Public hearing planned on case involving Grandview Golf Club
Sandra Thompson, right, speaks alongside Sandra Harrison, both golfers and members of a group of local women known as Sisters in the Fairway, during an interview with The Associated Press, Tuesday April 24, 2018 in York, Pa. Officials at the Grandview Golf Club in York called police on the group Saturday, accusing them of playing too slowly and holding up others behind them. On Sunday club co-owner JJ Chronister told the York Daily Record she called the women personally to “sincerely apologize.” (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma)
(Undated) — The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission is investigating the Grandview Golf Club incident from last month when five black women were asked to leave the course and cops were called twice.
A hearing will be held in York County at a date and time to be determined. The commission is still looking for a location, according to Executive Director Chad Lassiter.
“I think that’s great,” said Sandra Thompson, one of the women who was asked to leave the golf course.
The incident drew national attention and calls for an investigation from Gov. Tom Wolf and state Sens. Art Haywood, Vincent Hughes and Anthony Williams.
On April 21, Northern York County Regional Police were called twice on the group of golfers because of alleged slow play, though other golfers on the course have defended the women and said they were keeping proper pace of the game.
The five women who say they faced racial and gender discrimination at the Dover Township golf course include Thompson, 50, president of the York branch of the NAACP and a former candidate for county judge; Myneca Ojo, 56; sisters Sandra Harrison, 59, and Carolyn Dow, 56; and Karen Crosby, 58.
The women were at the second hole the first time police were called at 11:24 a.m. Grandview management called police a second time, at 1:26 p.m. that day, just as the women were reaching the 10th hole.
Former York County Commissioner Steve Chronister, his son Jordan and other employees approached Thompson and Ojo, saying they had five minutes to leave and the police had been called, Thompson said. They were also offered checks to refund their memberships.
Police met with the women and course management and determined there was not a police issue, Chief Mark Bentzel said.
The women left, and no charges were filed.
Thompson and the other women have talked about what happened that day multiple times, recently saying healing starts with a public apology.
Grandview initially issued a statement on its Facebook page, saying the incident “does not reflect our organization’s values or our commitment to delivering a welcoming environment for everyone. We are disappointed that this situation occurred and regret that our members were made to feel uncomfortable in any way.”
The course then issued another statement defending its original actions: “During the second conversation we asked members to leave as per our policy noted on the scorecard, voices escalated, and police were called to ensure an amicable resolution.”
Steve Chronister on April 30 said he hoped to make a public statement soon. A week later, he said it still wasn’t time. He since has not responded to requests for comment.
The attorney for the golf course didn’t return calls seeking comment.
This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The York Daily Record.
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