A Florida man, Jason Hughes, has been arrested and banned from public golf courses after allegedly beating up another golfer over slow play. The incident happened at a golf course in Kissimmee, Florida, as what started as a regular round ended in a physical altercation — with one man sent to the hospital and the other now facing criminal charges.
Golfer Resorts To Violence After Losing His Patience
According to police reports, Hughes was growing frustrated with the pace of play from the group ahead of him. He claimed he had already told them to speed up several times. But when he saw one of the men still chatting and not playing, he lost his temper.
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Hughes walked up to the man and started shouting. Then, without warning, he began punching the golfer in the face. The victim fell to the ground as Hughes continued to hit him, and the two men were eventually separated by their playing partners. Witnesses said the attack seemed to come out of nowhere and happened very fast.
The man who was attacked suffered a serious injury. He had a broken bone around his eye, cuts on his face, and bruises, but turned down an ambulance. Instead, his friend drove him to the hospital, where he received stitches and treatment. The victim said he and Hughes had exchanged words several times on the course before the attack. The victim was playing with his friend in front of Hughes, who reportedly told them more than once to hurry up.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the incident after getting reports from the golf course. Security camera footage helped identify Hughes. His credit card was also used to reserve a tee time, making it easier for deputies to track him down.
Hughes Banned From Public Golf Until Further Notice
After the fight, Hughes and his playing partner left the scene in their golf cart and took it to their car in the lot. They then drove off before deputies arrived. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with help from golf course staff, used surveillance footage and credit card details from the tee time booking to identify them.
Deputies arrested Hughes last Thursday and charged him with aggravated battery causing bodily harm. He appeared in court for the first time on Friday after authorities took him to the Osceola County Jail, where a judge set his bond at $2,500. As part of his release conditions, the court banned him from playing golf on any public course until further notice.
Hughes now faces serious legal trouble and may receive a fine or jail time if the court finds him guilty. The case remains open, and officials have not scheduled a trial date yet.
Main Photo Credit: © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
