Golf club calls police to evict group of black women 'playing too slowly'

PENNSYLVANIA: A golf club in Pennsylvania called police for an unusual ‘happening’ – a group of black women were playing ‘too slowly’ and the club couldn’t stand it.

The five women, all members of Grandview Golf Club in Pennsylvania, had refused to leave the course at the request of its owners, who claimed they were not keeping up with the pace of play.

The group have accused the club, in York County, of racial and sexual discrimination.

“It was a horrific experience,” one of the women, Myneca Ojo, told the York Daily Record. “I felt like we were discriminated against.” Ms Ojo had met four friends to play a round of golf on Saturday.

At the second hole a former local politician, Steve Chronister, whose white son co-owns the club, twice approached them to complain they were playing too slow.

In golfing etiquette, slow-moving players let groups behind them overtake if they are holding things up, and courses often have staff who monitor the pace of play and let golfers know when they are taking too long.

One of the five women, Sandra Harrison, spoke with a professional golfer at Grandview who said her group was causing no problems as they were keeping pace with the group ahead of them.

Despite that, the women skipped the third hole to avoid further issues, she said.

In a video posted online by one of the women, lawyer Sandra Thompson, she is heard arguing they had taken an appropriate break and pointing out the men behind were drinking beer and not ready to tee off.

“Please remove yourself from our premises in the next five minutes,” owner Jordan Chronister tells her. “We have asked you three times now… and you have yet to remove yourself.”

Another man adds: “The authorities have been called.”

The women waited for the arrival of police officers, who conducted interviews before leaving without taking action.

Later the club apologized for its behavior.

Co-owner of the club, JJ Chronister, the wife of Jordan Chronister, said she had called the women to apologise.

“Several of our members had an experience that does not reflect our organisation’s values or our commitment to delivering a welcoming environment for everyone,” the club said in a statement.

“We are disappointed that this situation occurred and regret that our members were made to feel uncomfortable in any way.”