SPEAKING from experience, I can say that witnessing several players running towards the area where you have just miss-hit a ball is the most frightening sight in golf.

It’s amazing how incidental a tricky downhill putt, a tight drive or an awkward pitch over water seem when thoughts of terrible injuries and million pound lawsuits cross your mind.

Playing at Weybrook Park on a glorious afternoon a couple of weeks ago, my playing partner and I found ourselves stuck behind the tail end of an inter-club competition.

It was slow going and while we were not that bothered, we were pleased to see the group in front of us heading around a dog-leg out of our range as we got to one tee box.

I teed up a ball and hit my customary slice, which went near to the player in the trees, who we had assumed he was playing a hole heading in the other direction.

I probably should have given him a shout but the ball never really threatened him, so I was a little surprised to see him turn around and gesture his disbelief, quite possibly accompanied by some colourful language.

I waved an apology and the incident seemed to be over – but I was then overcome with panic as the players we had seen disappear around the corner began walking, then running, towards the scene of my crime.

I was immediately struck with the thought that had hit somebody I hadn’t seen, helping to look for the ball in the trees, and set off running down the fairway to help tend the injury.

My heart was racing so it was with huge relief that I discovered my mistake.

Nobody had been hit but the player in the trees had been a member of the group ahead. Shortly after admonishing me, for playing when he had not got out of range, he had found his ball, calling over the other players in his group to prove it was his, hence the dash across the fairway.

The player in question turned out to be former Hook and Newnham Basics cricketer Jordan Hobday, so I apologised, explaining that I had thought he was playing the other hole, and returned to the tee.

Seeing me may have been a relief to Jordan as well. He must have thought he had chosen to shout at some sort of golfing psycho as I charged towards him!

John Boyman

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