Hollywood GC Passes “Historic” Resolution to Eliminate Gender Bias

Starting with the 2020 season, women will have the same rights and playing privileges for golf and tennis at the 121-year-old Deal, N.J. club, with no prescribed times for full-privilege members on the course or courts that are limited to male, female or mixed play, except for prescribed tournaments. “This is a path-breaking occurrence,” said GM/COO Salil Bokil.

At its 121^st annual meeting on August 15, the Board of Trustees of Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, N.J. passed what its General Manager/COO, Salil S. Bokil, CCM, described as an “historic” resolution to eliminate any gender-based bias for golf and tennis play at the club.

“Starting with the 2020 season, women will have the same rights and playing privileges” at Hollywood GC, Bokil said. “This is a path-breaking occurrence, at least at the clubs in the Northeast.”

The full language of the resolution passed by the Hollywood GC Board read as follows:

“Whereas the membership of Hollywood Golf Club, by representation of the vote and action of the Board of Trustees, wishes to eliminate any membership categories defined or restricted by gender,and;

“Whereas the Club will no longer have prescribed times for use of the golf course or tennis courts limited to male, female or mixed play, with the exception of listed tournaments, and;

“Whereas the same privileges will be extended to all Full Privilege Golf Memberships regardless of gender effective January 1, 2020, and;

“Whereas the Golf Committee for each respective program and play for Men’s and Women’s Golf will be held separate and maintained in accordance with the By-Laws of Hollywood Golf Club;

“Therefore, Be It Resolved, that on the 15th of August in the year 2019 the Board of Trustees of Hollywood Golf Club have voted in the affirmative to have no restrictions of access to facilities placed upon any person based upon gender, or gender identity, that would limit or restrict access and participation in events for golf and tennis.

“Reference to access to the course or courts by gender shall be stricken from any rules and policies of the club. Restrictions for use of the Club and facilities will only be limited by the membership category held by the member and as defined by the Board of Trustees.

“The Tennis Committee, Men’s Golf Committee and Ladies’ Golf Committee will still manage their respective competitions and work together to ensure that their respective scheduling of events and competitions, and use of the course and courts, are fairly and reasonably accessible to all members, regardless of gender.”

The resolution follows other significant recent developments at Hollywood GC, Bokil reported, that have included:

• Achieving a waitlist for Golf members
• “Right-sizing” to achieve a profitable food-and-beverage operation
• Instituting a Young Professionals drive, to increase from under 10 to a current total of 60 members under the age of 40
• Completing various capital projects that have included facelifts to the main clubhouse and ladies locker room, and the construction of a new patio and two tennis courts, all with no assessments to the membership.
• Improving the ranking of the club’s golf course, which has been consistently ranked among the country’s top-100 classic courses, from 96 to 81 for 2019.