Golf Club Membership Violation Question

[kjvieira]

My father is a member/share holder of a small public golf course that is privately owned by the share holders (my father being one +/- 350). The Board of Directors of this course is a bunch of retired men who enjoy the power that they hold in the various positions.

 

To try and make a long story short, my father apparently upset some of the board members becuase of various comments he made in regards to their positions and lack of support for the golf course and it's facilities.

Several days later while my father was playing, he noticed that they had not mowed the greens that day and asked one of the greenskeepers why they were not mowed. He said they were too wet to mow. My dad basically told him "bull s@#$", the reason they are not being mowed is because the head super did not get elected for the BofD position he was running for (my dad has never been one to keep his opinion to himself). He went on to tell him that "you guys were mowing the greens last week while it was raining". That was the end of the conversation.

 

The next day, my dad was handed a letter from the Corporate Board President accusing him of verbally attacking a corporation employee and that he violated the policy that stated "any complaints regarding the golf course matter are to be brought to the attention of a Board Member. This policy has been stated in several news letters, board meeting minutes and also stated by the Board at general membership meeting."

 

The letter states that if an incident of this nature happens with him again, he will be suspended from playing for 30 days.

 

This letter was written without any conversation with my father or the other players in his group that day. It was soley on the word of the greenskeeper telling someone and then that someone passing it on.

 

I have a few questions:

 

1) Is this legal?

2) I suggested to my father that he resond to the letter in writing giving his side of the story and ask to

have the letter removed from his file. He has players in the group that will back up his story. Should

he do this?

3) Is this something that will stay on his record forever?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

[smarshal75]

Have your dad check the membership policies (bylaws) regarding disciplinary procedures. It sounds strange that there was no contact with others who witnessed the exchange. There may be a procedure to repeal the warning he was issued.

 

I worked at a semi-private country club southeast of your location so I know all to well how these BOD types behave.