Hollister
– Ridgemark Golf and Country Club has terminated most of its
food service staff and shut down its dining room due to financial
problems.
Hollister – Ridgemark Golf and Country Club has terminated most of its food service staff and shut down its dining room due to financial problems.
Several former Ridgemark employees said Friday that they felt betrayed by the decision.
“It’s kind of like a slap in the face,” said former executive chef Joey Kistler, who worked at Ridgemark for almost three years.
Former employees said about 25 workers were terminated.
Eric Dietz, Ridgemark’s general manager, said the company is prevented by state and federal law from giving any specific information about the workforce reduction.
“Our organization is a family, and we are deeply saddened when any family member leaves the organization,” Deitz said, responding to Free Lance questions via e-mail. He added, “This has been a gut-wrenching week for all that are involved.”
The decision, Dietz said, was made by Ridgemark Golf and Country Club’s board of directors. The cuts come just weeks after Ridgemark was named hospitality business of the year by the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce.
“These changes are necessary not only as a part of the fiduciary responsibility of the directors, but necessary to ensure that we will be better able to service our future members and guests at the levels at which they are accustomed,” he said.
Board president Mark S. Davis could not be reached for comment by press time on Friday.
According to former Ridgemark server Dre Tatino – whose account was confirmed by another former employee – the food service workers first realized something was wrong when they were asked to attend a mandatory meeting on Wednesday.
At the meeting, the employees were divided into two groups seated in separate rooms. In one room, everyone received their final paycheck and was told that their positions were terminated, Tatino said.
Tatino was particularly upset by the presence of Ridgemark security and a sheriff’s deputy at the meeting.
“It was so uncalled for,” she said. “I don’t know what they thought we were going to do.”
Lt. Roy Iler of the sheriff’s department confirmed that one deputy had been dispatched to the meeting. Iler said there’s nothing unusual about having a deputy present “just in case there was a problem.”
Kistler said he was told of his termination at a private meeting. Kistler recalled that on the day of his termination, he was asked to do inventory and payroll, then sent home for an hour, before he was told to return to Ridgemark. When he returned to the club, he was told he had been fired.
Kistler had planned to hold his wedding at Ridgemark later this year, but he’s now looking for another location.
Nonetheless, Kistler said, “I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time.”
With the combination of his savings, his financial prudence and a final paycheck, Kistler said he won’t have to find work for two or three months.
Tatino, who worked at Ridgemark during the evenings and took care of her child while her husband was at work, said she’s started looking for another job.
“I have bills just like everyone else,” she said.
Ridgemark board president Davis sent a letter to Ridgemark members and shareholders explaining the decision.
“We have looked at every nook and cranny, tried changes of operating hours and spent countless hours trying to find ways to bolster our ever-shrinking membership ranks, all with limited success,” Davis said. “We must act and we must act now if we are gong to continue to enjoy the lifestyle that we have all chosen here at Ridgemark.”
Davis’ letter outlines substantial service cuts at the club. A snack bar will be open from 7am to 3pm, he said. Beverage service and a salad bar will be available in the lounge, but food will be served on paper products. The club’s catering services will continue, he said.
The directors will hold a meeting for shareholders and club members on Jan. 10.
Nancy Denton, who has lived at Ridgemark and been a country club member since 1989, said she was upset by Davis’ letter.
“I will not go back (to Ridgemark) until there is a resolution,” Denton said. “I’m so angry. These were good people.”
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or ah*@fr***********.com.
