by Jennifer Feehan, Toledo Blade

Though he uses a wheelchair, Michael Miles has played golf at courses across northwest Ohio and the United States.

It's only at Forrest Creason Golf Course on the Bowling Green State University campus, he said, that he's run into barriers. The Findlay man said he can't even get into the clubhouse to pay for his round of golf.

Earlier this week, Miles, who is paralyzed from the waist down because of a spinal cord injury, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Toledo claiming the Forrest Creason Golf Course is not accessible to disabled people.

"In this instance there's no access to the bathrooms, no access to the pro shop, no access to the snack bar, no way for him to pay for his round of golf unassisted," said Owen B. Dunn, Jr., attorney for Miles.

For a guy who is capable of going out and playing a round of golf unassisted, he said he's been frustrated with the BGSU course since he attended college there.

"I complained in 1992 when I did an independent study on accessibility at the university," Miles said. "It was an issue back then, and it hasn't been addressed."

The lawsuit claims Miles has been discriminated against in violation of the Americans with Disabilities and Rehabilitation Act.

Specifically, Miles said he has been charged to rent a golf cart that he could not use because of his disability; he cannot enter the public restroom, clubhouse, pro shop, or snack shop at the course, and he cannot use other features of the course such as shelters.

He further alleges the golf course has noncompliant parking, signage, and routes to and from the facilities. It also does not offer accessible golf carts.

"Miles has tried on numerous occasions to voice his concerns about inaccessibility to the BGSU's ADA Coordinator, including in writing and through in-person meetings," the suit states. "On information and belief, the violations addressed in this complaint have not been resolved."

He is asking the court to declare the university golf course in violation of the ADA, to require BGSU to remove barriers and make the facility accessible, and to order the university to evaluate and modify its policies, among other demands.

Asked about the allegations, Dave Kielmeyer, spokesman for BGSU, issued the following statement: "Bowling Green State University maintains a policy of nondiscrimination in accordance with the law which includes compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Beyond that, the university cannot comment on pending litigation."

Attorney Owen Dunn said his client spent years trying to resolve the issue outside of court.

"He wants this golf course to be available for all the disabled community to use," Dunn said.

"Bowling Green State University receives federal funds and those monies aren't being applied to make all their facilities accessible in spite of his prior request to address these concerns directly with BGSU's Office of Accessibility," he said.

The case was assigned to Judge Jack Zouhary.

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