Prior to the 2017 Major League Baseball season, all-star first baseman/outfielder Wil Myers signed a six-year contract with the San Diego Padres worth a guaranteed $83 million. So, why is there such a stir over $64,000?
In the off-season, Myers and his wife, Margaret, spend their time in Charlotte, North Carolina. After problems with his previous golf club, which included issues with booking tee times due to too much demand, Myers set out to find a new course. He turned to Carmel Country Club and joined the membership in April of 2020; keep in mind this was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when the sport of golf grew tremendously.
According to the Charlotte Observer, after paying $16,000 upfront, the rest of his $80,000 initiation fee was to be paid over Myers’ next four membership anniversary dates. But when golf boomed, so did the desire for tee times.
Carmel saw an increase in demand, resulting in Myers again having trouble booking tee times. After much frustration, he and his wife resigned their membership in December of 2020 telling the club they were misled, and according to the report, paid for golf privileges they couldn’t enjoy.
According to a court filing, the MLB all-star “found it almost impossible to find a tee time and frequently could not even use the driving range.”
Padres right fielder Wil Myers releases his bat after hitting a double against the Atlanta Braves. Photo by Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Carmel Country Club fired back, according to the Observer, charging the couple for the rest of their initiation fee ($64,000) with a payment date of Dec. 31, 2020. A few months later, Carmel would sue in March of 2021.
Then, in June of 2021, Myers officially countersued, stating that they suffered from Carmel’s “knowing misrepresentations and omissions.”
In response, Carmel denied all accusations and would go on to say that the COVID-19 pandemic “immediately and overwhelming altered the lifestyles and available leisure activities for all members of the club.”
The trial is set for February next year.