State agency accuses Pine Valley Golf Club of discrimination against women

TRENTON – A state agency has filed a civil rights lawsuit against Pine Valley Golf Club, accusing the South Jersey institution of widespread discrimination against women.

Pine Valley, known as one of the nation's most exclusive golf clubs, violated state law for years "by banning women from becoming members and by otherwise restricting their ability to golf and access club facilities," contends the Division on Civil Rights.

A club representative could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The division acknowledged Pine Valley dropped its prohibition on female members and removed other restrictions by the spring of 2021, but said it did so "only when faced with DCR's investigation."

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Among other claims, the agency says the club used "discriminatory restrictive covenants to prevent women from owning (any of the 19) houses on the club’s land unless they co-own a house with a man."

It also said the club's employment practices discriminated against both women and men.

For instance, it said, job-recruiting occurred mostly through word-of-mouth referrals from a largely male workforce, which “deprived people who do not identify as men of the opportunity to learn of employment opportunities."

It also claimed the club barred employees from discussing their pay, a violation of state law.

The division said women make up only 4 percent of the club's employees, with most employed as dishwashers, laundry workers and luncheonette staffers.

It also noted "a continued dearth" of female members.

It said three women were among the club's 700 members as of July 2021, "less than 0.5 percent of its overall membership.:

The division acknowledged private clubs like Pine Valley are exempt from the state's protections against discrimination in places of public accommodation.

But it claims Pine Valley can't invoke that shield "because the club was so deeply intertwined with the former borough of Pine Valley."

The borough, which covered less than an acre, merged into neighboring Pine Hill around the beginning of this year.

Prior to the merger, the 108-year-old club "owned all land in the borough of Pine Valley; effectively controlled its operations; and was the primary recipient of services and benefits provided by its government," the division said.

Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Suit: Pine Valley Golf Club had bias against female golfers, workers