130-Year-Old Men’s Club Agrees to Admit Women

The Olympic Club, a 130-year-old refuge for affluent white men, has agreed to admit women following years of legal wrangling with the city, both sides in the historic agreement said Tuesday.

“I wish that we had been able to achieve this years ago . . . and without a lawsuit,” City Atty. Louise Renne said. “I hope this sends a message to private clubs throughout San Francisco and the nation that they cannot exclude members because they are women or minorities.”

Several all-male and all-female clubs endure in San Francisco despite a city ordinance that outlaws discrimination based on race or sex. Renne said she hoped the Olympic Club deal will help break other barriers.

Bob Kane, attorney for the Olympic Club, said the agreement was accepted Monday by the organization’s board of directors. He said he believed the entire membership would very likely have approved the plan despite the fact that the membership had rejected several previous proposals to admit women.

“Yes, there are some members who wouldn’t like it, but I think a majority would have agreed with the settlement,” Kane said. “There are members who are ready to propose some women for membership.”

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who was a club member before he went to Washington, long sought to admit women, Kane said.

Renne said the club must “accelerate” admission of females within 60 days, giving their applications top priority.

The city filed a lawsuit against the club in 1987, threatening to kick it off 17.3 acres of golf course property that is owned by the city but leased by the club.

Two years ago, the Olympic Club admitted its first two black members although the club had changed its bylaws in 1968 from limiting membership to “only white male citizens” to “only male citizens.”

Kane said the 6,000-member club has about a dozen black members, and that Latinos and Asians have long been admitted. Initiation dues are $3,000 to $5,000, not counting annual membership fees.