By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The head of Alabama's pension programs says he will not settle a complaint that claims that the Retirement System of Alabama's Robert Trent Jones golf courses violate disability laws by failing to provide carts made for the disabled. Other government entities have settled similar cases, but RSA chief executive David Bronner says the single-seat carts are unsafe for many holes on the 28 golf courses built in Alabama. He says only the Grand Hotel course in Fairhope and the Highland Oaks in Dothan are flat enough to safely accommodate the carts. He says the rest of the courses are too hilly. Bronner also says disabled golfers can bring their own hand-operated single-rider carts, but they must sign a liability form. Jerry Pope filed a complaint with the Justice Department in November. The disabled Tuscaloosa man has now challenged Bronner to a match on the Trail's most difficult course using the special cart SoloRider.