[mtoohig]

Funny anecdote I have that kinda counters what you say.

I know from family who live where Taylor Swift bought a mansion in RI that she was denied membership to the local yacht club because she was not "old money". I heard this back in 2013 when she first bought the place and I haven't been back so I don't know if that has changed since then.

Maybe some people see the rich as "high-class" not everyone does.

[listenallyall]

The real reason is that they don't want the paparazzi hanging around and they really don't want the scrutiny into the club's details (like membership lists, past member affiliations, etc) that Ms. Swift would bring along. It's not really a new vs old money thing, but that does make for a better story.

[zeruch]

Pretty much its the case EXCEPT maybe the Hamptons, and a few very old (read, direct descendants 'spiritually' to their English colonial forebears) institutions, but the list of spots like that are quite rarified air compared to the UK.

[mtoohig]

I do believe this is the bes explanation.

[droopyEyelids]

This also happened when Michael Jordan tried to join country club/golf courses in the wealthy northern suburbs of Chicago