Golfer gave pensioner black eye in row over slow play

Player in his 70s punched in face after asking group to ‘get a move on’

A FRUSTRATED golfer who asked a party of players in front of him to “get a move on” ended up being punched in the face by one of the group, a court has heard.

Justin Lowe took such offence at being told to hurry up during a round at a Dorset golf club that he came to blows with the pensioner who was waiting behind him.

James Claridge was left with a black eye following the fracas at the 15th hole, sparked after he told Lowe to “get a move on”.

Mr Claridge had become increasingly frustrated at being stuck behind 41-yearold Lowe and his friends.

A court heard that Mr Claridge, who is in his 70s, grew impatient from the 4th hole onwards and began making audible remarks about the slow progress of the group ahead of him as he made his way round Ferndown Forest Golf Club with his friends.

Matters came to a head on the difficult par 4 15th hole, when Mr Claridge shouted across to Lowe, who then marched over to him. Lowe, an ice cream vendor and member of a local Masonic lodge, then punched Mr Claridge on the left side of his face, leaving him nursing a black eye.

Police were called and arrested Lowe, who had rejoined his party following the assault at the clubhouse on Aug 4 last year.

At Poole magistrates’ court, Lowe, who runs an ice cream kiosk in Swanage, admitted assault.

Richard Oakley, prosecuting, said: “Mr Claridge was on the course behind a group that group was playing at what he perceived to be a slow pace and there were frustrations over that.

“Mr Claridge called across asking them to get a move on, essentially.

“The defendant went over, shouting at him, with his face close to Mr Claridge’s.”

He added: “Mr Claridge pushed him away and was then punched to the left side of the face with the right fist. Mr Claridge suffered a significant bruise under his eye as a result of the incident.”

District Judge Stephen Nichols was shown graphic images of the injuries Mr Claridge sustained. When interviewed by police, Lowe claimed Mr Claridge had grabbed him by the throat and maintained he acted in self-defence. However, he did not repeat the accusation in court and accepted responsibility for the attack.

Ben Schofield, mitigating for Lowe, said it was an “isolated incident” and insisted there had been an element of provocation.

“This is an incident that the defendant deeply regrets. It is not a situation he often gets himself into,” he said. “They were making remarks from the fourth hole onward and this took place on the 15th, so I would say there was an element of provocation.”

Mr Schofield added: “Mr Lowe runs a family ice cream kiosk in Swanage, which has struggled because of coronavirus, which has had a huge financial impact.

“It has had such a negative impact on him that he is now on financial credit.”

Judge Nichols ordered Lowe to pay Mr Claridge £100 compensation, as well as £85 prosecution costs. He also imposed a four-week curfew barring Lowe from leaving his house between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

Lowe, from Bournemouth, is a member of the St Aldhelm’s Lodge in Poole and will also face a Masonic disciplinary hearing following his conviction.