Posted on 02/05/2009 10:03:23 AM PST by george76
Paul Sanchez, a 67-year-old "occasional" golfer, sued Candia Woods Golf Links this week over an accident that left him blind in one eye.
Sanchez, of 20 Country Club Drive, Manchester, was golfing with two or three friends in September 2006 when a ball he hit bounced off a yardage-marker and "whacked him" in the right eye, according to his attorney, Barry M. Scotch.
"Before he could even -- pardon the expression -- blink, he was hit," Scotch said. "It just ricocheted right back at him."
In the lawsuit, Sanchez faults the course's owners for failing to warn him about the markers, which are used by golfers to decide what type of club to use and how much effort to put into a swing.
Sanchez is seeking unspecified damages, claiming the markers were made of material too rigid to be safe for the course, according to the suit filed in Rockingham County Superior Court. He also blames the mishap on a lack of warning about the markers and improper placement in the middle of the fairway.
The suit contends the course didn't warn Sanchez about the risk in the pro shop, on the scorecard or on any tee boxes.
Police at the time said Sanchez was playing the 11th hole, a 443-yard par-4.
The suit said it was Sanchez's third shot on the hole. The marker was 150 yards from the green.
(Excerpt) Read more at unionleader.com ...
Wonder how his follow up shot was.
Any other arrangement and all the golf courses in America would be forced out of business.
Most of the erect 150 yard markers I've seen can be pulled out and replaced after a shot bringing them under the “movable obstruction” rule. This way a player doesn't need to take a drop. This player had to have been pretty close to the marker for it to ricochet fast and hard enough to blind him. If he failed to pull it out and place it on the grass then that was his error. If it was immovable and he didn't take a drop far enough away to take it out of play, again his fault.
And his first... and most DEFINITELY his third!!
I have seen many courses where a stake in the appropriate color was in the middle of the fairway. I always questioned the usage as well.
Rescue wood (chuckle)
I didn’t question their usage, I find them quite useful when the contours and direction of the fairways makes it difficult to ascertain a target for your ball off the tee.
I recently played with a relatively new golfer who kept asking “where should I aim?” and I kept saying “the 150 yard marker”.
Reminds me of the foursome composed of a doctor, an attorney, a minister and an accountant ...
8-)
No I guess you didn’t. I just never had a use for them myself.
Bailiff? Whack his pee-pee.
Depends on how far you hit off the tee. If you’re in the 200-220 range, they aren’t much useful. I hit 260-300. From the blues on most courses (6200-6500) the 150 markers are a good idea of the area my ball will land, so I like them as a reference tool.
I’m not bragging, just saying how it is.
LOL!
I've been on golf courses maybe 50 times in my life, but do not consider myself a golfer. But even I am not that bad!
A golfer that lousy should be playing with full hockey goalie regalia...
“You’ll get nothing and like it.”
Amazing << Hear this. Feel this, and tell me that this isn't music.
Hey Barack HUSSEIN Obama, I went to Harvard too! That was the worst fieldtrip of my life, but I went there...
Actually, for a blind foursome to play 18 holes in only 13-1/2 hours is awesome!
No I mean using the rod as a line of sight/directional. I have only played a few courses in my life that the topography was seriously aided by those or the extended pin flags.
I always check the yardage before a shot if the info is available. I have gotten pretty consistent with my clubs so I have to trust them.
I was thinking along the lines of contributory negligence since HE hit the ball.
Hopefully playing with one eye will improve his game.
Blinded in one eye...is that considered improving or hurting your handicap?
We’ve all been there, bro!
Drive (Square Sumo, Titleist ProV1x ball): Duck-hook topper, 125 yards
Second (4 iron): 160-yard bannana while attempting to fly the leftside fairway bunker. The miraculously changed-to Pinnacle Gold ball lands behind the yardage marker, 158 left. Lie is scruffed up with the blade of the iron.
Third (7 iron): Low screamer that hits the yardage marker square - A come-backer!
That will leave a mark.
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