S.F. Files Bias Suit Against 127-Year-Old Club

SAN FRANCISCO — A sex and racial discrimination suit has been filed against the 127-year-old Olympic Club by San Francisco, which owns the land occupied by three holes of the club’s golf course, site of the 1987 U.S. Open.

Controversy arose during the tournament because the club, established in 1860, has no black or female members. City Atty. Louise Renne said Monday that in subsequent negotiations, the Olympic’s Board of Directors agreed to submit to its 4,000 members a proposal calling for women and minorities to be eligible for immediate membership instead of being required to spend four or five years on a waiting list.

The members rejected the proposal, and Renne’s husband, Paul, resigned his membership.

‘Enforce the Law’

“It’s unfortunate that we have to go to court at all,” Renne said. “The law says that organizations like the Olympic Club cannot discriminate, and I intend to enforce the law.”

The suit was filed Monday and alleges that the club’s lease of 17 acres from the city for three golf course holes and part of another is being disregarded because of the discrimination. The suit also says the club is violating the state’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination by businesses or by clubs operating as businesses.

The state of California is listed as one of the plaintiffs.

Similar controversy arose 20 years ago, and in January, 1968, the club dropped its formal policy of racial segregation. But Renne told a news conference that very few of the members are from minority groups and not one is black.

The suit seeks a court order requiring the club to stop its discrimination practices and to begin immediately to accept women and black members.

Some members have suggested that the city take back its land and forget the whole thing, but Renne said that cannot be done.

‘Violates State Law’

“Because the Olympic Club is a business enterprise, their discrimination violates state law with or without a city lease,” she said.