SAN DIEGO -- The state Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to hear an appeal from a lesbian woman who has filed a civil rights claim against a San Diego country club.

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Birgit Koebke is suing the Bernardo Heights Country Club for requiring her domestic partner of more than 10 years, Kendall French, to pay guest fees each time they use the golf course.

The club argues that only someone who is legally married to a member may use the course for free. But Koebke says that because lesbians cannot legally marry in California, she is unable to fully enjoy the benefits of her club membership.

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

Koebke and her partner are registered with the state as domestic partners.

A San Diego trial court rejected Koebke's claims in 2002, and last March an appellate court partially upheld that ruling. Wednesday, the state high court voted 7-to-0 to consider Koebke's appeal. It did not indicate when it will hear the case.

Koebke's lawsuit is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.

The case is Koebke v. Bernardo Heights Country Club, S124179