SAN DIEGO -- Maureen Pechacek-Howe paid $50,000 to join the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe and another $60,000 in monthly dues.

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FAIRBANKS RANCH COUNTRY CLUB IMAGES: Go Inside Country Club's 'Men Only' Lounge

She is suing the club because she claims her membership does not come with all privileges if you're a woman.

"Once a club allows a female to be a member of that club, they cannot be treated as a second-class citizen," Pechacek-Howe said. "I'm a member and can't go in a very major area of the club, and to me, that is discrimination."

At issue is the new men's locker room lounge, part of a multi-million dollar renovation of the clubhouse. The "men only" space, is equipped with full restaurant service, a bar, and a flat-screen television. There is also a patio with views of the golf course.

Women are not allowed there, regardless of whether they are members, guests or employees.

"She professionally is in a man's world. So she knows what it is to break through the glass ceiling. There are glass ceilings still in our society and one of them is at this country club," Pechacek-Howe's attorney Dan Lawton said.

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Female Member Sues Country Club For Discrimination

10News wanted to see the men's locker room lounge and sent a female 10News producer into the men only section. On the way in, no one asked her to leave, and there are no signs saying "men only."

But when she entered the lounge and tried to order an ice tea, she was denied.

"Why are you here?" the bartender said.

"We were just wondering why women aren't allowed in this area? I'm here as a guest," she said.

"I'm sorry, can you please leave?" the bartender said.

She immediately left the club without incident.

"The name, gentlemen's locker room lounge, is a misnomer. It's not a locker room," Lawton said.

The club's board members argue the lounge is part of the locker room.

"To argue that somehow we created something special for the men is not true," Fairbanks Ranch Country Club board member Sam Blick said.

Blick and other supporters defend the men's locker room lounge, saying that not only do men need this space for privacy, but most members agreed it was appropriate during the planning stages.

"The majority of the women I've spoken to have been very much against opening that facility to other women," Fairbanks Ranch Country Club board member Dawn Lee said.

Lee pointed out that women have their own, smaller, lounge area, which reflects the small female membership. Of the 540 members, about 40 are women.

There is more to Pechacek-Howe's lawsuit. Fairbanks Ranch Country Club operates on city-owned land and signed a lease with the city, promising to comply with affirmative action and non-discrimination clauses. Arguably, if the club is in breach, the city could take back the lease.

"The fact that we're on city property makes it so slam dunk I have a hard time believing we let it get this far," Pechacek-Howe said.

Blick said the club is complying with city law.

"It's whether or not there is arbitrary discrimination and there isn't any," he said.

But there are hard feelings. After the lawsuit was filed, Pechacek-Howe received a letter from club president Louis Ferrero, saying, she's been "actively fostering ill-will, divisiveness ... among club members" and that her membership will be terminated.

"I'm very upset about being kicked out, because I love the club," Pechacek-Howe said.

Pechacek-Howe said she is willing to drop the lawsuit if the club would simply open the men's locker room lounge to women, but so far, club leaders refuse to change the use of the space.

Currently, the city's Real Estate Assets Department is investigating whether the club is in breach of its lease. And the San Marcos office of the Alcohol Beverage Control Board is also investigating Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. An ABC investigator told 10News that if there is any discrimination taking place, the club is in jeopardy of losing its liquor license.