Pine Valley Golf Club to allow female members

More than 100 years after Pine Valley Golf Club opened, the private club long considered among the best in the world has decided to allow women to join.

The websites of Golf Digest and Golf magazine, which both have employees who are members of Pine Valley, reported on the club’s vote to allow women. According to an email obtained by the websites, club president Jim Davis wrote to members on Friday that “the future of golf must move toward inclusion.”

“And I am pleased to report that the Trustees and members of the Pine Valley Golf Club have voted unanimously and with enthusiasm to remove all gender-specific language from our bylaws,” the email said.

Pine Valley, designed by Philadelphia hotelier George Crump, is located about 20 miles southeast of Philadelphia and long has been rated, with a few exceptions, the No. 1 course in America.

Women previously could play only as guests on Sunday afternoon.

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