Female golf pro accuses Bethpage partner of stealing $300k – and trying to frame autistic teen

The golf instructor at New York’s Bethpage State Park courses accuses her former business partner of embezzling more than $300,000 and then trying to frame others for his actions.

Kelley Brooke, an instructor who was named the LPGA’s Professional of the Year in 2018, has filed a lawsuit alleging that the company’s former vice president, Paul O’Donoghue, stole money over the six years he was the pro shop at Bethpage on Long. Island.

According to the lawsuit, O’Donoghue stole cash receipts before they were ever deposited into Bethpage Golf’s bank account “more than two thousand times in six years.”

O’Donoghue reportedly issued more than 1,000 cash refunds to golf cart rental customers, despite the course having a strict policy against cash refunds.

The lawsuit alleges he covered up his actions by creating false charges in the course’s point-of-sale system under the names of other employees — including a teen with autism who worked a range ball picker machine.

O’Donoghue allegedly stole 17 payments that he recorded as being made by the employee in question — even though the child had no access to the system or its records, according to the indictment.

The lawsuit also alleges that he made 18 cash payments in 2022 and 2023 that were “made” by an employee who had died the year before. Other “people involved” included someone who left their job in 2020 and an out-of-state accountant who had never attended the course.

“As a result of O’Donoghue’s fraudulent schemes, which stole more than $300,000 in cash from Bethpage Golf by making more than two thousand false entries into the cash register system, Bethpage Golf has suffered damages for which it is seeking various relief,” the indictment said.

Bethpage Golf Group – of which Brooke is president – ​​has managed the facility’s pro shop since January 2018, as well as its driving range, golf cart rentals and private instruction bookings.

According to the lawsuit, Brooke and O’Donoghue divided their duties, with Brooke overseeing broader operations and O’Donoghue managing the day-to-day operations of the pro shop.

The lawsuit states that O’Donoghue was the “only person in possession of the pro shop’s daily receipts,” which allowed him to carry out his plans without anyone noticing.

That was until Brooke looked back at the books and discovered “abnormalities” with multiple parts of the finances – which only seemed to happen when O’Donoghue was at work.

O’Donoghue was once confronted with stealing more than $3,000 from the caddies. When asked about it, he said he took it with him and that he would give it back – which he never did.

Brooke (L) claims Paul O’Donoghue covered up his tracks by recording charges under the names of several employees – including an autistic teenager who worked on the driving range

Bethpage State Park’s famous ‘Black’ course will host the Ryder Cup in 2025

O’Donoghue also allegedly took $3,000 from the Bethpage Golf safe, which was not returned after he was confronted. He also allegedly stole other smaller amounts of cash and forged Brooke’s signature several times, including on a $4,000 check.

The lawsuit states that Brooke fired him in July.

This is the latest in a lengthy back-and-forth between the two parties, which began when O’Donoghue sued Brooke, claiming he owns half of the company. Brooke claims he only owns 30 percent.

Brooke claims she put $2.3 million into Bethpage Golf and therefore owns a larger share of the company. O’Donoghue refutes these claims.

Bethpage State Park Golf Course is one of the most legendary and renowned public golf facilities in the United States – with five courses, including the famous ‘Black’ course.

Bethpage Black hosted the US Open in 2002 and 2009, as well as the 2019 PGA Championship.

Next year the Black course will host the 2025 Ryder Cup.