Blinded by his own ball, golfer sues

Union Leader ^ | February 05, 2009 | TRENT SPINER

[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.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Rescue wood (chuckle)

How'd the conversation get turned to Viagra?

[jazusamo]

As far as I know it doesn’t mean a thing with handicaps in the USGA rules. .-)

[Badeye]

Rescue ‘wood’ not Rescue ‘woodie’....(chuckle)

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Thank you for the ping, george 76!

There are only 34 Rules Of Golf.

Email me if you want on the Golf Ping List:

Visit PGA.com, an excellent site.

[Yo-Yo]

"Keep you eye on de ball..."

[Caramelgal]

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.

Bingo! You are absolutely right! And “occasional" golfer says it all :)>,

I’ve played some courses where they have those yard marker poles in the middle of the fairway. They are made of PVC pipe and are easily removed and legally removed under the rules of golf as a “movable obstruction” if a player thinks that it will interfere with his/her shot.

If it is an “immovable obstruction” the player has only a two choices, take a drop under a penalty stroke or pitch out around it and take the stroke.

If I hit an errant shot and land behind a big tree that is between me and the green, I know I’m not talented to shape a shot around it or that my ball will magically pass through it. I’m not immune to the laws of physics and neither is anybody else.

[cleveland gop]

Wanna make a bet this mensa voted for That One??

[Bob J]

Thanks for the response, though one correction. “Movable and Immovable Obstructions” as defined by the ROG are not part of the playing course (like trees, bunkers, rough) and therefore the player is allowed to take a FREE drop to avoid the potential negative impact on his shot. Directional and yardage markers are placed on the course to give information to the player and help speed up play, not make it more challenging or difficult.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Wanna make a bet this mensa voted for That One??

Paul Sanchez: "Wood Eye???"

[IonImplantGuru]

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.

ROFLAMAO
BTDT

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

That’s nothing....I came to #9 tee at Torrey Pines North 2 under.....took a bogey and finished the side at 1 under par....(at the time I was shooting betwenn 83-88 a round).

My score to start the back nine.....double, double, triple, double.

At one point I put one into a smallish, about 12 ft high tree and it didn’t come out. I shook the tree trying to retrieve my ball. 2 balls fell out of the tree...neither were mine.

I finished with an 87.