By Dan Moschetti
Recently, a 71 year-old Illinois woman drowned when she ran her golf cart
into a water hazard. Margaret Scott was playing golf with her husband
Maurice at the Landings Yacht Golf and Tennis Club. Maurice had hit a chip
shot from about 30 yards to the green and motioned for Margaret to drive
forward.
Margaret pulled forward and lost control and veered into the lake. Maurice
heard his wife scream and looked up just in time to see the cart hit the
water. Sheriff's Lieutenant Jim Nygard stated, "We are not sure how she
lost control. It's very steep along the cart path and the cart sank
quickly."
Several people attempted to rescue Margaret by jumping into the lake. The
cart had settled in about 30 feet of water and despite a valiant effort they
were unable to reach her.
With the millions of rounds played, serious accidents on the golf course are
still rare. However, safety is something that should always be on our mind.
We sometimes think of golf carts as more of a toy than a motor vehicle. A
few years ago a good friend of mine in Atlanta was out with his grandson
enjoying a round of golf, when their cart rolled down a hill causing a wrist
fracture in the youngster and a shoulder injury to my friend.
And golf carts aren't the only things that can injure us on the course. The
carelessly swung golf club or errant ball can cause major injury and even
death.
Last week, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that golfers couldn't be sued
if their errant shots injure other players unless they engage in reckless or
intentionally dangerous conduct.
Jeffrey Schick who was knocked unconscious when he was struck in the face by
a golf ball it by John Ferolito brought this case. Schick claimed that
Ferolito's second shot (mulligan) was made without proper warning. According
to Feronlito, one of the founders of Arizona Iced Tea, "I didn't recall if
it was the first or second shot off the tee," and that he had made eye
contact and waived at Schick as he prepared to take the shot.
In an Indiana decision last week however Terri Deeb received a $1.2 million
settlement when a golf ball struck her in the eye. She claimed that while
she was standing on the green, Sonny Mosley struck his ball from an adjacent
fairway about 6 yards away. Mosley supposedly yelled what Deeb described as
a delayed 'fore' when he saw the ball traveling in the wrong direction.
A golf club or ball traveling between 79 and 125 miles-per-hour is a lethal
weapon. A golf cart meandering beside a fairway can roll down a hill with
the same devastating effect of your family car. (At least in the car you're
belted in.)
As with anything in life, a little caution can mean the difference between a
good walk, and a good walk spoiled.
As the duty sergeant on Hill Street Blues used to say, "Let's be careful
out there."
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