The owners of a golf course in West Kelowna say they demand restitution of those involved in a physical altercation in their course earlier this week, an incident that describe as a desecration of the property and a violation of the community values.
The confrontation in the golf course and the Eagles Academy was captured on video on Monday and since then it has circulated online. It shows a heated dispute between two groups of golfers, increasing to shout, push and blows, while others try to intervene.
The course is located in Westbank First Nation Land and is under indigenous property.
In a statement on Wednesday, the operators said those involved in the altercation will face consequences.
“Anyone who does not adhere to the … rules will be prohibited,” they said. “We will actively involve a restitution process.”
Police in West Kelowna is investigating a fight that exploded in a golf course on Monday night. Now, the video of the incident, according to the reports, triggered by a clash about the rhythm of the people who were playing golf, is circulating online. Rafferty Baker has more.
They said that restitution could include a donation to inclusive sports programs, such as the Junior BC Golf program or the Canadian Tire Jumstart initiative, or take the respect course in the sports course.
West Kelowna RCMP confirmed that they responded to the scene on Monday night and say that all the people involved have been identified.
“We have seen the video phone video of the incident and it is nothing less than unacceptable behavior,” said the sergeant. Brendan Dolan in a statement, adding that the matter remains under investigation.
The witness Jennifer Pont, who was playing golf behind the two groups and then shared the video with CBC News, said the fight seemed to be due to frustration by delays in the course.
“There were definitely a lot of aggression and tons of screams and screams,” Pont said during an interview with CBC’s Radio to the west. “There were a group of men in the Tee box in hole 18 and were frustrated with the group in front of them because they were being slow all day.”
She says that a previous tournament had retreated Tee’s times in about 30 minutes, and that the groups had been colliding with the game rhythm.
The slow game is a persistent problem in the golf courses in BC and in all Canada, often causing frustration among the players. Golf organizations have made efforts to address the problem, but Pont says that disputes about the game rhythm should not end with a fist fight.
“We golf a lot and we haven’t seen anything remotely close to that,” he said. “He was shameful, shameful and ridiculous.”
The two -eagles operators say that this is the first incident of their kind in their course in 20 years and will be treated with “greater gravity.”
They are requesting a full RCMP report and say they expect the incident not to leave a lasting negative impression in the community, especially young players.
