Sam Drodofsky, the Spicer, Minn., club’s Golf Pro and General Manager for 13 years, allegedly told a Board member that he had taken an undetermined sum of money from the club from 2011 to 2015. Drodofsky has apologized and promised to make full restitution, having already paid the club $100,000. The Board has not decided whether to pursue civil or criminal action.
The Little Crow Country Club in Spicer, Minn., is searching for a new General Manager after terminating Sam Drodofsky, its Golf Pro and General Manager of the past 13 years for the alleged unauthorized use of funds possibly totaling $100,000 or more, the Willmar, Minn.-based West Central Tribune reported.
The club’s Board of Directors terminated the employment of Drodofsky after holding emergency meetings in January at which they learned of the accusations. Drodofsky allegedly told then-board President Ross Baker January 9 that he had taken funds. He turned over his keys and was told he would be terminated, according to minutes of the association obtained by the Tribune. Baker and Drodofsky declined to comment on the matter.
Minutes of the club’s February 1 membership meeting indicate that Drodofsky provided a $45,000 check to the Little Crow Country Club and followed up with another $55,000 payment one week later. A January 25 letter to members from the board says Drodofsky “is willing to pay any further outstanding debt based on the results of the audit,” the Tribune reported.
Drodofsky submitted a letter to the board members in which he apologized and promised to make full restitution “quickly.”
“I have betrayed the trust of my family, very good friends, and everyone at LC. I pray to God each and every day for forgiveness and hope that someday you might forgive me,’’ Drodofsky stated in his letter.
Karen Runstedler, newly elected president of the Little Crow Board of Directors, said board members are unable to comment on the issue at this stage and referred questions to the association’s attorney. She acknowledged that the alleged misuse of funds came as a “shocker’’ to many in the organization, the Tribune reported.
The meeting minutes from February 1 indicate that personal expenses were charged on a company credit card along with business expenses, and the credit card was then paid by check from Little Crow Country Club. The minutes say the personal expenses were included in numerous line-item expenses on the financial statement. It is believed to have been happening from 2011 to 2015, according to the meeting minutes, but the audit will be more comprehensive, the Tribune reported.
Discussion has occurred over whether the Board will consider pursuing criminal or civil action against Drodofsky. At the February 1 meeting, a motion to press charges was not acted on. Instead, those present supported a motion to wait and see if full restitution is made and then bring the issue of whether to pursue any charges to the full membership, the Tribune reported.
Drodofsky was the first to be appointed as General Manager for the operations of the public course located between Spicer and New London. Judd Bonham had served as golf pro the 10 previous years. Drodofsky had been at the Mississippi National Golf Links, Red Wing, for over 15 years prior to coming to Little Crow in 2002, the Tribune reported.
Drodofsky has been a member of the Professional Golfers Association since 1991. In 2010, he was honored as the Golf Professional of the Year by the Dakota Chapter of the Minnesota PGA, the Tribune reported.
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