A group appearing to be mocking a golf club’s initiative to get more women playing the sport have been suspended from the prestigious club for treating staff with “disrespect”.
The incident, according to a video obtained by the Herald Sun, took place at one of Victoria’s most esteemed golf clubs and host of the annual Victorian Open, 13th Beach Golf Links.
Earlier this year, 13th Beach introduced a membership incentive for women, granting access to two exclusive courses reserved for women members.
In what seemed to be a test of the policy, aimed at boosting diversity and inclusion within the club, a person dressed in a skirt and a blonde wig – confirmed to be a member of the 13th Beach Golf Links in Victoria – approached staff with “disrespect” to inquire about the deal.
“It’s not Jerry? Kerry is it?” the person behind the camera asked the member dressed in the wig and skirt.
“Yes,” they replied, “I’m identifying as a female now and I’m just about to inquire about the new membership deal.”
The pair then walk to the front desk of the club, telling the reception staff they “now identify as female” and wanted to “inquire about the new membership deal”.
The staff awkwardly laughed it off and told the members they needed to “go to the right people” if they wanted “to have a discussion”.
According to the Herald Sun report, three members, including the pair involved in the video, have been temporarily suspended from 13th Beach over the incident.
General manager of the venue Rob Hurley told the masthead the group “treated staff with disrespect, filmed them without their consent and then published that video on a messaging service”. The suspension, according to Hurley’s statement, “did not relate to the chosen attire of the members”.
Weighing in on the issue, Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said golf is “a sport for all” and “people should feel welcome and included in our golf community”, condemning the stunt from the members at 13th Beach.
“We strongly support the initiative of 13th Beach Golf Links in seeking to grow and diversify its membership base,” Sutherland said.
“Behaviour that opposes golf’s ambition to become more inclusive, whether it be with women, juniors, people with a disability or those from culturally diverse backgrounds, only reinforces the perception that golf is stuck in the past and refuses to change.
“Such behaviour should not be tolerated and should be challenged by the broader golfing community.”