Fight club or golf club?

Fisticuffs in South Africa remind one writer of a near miss.
Golfing cartoon, c1920s.

A video gone viral of two golfers fighting over something as silly as a club championship in South Africa once again proves that golf can bring out the dark, angry side in any of us.

I know. I've experienced this dark side, firsthand. It was years ago, when I was young and dumb, that I almost came to blows on the golf course. Some details are fuzzy as the confrontation only included a few angry words. However, I still remember being very disturbed that something so innocent could escalate so quickly.

A buddy and I were playing the Leslie Park Golf Course, a hilly, tree-lined municipal course in Ann Arbor, Mich. We teed off not realizing the group in front was still rummaging for balls in the woods. When we arrived in the fairway, a pair of golfers in a cart appeared seemingly out of nowhere. They were in a confrontational mood, cussing at us for supposedly hitting into them, one of golf's original sins. If they hadn't been so rude, we probably would have apologized and everybody went on their way. But my buddy couldn't resist throwing a few choice words back. I don't remember what was said specifically and I don't believe anybody got within striking distance of a punch being thrown, although I do remember feeling afraid that something bad was about to go down. Fortunately for everybody, they drove off.

This was years before that memorable golf brouhaha broke out on the big screen in the movie Sideways (2004). Thank goodness, there was no aggressor like Miles (Paul Giamatti) or Jack (Thomas Haden Church) in either of our groups that day. It could have gotten ugly.

Fighting on a golf course used to only be the stuff of Hollywood comic relief, Happy Gilmore style.

Unfortunately, it seems to be happening more frequently now. Just a couple years ago, this video of a golf course fight in Colorado also went viral. Last fall, two best buddies, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, were reportedly involved in a near scuffle after a disastrous Ryder Cup defeat in France.

The Lake Club Benoni in South Africa issued an apology Monday on Facebook, noting that the fight "is not indicative of the fellowship" at the club. I'm guessing this sort of thing happens more than you might think at golf courses around the world. When you mix competition, booze, handicaps and the frustration of golf, that's a volatile situation waiting to explode. For the love of the game - and each other - let's hope golf can somehow stay a gentleman's game.

Have you witnessed a fight or confrontational scene on the golf course or after a round in the clubhouse? Let us know in the comments below.

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,100 courses and written about golf destinations in 25 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
18 Comments
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That was pretty brutal, the guy going through the window and then taking some solid shots. That guy was way more accurate than most of the NBA guys who throw down. I'm surprised that hasn't happened to a certain world leader who just had a book written about him called "Commander in Cheat", by Rick Reilly.

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Any word on the epilogue of that "fight" in the video at the club in So. Africa? Looked like assault to me -- the older guy who got punched out put up virtually no resistance, probably has broken bones in his face. Honey, I had a bad day at the club...

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No way to look good fighting at a golf course.

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Playing in the Senior Division of the World Am this year, I made a 15-footer to save par and said to one of my playing partners with about the same putt, innocently enough, I thought: "I hope that gave you some help with the line."
On the next tee box, much to three of our surprise, the other "gentleman" reamed me out about giving advice, had I never played tournament golf, don't I know anything about etiquette. Needless to say, he missed the putt.
But his tirade was so disconcerting I was ready to withdraw from the tournament. Played with 11 of 12 great guys in the World Am. Guess I should count myself fortunate to have met the 11.

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First, it was innocent comment. I play tournament golf and such a comment would have been taken in levity,Second, that other "gentleman" is clueless to the rules regarding advice.
A breach would have occurred if you had suggested "this is the line" before hand..
What a jerk. Glad you did not withdraw.

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I once played in a fund raiser scramble that offered an accurate drive award. When the winner was announced a guy complained that he was in the following group and watched the tee shot that had been off line but hit a tree and bounced back in, landing close to center line string.

The response was that the drive is measured where it ends up. Mayhem ensued. As scrambles go, alcohol may have contributed.

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If that shot had hit a tree and rolled into the hole, by his logic, the holed shot would not count..Some people consume sour grapes as a diet staple..

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If you were not fat but someone called you fat you would ignore it, right? If you WERE fat and someone called you fat, how would you react?

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That was embarrassing to the golfing community to say the least. I say ban them both a year from that golf course. I also had a run in a few years ago on a golf course. My brother and I along with to buddies were behind a slow playing foursome in front of us. The foursome behind us on one hole teed off while we were in the fairway waiting for the slow players to finish putting on the green. We were sitting in our golf carts and the guys came up behind us in their carts. I get out of the cart and grab a club not knowing what to expect. We are trying to explain to them the foursome in front of us were playing real slow. Thankfully that was all that came about of that situation. The four ended up taking off not finishing their round of golf. I’m not sure why the course marshal did not talk to that group in front of us. That day it took us 5hrs to complete that round. This is always in the back of my mind when there is a slow foursome in front and a fast foursome behind us if this will happen again. We are in our 50’s and that group behind us were probably 30ish. No matter the age have patience when out there on the golf course.😎

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Isn’t that the way it always is, the group in front of you is painfully slow and the group behind is late for a doctor’s appointment.

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or playing speed golf...or their significant others have "plans"...for them.

Learning from golf advisor.

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I have never seen an actual physical altercation but I have seen plenty of more than my share of verbal confrontations. It makes everyone there edgy and praying that it doesn’t come to blows. There’s a reason why professional golfers get boozed up during play. I’m just curious if the authorities were called since the “ videographer” provided the prosecutor with “Exibit 1”.

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My first post should have said “There is a reason why professional golfers DONT get all boozed up”.

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Ban them both from the club....forever.

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Agreed!

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Fight club or golf club?