Golf pro charged with embezzling

Eagle Valley Golf officials said Tuesday its former golf pro used the men's golf club dues account for his own personal use, embezzling $4,600 during the past year.

Golf pro Mike Browning resigned in August and has reportedly moved to Las Vegas.

A report was filed with the Carson City Sheriff's Department on Sept. 25 and the case is being investigated, said Sgt. Bob White.

Eagle Valley Golf Course is owned by Carson City but operated by Carson City Municipal Golf Corp., a nonprofit organization. Golf course officials declined to comment about the case but decided at a September board meeting to file the report.

"I don't feel comfortable commenting," said golf course's chairman of the board Mark Sattler. General manager Mike McGehee said he was not at liberty to talk about the situation Tuesday.

According to the report filed by Sattler, Browning was appointed to take over the operation of the men's club. Browning opened a bank account to deposit player dues paid annually, but used the account for his own personal expenses, the report said.

The club is a group of players at the course who pay about $40 a year to belong. A portion of the dues pay for membership in the Northern Nevada Golf Association that keeps record of player handicaps and scores.

Sattler said the missing money has been restored to the account but didn't say what funds the corporation used to pay for it. Dues owed by the men's club to the state association were paid on time, he said.

The club, usually is made up of more than 100 players, also participates in tournaments and activities, Sattler said.

Browning worked directly for McGehee operating the Pro Shop and golf operations and acting as a liaison to the public. Sattler did not know how long Browning had worked for the course. His assistant of five years was assigned to fill the position after Browning's resignation.

The golf corporation is made up of seven board members who are Carson residents. The city created the corporation to run the municipal course six years ago.

Eagle Valley Golf Course, located in east Carson City on Centennial Park Drive, originally opened in 1977.