Golf is supposed to be a leisurely gentleman’s pastime, but for one Florida man, a slightly sluggish round apparently warranted full-contact combat sports.
Rhett Drummond, 50, found himself in a Pinellas County jail cell after law enforcement said his blood pressure soared far higher than his handicap at the Lansbrook Golf Club in Palm Harbor.
His opponent in this completely unhinged match? An unnamed 15-year-old kid who dared to take his sweet time lining up a shot.
According to an arrest affidavit, the two golfers began trading verbal jabs on the morning of Aug. 22 because Drummond was fed up with the teenager’s slow pace.
Deputies noted that both were “being disrespectful toward each other” before finally agreeing to separate and cool down in different parts of the course.
Cool down, that is, until Drummond decided golf carts make terrific bumper cars.
Instead of taking a few practice swings to vent his frustration, Drummond allegedly tracked down the kid, floored the accelerator, and rammed his cart directly into the teenager’s ride. The startled 15-year-old tried to make a break for it, but Drummond wasn’t letting him drive off into the fairway.
Police say Drummond yanked the teen out of the cart by his shirt collar, slammed him onto the grass, and landed several punches to the boy’s head and face.
By the time deputies arrived to play through, the teenager had red marks on his neck and a bloody nose. Drummond, meanwhile, apparently decided against spinning a wild alibi and simply admitted to the physical confrontation right then and there.
The victim’s family made it clear they are pressing charges, ensuring Drummond’s scorecard includes a brand-new third-degree child abuse charge. He managed to post a $500 cash bond, leaving the green behind for a future date with a judge who will likely remind him that you can’t play through with your fists.
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