Spat over course etiquette leads to assault after angry golfer calls man’s wife derogatory term

A day on the golf course turned into a bloody mess with one man suffering serious injuries and another behind bars, authorities in Indiana say.

It happened shortly after 1 p.m. on Friday at the Links at Heartland Crossing golf course in Camby, which is just outside of Indianapolis. Deputies with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the golf course and found the victim sitting in the back of an ambulance. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the victim said he was playing golf with some buddies when his group decided to go into the clubhouse to order food after finishing the front nine.

There was a group behind them with two men and a woman who “cut” in front of them while they were in the clubhouse and went to the 10th tee, the affidavit said. The victim said he had “some choice words” for the group, saying they were not showing “proper golf etiquette” by playing through without asking.

He saw the woman leaving the clubhouse in a golf cart and told her “they were being a——- for cutting in front of them,” according to the affidavit. The victim said the woman “flipped him off and went crying back to her group,” per the affidavit. His playing partners told cops that a few minutes later, the woman’s husband, later identified as 34-year-old Jerry Whitaker, got in the victim’s face, cops wrote. Whitaker demanded the victim apologize for calling his wife a c—. The victim refused. Whitaker allegedly punched the victim in the face several times. According to cops, witnesses said the victim fell down and Whitaker picked him up and slammed him to the ground.

It caused the victim to lose consciousness and the victim’s playing partner said it appeared he stopped breathing for a few seconds, according to the affidavit. He also was bleeding from the forehead, detectives wrote. People called 911 and the ambulance took the victim to the hospital. He suffered seven broken ribs, a punctured lung and a broken piece of vertebrae in his back, the affidavit said. The gash on his forehead needed several stitches.

Cops arrested Whitaker on charges of aggravated battery, disorderly conduct and battery. He has since posted bond. His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 18. His lawyer declined to comment.

The post Spat over course etiquette leads to assault after angry golfer calls man’s wife derogatory term first appeared on Law & Crime.