The annual event is not just for men, but never before has a girl participated in it.
In 2024, in Cleveland, Mississippi, at the Cleveland Country Club, a woman was denied entry to an annual tournament. “The golf professional admits that he doesn’t say anywhere that it is a men-only tournament, but a girl had never played in the tournament before,” said the mother of the excluded player.
The mother’s social media post explains that the family participated in the event and has been part of the tournament family for decades. “We have made this a tradition and meet annually to catch up, drive around campus, see what new restaurants have been added, how the city has grown/changed, and what is still there since we were there.”
“This year, my husband’s regular tournament partner couldn’t play because he is participating in his niece’s wedding, so Stephen needed to find a temporary partner. Insert Lauren, our daughter would be home for the first summer in a while,” explains mom Chelle Gross.
They fill out the usual paperwork, make travel plans, and reserve rooms for a nice family weekend to meet up with old friends and continue a tradition. On Thursday morning they receive a phone call telling them that Lauren would not be allowed to play.
“We ask why? “She’s a girl, that’s the only reason given,” Gross said.
Mama Gross said, “Then we proceed to ask if we missed anything. Does it say anywhere that it is a Men’s Tournament? Does it say only for men? The golf pro admits that nowhere does it indicate that this is a men-only tournament, but a girl had never played in the tournament before.”
“My husband explains that if he had said it was a men’s tournament, he would never have asked him to play. He explained that we are okay with tournaments only for men or women, and he didn’t know that women weren’t allowed to play. None of the people who usually play with them believed that she wouldn’t be welcome. Stephen explained how wrong he felt the club was for the decision, but also for calling less than 24 hours before leaving town to travel to Cleveland. He explained that Lauren wasn’t expecting special treatment and that she would play in men’s jerseys like everyone else. “She just wanted to play.”
The Country Club asked for some time to discuss it and shortly after called back to say the decision would stand and that Lauren cannot play. According to Gross, the Country Club said they did not want to open that “can of worms.”
A member of the country club board of directors who was an old schoolmate of Stephen’s made a call to the family. The board member asked for some time to discuss it with the rest of the board.
Yesterday, the day before the event, around 10:15 am, the Country Club’s final decision was that Lauren would not be able to play.
Robert of the Cleveland Country Club Pro Shop spoke briefly with the Vicksburg Daily News and asked to speak with the Head Pro, who was not available. Robert did not have a phone number for the Head Pro. Robert offered, “I can tell you that the situation has been addressed with the appropriate people and taken care of and that is the only comment that can be made.” When asked directly if that meant Lauren was allowed to play, Robert said: “She’s not playing, no sir.”
The Country Club is open to women, has women’s events, and currently features a woman on their social media profile.
One person commented: “He should have told them he identified as a man. “They should have let her play!!!” Chelle Gross responded: “She would never falsely represent herself. That wouldn’t be right. “She took him like a man and they went golfing at Mallard Point.”
For her part, Lauren wants everyone to know that she’s okay, but this story needs to be told. Mama Chelle said, “She thinks it happened to her for a reason.”
________________________________________________________
At the time of publication, Head Pro had not contacted the Vicksburg Daily News.
See a typo? Report it here.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.