It was supposed to be another idyllic summer day at Utah’s most exclusive gated community—an enclave so private it has been described as being “for the one percent of the one percent.”
Instead, events allegedly took a contentious turn at Wasatch Peaks Ranch (WPR) in July, as Jane Fields, 65, and a female friend prepared to compete in a golf tournament for which each had paid $900.
Mrs. Fields, whose husband Mark is the former CEO of Ford Motor Company, said a caddy approached them and instructed them to play quickly, finish early and forfeit shots if necessary.
She has since filed a lawsuit claiming that the women were asked to leave the course early because of gender discrimination.
According to the lawsuit, Mrs. Fields and her friend were removed so male members could use the course that afternoon without women playing alongside them.
Mark and Jane Fields, pictured with model Carmen Electra, are suing the exclusive Utah ranch where they live over alleged sexist treatment
The Fields’ mansion at Wasatch Peaks Ranch is shown in an image shared by their lawyers with Our News Outlet
WPR management has strongly denied the allegations, which have fueled a major dispute within the wealthy private community.
The Fields say they have since been barred from using the amenities surrounding their mansion. Those facilities helped persuade them to become founding members of Wasatch Peaks in 2021 and build one of the community’s first homes, completed in 2024.
WPR is so exclusive that prospective residents must be recommended by two existing members and undergo extensive vetting before they are even allowed to view its property listings website.
The Fields’ wealth and professional success appeared to make them a natural fit for the community—until their legal dispute began.
The couple, who first met while working at IBM, are now seeking to sell their remarkable home and are asking for $30 million in damages.
Mrs. Fields’ lawyers told Our News Outlet on Wednesday that she and other female golfers were offered a hat-making class after leaving the course.
They also alleged that the men’s tournament winner that day received a Rolex Daytona watch, valued at between $15,100 and $56,400, while the women were given participation trophies.
The Fields’ lawyers further told Our News Outlet that losing access to the community’s amenities means snow is not cleared from the family’s driveway, making the mansion nearly inaccessible during Utah’s harsh winters.
In her lawsuit, Mrs. Fields described the caddy’s alleged instruction to hurry as a “disturbing and negative way to start play.”
Upset by what had happened, she approached the member services manager and raised concerns about what she viewed as unequal treatment of male and female golfers, according to the complaint.
Mrs. Fields told the male manager that treating women golfers differently was “unfair, disrespectful, derogatory and sexually discriminating,” the lawsuit states.
She alleges that she asked the manager to pass her concerns on to senior staff.
Mark Fields, the former CEO of Ford Motor Company, is pictured with his wife at a gala event
The gatehouse of the highly exclusive ranch is shown in a 2023 file photograph
Along with golf, residents have access to 3,000 acres of private skiing, fly-fishing waters and miles of hiking trails
The lawsuit suggests that the manager did relay her complaint—but says the result was disastrous for Mr. and Mrs. Fields.
Four days later, the couple were notified by the ranch’s disciplinary committee that they had been expelled with immediate effect, according to Mrs. Fields’ lawsuit.
The expulsion notice accused Mrs. Fields of using “abusive and profane” language toward staff and engaging in conduct “unbecoming” of the club, the lawsuit alleges.
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Through their lawsuit, the couple have rejected those descriptions and maintained that they should not have been expelled.
They argue that the ban was an attempt to conceal alleged gender discrimination and remove members “whose criticism it no longer wished to hear.”
The expulsion also placed their $500,000 membership deposit and contractual refund rights at risk. According to the lawsuit, it triggered an 18-month period in which they must transfer their membership.
The couple claim that their mansion has suffered “serious devaluation” because they no longer have access to the ranch’s amenities.
Membership privileges could be restored for whoever purchases the property.
Then-Vice President Joe Biden is pictured with Mark Fields in January 2017, when Fields led the automaker
Tiger Shaw, the ranch’s CEO, is pictured speaking at an event in October 2019
An attorney for the family described the home they built as their “legacy property,” intended to be passed down to their children and future generations.
Public records reviewed by Our News Outlet show that the couple also own a $7.5 million property in Delray Beach, Florida.
After their expulsion, the Fields requested a hearing and sought additional details. The lawsuit claims the ranch did not provide reports or statements from witnesses.
At an August hearing, the couple said they were not allowed to ask questions or given a meaningful opportunity to challenge the allegations, according to the complaint.
They said they read prepared statements and apologized at the meeting, while continuing to maintain that they had not violated any club rules, the lawsuit states.
The Fields also asked for probation or, at minimum, a temporary suspension instead of permanent expulsion, according to the filing.
Despite those requests, they said they were informed in early August that the expulsion had been “reaffirmed.”
The lawsuit names ranch CEO Tiger Shaw, who previously served as president and CEO of US Ski and Snowboard, as well as members of the disciplinary committee.
According to the ranch’s website, Wasatch Peaks is a private mountain community spanning more than 12,000 acres for residents to explore.
In addition to its golf course, the community offers 3,000 acres of private skiing, fly-fishing opportunities and miles of hiking trails.
Mark Fields served as president and CEO of Ford Motor Company from 2014 to 2017, after working as the company’s chief operating officer from 2012 to 2014.
He reached the company’s top position after spending 23 years in executive roles across Ford’s operations in the Americas.
His LinkedIn profile states that he currently serves on the board of Hertz and is chairperson of software company Planview.
In a statement to Our News Outlet, representatives for the ranch said: “Wasatch Peaks Ranch strongly believes in respecting the privacy of its members and employees.
“While WPR will not discuss the specific details of this matter, WPR disputes the allegations in the Fields’ complaint and is prepared to defend against the lawsuit.
“WPR stands by its decision and remains committed to maintaining a positive and respectful environment for both its members and employees.”
Court filings show that the ranch has retained attorneys who have formally appeared in the case, although they have not yet filed a response to the Fields’ lawsuit.
