Maroochy River Golf Club will undergo a restructure of their board at this month’s AGM

A popular Sunshine Coast golf club will appoint a new president at this month’s AGM after a series of suspensions and controversies

A man vying to become president of one of the region’s most popular but much-maligned golf clubs has been cleared by the board of allegations made by a member, opening up his path to the presidency.

Maroochy River Golf Club vice president Max Garey had been one of six candidates who nominated for the role of president with the club to name its new leader at the annual general meeting on September 21.

An email sent out by general manager Charlie McGill on August 18 said Mr Garey had stood aside after allegations of “non-acceptable behaviour towards a fellow member” were received by the club.

Maroochy River Golf Club vice president Max Garey (bottom) will be running for the club’s presidency after former president Grant Kimmorley stood down in November 2020.

Mr Garey had stood aside from all board and subcommittee activities as per requirements of the club’s constitution, but club members were advised by current president Michael Gray on September 7 that Mr Garey had been cleared of all allegations, paving the way for his presidency bid.

Mr Garey was approached for a comment.

In September, 2020, two board members were stood down after letters of complaint were made levelling undisclosed accusations at the two members who had to stand down until the matter was resolved.

Former club president Grant Kimmorley sensationally resigned in November, 2020, midway through his two-year term, after repeated clashes with the board over what he said was diminished member involvement in the running of the club.

Mr Kimmorley’s resignation letter, which was understood not to have been circulated widely with members, had cited several reasons for his departure.

He said in his letter of resignation that he did not appreciate having limitations placed on what he could report to members in his presidential report.

“I stood up at the AGM in 2019 and said I wanted more member involvement and total transparency, but unfortunately the majority of board members have a different vision to my own.”

Maroochy River Golf Club former president Grant Kimmorley stepped away from his two-year tenure only one year in after numerous issues within the board. Picture: John McCutcheon

The board decided to replace Mr Kimmorley for the remainder of his presidency with solicitor Michael Gray, who had been former club president before he was replaced at the 2019 AGM.

Another presidential candidate, club captain Jim Di Pietra, was also no stranger to controversy, having been one of two members captured on CCTV in a physical altercation inside the clubhouse in late 2018.

In January, 2019 it was reported that Mr Di Pietra and then-director Ken Davis had been stood aside from their duties as directors while an investigation into the incident was carried out.

Mr Di Pietra and Mr Gray did not want to comment when approached by the Daily.

This comes after former president Geoff Davies was suspended from the golf course back in 2015 for ‘chest-butting’ another member.

The other names in the ring to become the club’s next president are member Greg Sutton, ladies president Carmel Smith and veterans captain Ray Butlin.

The position of vice-captain will also be the subject of a vote.