There are many ways to handle a slow golfer. You can ask politely. You can let them through. You can simmer in quiet rage for 18 holes and write a strongly worded post on a golf forum later.
Nick Tarnasky is a former NHL enforcer. He handled it differently.
For more info: Yahoo Sports
The scene: Alberta Springs Golf Resort outside Red Deer, Alberta, hole 15. A man named Trevor Ogilvie was taking 20 to 25 minutes to play each hole, by multiple accounts, and had apparently spent the round challenging other golfers to fights. By the time Tarnasky’s group caught up with him, the situation had reached its natural conclusion.
Ogilvie rushed at Tarnasky. Tarnasky — who spent parts of several NHL seasons as a professional fighter — lifted him off the ground and threw him into the pond. Then, in what can only be described as a bold strategic decision, Ogilvie got out of the pond and tried again. Tarnasky responded with a series of punches, reportedly shouting “bang” with each one, before sending him back into the water for a second dip.
The RCMP received a third-party report but arrived to find no complainant. Nobody pressed charges. Tarnasky was cleared. A memorial was later erected at the pond by the golf community, because of course it was.
The lesson here is probably about pace of play. Or maybe about picking your battles. Definitely at least one of those.
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