I took my two small hungry children to Brier Creek Country Club (of which I was a member) on a…read moreSunday afternoon dressed in shorts and a T-shirt.
I was denied entry into Deke's (the ground floor bar and restaurant) "Because I was wearing a T-shirt, which didn't meet the new dress code".
I looked in disbelieve at that moment, to see two gentlemen actually wearing T-shirts, at which time I asked to speak to the manager. The lady fired back, "I AM the manager", at which time I asked to speak to a higher level manager, as two others were wearing T-shirts. She resisted to get the higher level manager, and continued to argue that that was their new dress code, at which time I asked again to speak "to the higher level manager". She resisted again, so I asked again. She then replied, "Don't yell at me", which was a fabrication, and went to get the Food and Beverage Director. She was obviously angry because I asked to speak to the higher level manager.
The Food and Beverage Director came (David), he looked disheveled, in a 1950s suit, Beard also disheveled, and he had a strange odor. By his behavior, it was clear he was informed that I had "yelled" at the other lady, in her words, as his attitude was as bad as his appearance.
He asked if I, "was a member", of which I said I was. I gave him both my name and my wife's name. He then looked up the wrong name, and exclaimed to everyone in the club that I was, "NOT a member". This was found to be false an hour later, when my wife called back in to check on why they claimed the membership was not correct. He didn't look up my name or my wife's name correctly, saying we must not have paid the membership bill, in front of the other members. It was a complete fail.
It got even worse. At that point, I pointed out the 2nd patron who was wearing a T-shirt, the Food and Beverage Manager grabbed my right shoulder to escort me out (after telling everyone in earshot I was not a member, which he was incorrect). I couldn't believe it. I shoved him back, told him not to make physical contact with me. I was asked to depart the club, which I did, with my two hungry toddlers. The Food and Beverage Director, who must weigh 250 lbs, continued to provoke and follow me in close proximity, even after I was outside. I did an about face, and told him not to invade my space, and that he was a fat man who should not be following me so closely. He then backed away. I must admit, I should have have called him a fatso, as it had nothing to do with his incompetence or his bad hygiene. I took hit personally, while pushing a baby carriage out of the restaurant, with two hungry toddlers.
Brier Creek has been known in the RDU area to be a C-grade club by many professionals, but since their last General Manager passed away unexpectedly, they've really gone down hill to a D-grade club. Try the other clubs in Raleigh and Durham, if you want to go to a place that has competent and courteous personnel.
In summary, they don't enforce their dress code equally, and turned me away, saying I was not a member, with two hungry babies, because of a T-shirt, while two other patrons were wearing T-shirts.
Some history: I had contacted the Club Manager, Stefan Russell, in a private meeting a few months prior to this incident, to politely let him know the service in Deke's was horrible after waiting 15 minutes for a server. I explained to him that I had worked 15 years as a server in restaurants. He was polite and courteous, and we discussed his being from Europe. It crossed my mind, this might have been why the floor manager, a short woman, may have initially denied me entry, even though two other men were sitting near the front desk, also wearing T-shirts. She had no explanation of why they were wearing T-shirts, however I was being denied entry.
The Club Manager, Doug Anderson, obviously doesn't know how to select or train managers at Brier Creek Country Club. For this reason, I predict there will be a continued subpar experience for the members of Brier Creek Country Club.
