we are asking for has already been accepted by the surrounding society. The rest of society already thinks it is not okay to discriminate. This will only take a subcultural change." ~ Loretta Hunnicutt