Man who called police on black women golfers denies racism

A man who called police on five black female players at a Pennsylvania golf club told a 911 dispatcher that the women were unarmed ‘other than their mouths’ and denied that he was acting out of racism.

Audio of the two 911 calls was released on Wednesday after the incident sparked outrage when it unfolded at the Grandview Golf Club in York on April 21.

Steve Chronister, whose son Jordan is a co-owner at the golf club, called police twice after the women were accused of holding up other golfers by playing too slowly on the course. 

‘Other than her mouth, there’s no weapons,’ Chronister repeatedly told the dispatcher when asked if the women were armed, according to the audio obtained by the York Daily Record.

Steve Chronister called police on five black female players on April 21 after they were accused of playing too slowly at the Grandview Golf Club in York, Pennsylvania

‘We have a tough situation here with a group of golfers that decide they don’t want to abide by the rules.’

The dispatcher had to clarify that the women were ‘literally just standing by the hole’. 

Chronister, who is a former York County Commissioner, made a second call when the women had completed nine holes.

He told the dispatcher that one of the women had accused the club of racism. 

‘We’re not being racist. We’re being golf course management that has to have play moving a certain way,’ he said in the call. 

Sandra Thompson, 50, Myneca Ojo, 56, sisters Sandra Harrison, 59, and Carolyn Dow, 56, and Karen Crosby, 58, had met at the club that morning to play a round.

All five women were club members and described the ordeal, which began at the second hole, as demeaning and discriminatory. 

Sandra Thompson, 50, Myneca Ojo, 56, sisters Sandra Harrison, 59, and Carolyn Dow, 56, and Karen Crosby, 58, had met at the club that morning to play a round

Sandra Thompson, 50, Myneca Ojo, 56, sisters Sandra Harrison, 59, and Carolyn Dow, 56, and Karen Crosby, 58, had met at the club that morning to play a round

All five women were members of the club (pictured above) and described the ordeal, which began at the second hole, as demeaning and discriminatory

All five women were members of the club (pictured above) and described the ordeal, which began at the second hole, as demeaning and discriminatory

Sandra Thompson (right) and Sandra Harrison (left) said they were rattled and hurt when they were run off the course for playing too slowly

Sandra Thompson (right) and Sandra Harrison (left) said they were rattled and hurt when they were run off the course for playing too slowly

Harrison said she felt traumatized, rattled and hurt when representatives of the Grandview Golf Club told them they were playing too slowly. 

Chronister, whose son and daughter-in-law own the golf club, is a former York County Commissioner

Chronister, whose son and daughter-in-law own the golf club, is a former York County Commissioner

‘It was like we were playing with targets on our backs,’ Harrison said at the time. ‘What other reason could there be other than we were guilty of being black while golfing?’ 

The next time the women were approached after the ninth hole, they said they were told that police had been called and they needed to leave the club. 

Police questioned the women but did not take it any further. No charges were filed as a result of the incident. 

Chronister had told police that he was the owner of the club but he only has an advisory role there. 

The club is run by his son Jordan and daughter-in-law JJ.  

Grandview Golf Club issued an apology following the ordeal and JJ said she called the women to personally apologize. 

The club is run by his son Jordan and daughter-in-law JJ (above). Grandview Golf Club issued an apology following the ordeal and JJ said she called the women to personally apologize

The club is run by his son Jordan and daughter-in-law JJ (above). Grandview Golf Club issued an apology following the ordeal and JJ said she called the women to personally apologize



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