A couple is suing the exclusive Wasatch Peaks Ranch ski and golf club, claiming they were expelled and stripped of their membership just four days after the wife raised concerns about how women golfers were being treated during a tournament. Jane and Mark Fields filed the lawsuit in Utah's 2nd District Court, alleging the club pushed them out after Jane complained about unequal treatment at the Bluebird Women's Golf Tournament.
According to the lawsuit, as reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, Jane was competing in the second day of the tournament on July 24, 2026, when a caddy told four women that they needed to play quickly, finish early and, if needed, forfeit shots. The suit alleges the rush was meant to enable an ordinary afternoon of play by the men, and that the course is reserved exclusively for male competitors during the club's two annual men's tournaments. Jane raised her concerns with a manager, describing the differing treatment of the men's and women's events as unfair, disrespectful, derogatory and sexually discriminating, the lawsuit states.
Four days later, the lawsuit says, she and her husband were expelled and their membership was revoked — a decision the Fields allege came before they were ever given a hearing with the club's disciplinary committee. The couple claims the club removed them from its membership listings, making the expulsion public, and that Wasatch Peaks Ranch characterized the exchange between Jane and the manager as a public incident at an activity barn entrance.
Club Cites Conduct, Couple Alleges Cover-Up
The disciplinary committee cited abusive and profane language toward staff, public criticism outside the club's written-complaint procedure, aggressive and unreasonable conduct, and behavior unbecoming of membership standards as its reasons for the expulsion, according to the lawsuit. The Fields say that after the decision, they requested a hearing and copies of any reports supporting the accusations, but the club did not provide supporting documentation. The suit states the club reaffirmed its decision to expel the Fields at a hearing in August, where the couple alleges they had little opportunity to challenge the accusations against them.
The Fields allege the club expelled them to conceal gender discrimination and to remove members whose criticism it no longer wished to hear. The lawsuit names Wasatch Peaks Ranch Club, CEO Tiger Shaw — a former president and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard — disciplinary committee members, and others allegedly involved in the expulsion.
Financial Stakes Tied to $500,000 Deposit
The couple completed one of the community's first homes at Wasatch Peaks Ranch in 2024, according to their attorney, Larry Laycock. Since the expulsion, the Fields say they have lost access to club amenities and full use of their private community home, and were given an 18-month deadline to transfer their membership. They claim they were forced to pursue an expedited sale of their home, potentially at a loss in market value, and that their $500,000 membership deposit and contractual refund rights are now at risk.
Laycock says the Fields tried to resolve the dispute privately before filing suit and remain open to a fair resolution, but intend to hold Wasatch Peaks Ranch accountable, recover their financial losses, and protect their home investment and contractual rights. The couple is seeking at least $30 million in damages.
Wasatch Peaks Ranch disputes the allegations in the lawsuit and says it is prepared to defend itself in court. The club said it stands by its decision and remains committed to a positive, respectful environment for members and employees, but declined to discuss case details further, citing member and employee privacy. As of Thursday, the defendants had not filed a formal response to the lawsuit.
A Sprawling, Secretive Mountain Retreat
Wasatch Peaks Ranch covers more than 12,000 acres, according to the club, with more than 3,000 acres of private skiing that its website describes as home to Utah's greatest vertical drop. The property includes a championship golf course designed by architect Tom Fazio, along with fly-fishing along the Weber River and miles of hiking and biking trails. Prospective members must provide at least two referrals before undergoing vetting and approval.
The club is part of a small but growing category of ultra-exclusive private ski retreats; as of 2025, more than a half-dozen such clubs existed across the country, according to GQ. That report also noted that investors at Wasatch Peaks Ranch were said to be putting down seven-figure deposits toward bare lots starting at about $10 million, while membership dues at comparable club Powder Haven ranged from $30,000 to $100,000.
This isn't the first time the development has drawn legal scrutiny in Morgan County. A 2023 report from the Tribune described the project as having divided the county, with some residents viewing it as a threat to its rural character and others welcoming the promised tax revenue and jobs. That earlier fight spawned three lawsuits, which were resolved in January 2024 after Morgan County residents agreed to drop a years-long case in exchange for a 2,300-acre conservation easement and funding for projects benefiting county residents, according to KSL. The Tribune reported that $4 million went to a foundation benefiting county residents.
