Golf course dispute sends 1 man to hospital, 2 others to jail


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PROVO -- Golf is known as a gentleman's game. But on Saturday morning in Provo, there were no gentlemen around.

In fact, there was no etiquette at all, as one golfer was taken to the hospital and two others went to jail.

Late Saturday morning, play on the Reserve at East Bay golf course in Provo turned violent over a dispute between two golfing parties about "playing through."

John Black, left, and Brice Williams, right, were arrested after the attacks.
John Black, left, and Brice Williams, right, were arrested after the attacks.

According to Provo police, it happened at the tee box on hole No. 10 where a group thought they had permission from the course marshal to go ahead.

In the end, two of those golfers ended up under arrest.

Police say the two golfing parties started exchanging words, which escalated to a golf driver being used as a weapon.

All of the sudden, police dispatchers got a flood of 911 calls -- including one from each of the two men now under arrest -- asking for help.

Not only did the 41-year-old victim suffer what police said was a hematoma on his back, he sustained a puncture wound and abrasions to his thigh after the driver broke in half and was used as a blunt instrument.

The victim also reported he was punched several times.

John Black, 53, and Brice Williams, 59, were booked on charges of aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.

Police are not commenting about who may have started the altercation or if the victim became physical; it's all said to be under investigation.

There was a much more peaceful atmosphere at the course Monday afternoon, where golfers called the altercation unbelievable.

The pro at the Reserve at East Bay golf course declined to respond to Saturday's incident.

Because of the holiday, KSL could not get an update on the victim's condition.

And it has been an extra long weekend for the two men arrested. They were still in jail Monday night, waiting to see a judge. They'll get a bail hearing Tuesday morning.

E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com

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