(Embarrassingly) Pine Valley Decides To (Finally) Admit Women As Members

Nice work by Golf.com’s Josh Sens to get the email to members announcing the move but gosh what bizarre story to read in 2021. Particularly given Pine Valley’s place atop course rankings and as a bastion of American leaders, including some who touted their progressive and inclusive work policies.

From Sens’ report on club president Jim Davis’ email to members:

“The future of golf must move toward inclusion,” the email continued, “and I am pleased to report that the Trustees and members of the Pine Valley Golf Club voted unanimously and with enthusiasm to remove all gender-specific language from our bylaws.”

Davis said that the club “will begin immediately identifying women candidates for membership” and expected to have its first female members by the end of the year.

In keeping with club custom, Davis said, prospective members would have to be deemed socially compatible, deeply passionate about golf and skilled enough to play the course “with the skill level our founder George Crump intended.”

And another suggestion: pretend you like Tom Fazio’s 12th hole disaster.

Davis elaborated on the decision with this anecdote:

“On a persona note, I have been thinking about this for a long time and, frankly, it’s overdue,” wrote Davis, who went on to recount a conversation he’d once had with a fellow member while on the course.

As they were walking up the 15th hole, that member had said to Davis, “Remember, we don’t want to be on the wrong side of history.”

To which the caddie in the group popped a contact lens from a particularly pronounced eyeroll.