Several members of the Orchard Golf and Country Club called out the alleged lack of action against its general manager and chief operating officer Nilo Famy over what they called as “an abuse of power” for playing a twosome during the holidays.
Almost 40 members signed up the letter of complaint addressed to Orchard’s golf director Francis Montallana which was received last Sunday.
In the letter, the members said Famy played with his son last 26 December in a twosome teeing off at 6:12 a.m.
They said it violated the course rules that prohibit playing in a twosome during holidays, weekends and on primetime hours where there are a lot of players.
Under those circumstance, starters instruct players to form a foursome, even fivesome in some cases, to accommodate more players.
“As a general manager, Mr. Famy’s actions can be viewed as an abuse of authority, as he holds a position of influence within the club. Failing to take appropriate action on this matter could set a detrimental precedent for all the members, undermining the integrity of our policies,” said the letter obtained by the DAILY TRIBUNE.
Sources said the incident was also brought to Board of Director member Philip Go and that some of the members deemed it as “subject for dismissal if Famy happens to be just an ordinary member.”
Another source said staff members, including the starter at the Palmer course, share the blame for not reminding Famy of the existing rules.
“They just surmised that Mr. Famy already knew of the rules on weekends and holidays but they still gave him a control pass,” said one of the sources who refused to be identified.
“The GM should have called in one more player to avoid this incident. If we have a case like this, we discuss it first with the management committee and then elevate it to the house committee if needed.”
The dilemma, however, is that the person they are complaining about is the person most likely to preside over such proceedings.
Famy, Go and Montallana can’t be reached for comment at presstime.
