SAN DIEGO -- A lesbian couple is fighting for the reinstatement of a lawsuit against the Bernardo Heights Country Club, which they say refused to extend them the same golfing privileges afforded to married couples.

Discussion

COUNTRY CLUB DISCRIMINATES? Discuss: Share Your Thoughts

The attorney for the country club denied it was discriminating against gays, explaining it had a policy of allowing spouses of members to play golf for free, according to the Los Angeles Times.

But the attorney representing the couple told an appeals court Monday that the country club feared that offering the privileges to a lesbian couple would make the club look "gay friendly" and open a "floodgate" of applications from homosexual couples.

Jon Davidson, who represents Birgit Koebke and Kendall French, also argued that having a policy favoring married couples discriminated against gay couples because gays cannot marry in California.

Koebke is a member of the club. The couple have been partners for a decade and own a home in Tierrasanta. Their suit was filed after negotiations with club officials seeking a change in policy were unsuccessful, according to The Times.

"We tried to take away the fear," Koebke, 47, told The Times. "We tried to show them we're just two all-American gals who want to play golf."

The lawsuit, filed in 2001, was dismissed last year by a Superior Court judgees. The couple are now asking the 4th District Court of Appeals to overrule the lower court and order the case to trial.

The court's ruling is expected within six weeks.