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DAYTONA BEACH — Allegations that some golf professionals at the Daytona Beach Golf Club pocketed cash payments for golf lessons and improperly discounted fees for players they wanted to help has resulted in one of the employees being fired and another being suspended for five days without pay.
There were also allegations of retaliation, age discrimination and the employee who was fired creating a hostile work environment.
The end of employment at the golf course for Head Golf Professional Brian Stackpole and discipline for Stackpole’s supervisor, Golf Course Manager Brian Jaquet, came after an investigation that was launched in August and concluded this month.
The allegations were investigated by the city’s human resources department and internal auditor. Both wrapped up their investigations this month.
“The months-long review confirmed a clear violation of city policy involving the improper acceptance of payments for golf lessons,” City Manager Deric Feacher said in a written statement. “The employee involved was terminated (Jan. 16), and his immediate supervisor was suspended for five days. While the investigation was underway, the city strengthened oversight and implemented tighter internal controls to safeguard the integrity of operations at the Daytona Beach Golf Club.”
Stackpole and Jaquet could not be reached for comment.
Fired Daytona Beach golf course employee sparks investigation
The investigation began after former golf course employee Stan Bartus sent a letter to the city’s Human Resources Department on Aug. 18 outlining several allegations against city golf course employees.
Bartus had just been fired five days earlier after some customers complained about him to management, according to city records. Stackpole fired Bartus, who had worked for the city for close to five years, in the golf course parking lot on Aug. 13, 2025, records indicate.
Bartus told city officials he understood he wasn’t going to get his job back. He said that wasn’t the reason he shared his complaints.
Bartus said he felt threatened and intimidated by Stackpole’s behavior and outbursts, according to a report authored by the city’s employee relations and EEO administrator.
Bartus’ complaints to the city also focused on what he said were numerous people receiving the discounted golf course access fee that has been meant to only apply to employees and their immediate family members and friends.
A city policy that took effect in 2021 said current employees could play for a $1 surcharge. Bartus maintained that pro shop staff had been too generous with the discounted rates too often, and the city had lost significant revenue as a result.
In October the city changed the policy, so now only active employees can get the $1 rate to play. But not long after that, multiple employees said they thought the new policy had been rescinded.
What the Daytona golf course investigation found
The investigation also revealed that the course’s professionals are expected to offer lessons as part of their job. All revenue from the lessons is supposed to go to the city, not to employees as extra pay.
The investigation concluded Stackpole and Assistant Golf Pro Leonard Morrow both accepted golf lesson payments. Jaquet said he believed city Business Enterprise Management Director Michael Stallworth had given verbal permission for employees to accept the payments.
Stallworth said he didn’t recall that. The investigation backed up Morrow’s contention that he was given permission to accept lesson payments, but the investigation report didn’t specify who is believed to have granted that permission.
Since there weren’t any receipts that could be found for the golf lessons, the city doesn’t know how long the employees had been receiving extra money and how much revenue the city lost.
The investigation didn’t substantiate any age discrimination or retaliation. It was substantiated that Stackpole created a work environment that was toxic and uncomfortable, according to the Jan. 14 investigation report from city Human Resources Director Jim Sexton.
Stackpole’s behavior was not appropriate for someone who frequently deals with the public and employees, Sexton said. The way Stackpole fired Bartus was also done in “a callous manner,” Sexton said.
Stackpole was told in 2014 that personally accepting money for golf lessons at the course was strictly prohibited, Sexton wrote in his report. He also said Stackpole’s behavior wasn’t something city employees should have had to endure.
Sexton said Jaquet, who has been a golf course manager for the city since 2001, should have addressed Stackpole’s behavior to protect other employees. Sexton also said Jaquet knew it was prohibited for employees to turn golf lesson payments into extra personal income, and if Stallworth had said that was OK, Jaquet should have gotten that in writing.
Sexton recommended Jaquet be suspended without pay for five days, and warned that future city policy violations will result in him being fired.
You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com
