WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) \u2014 Golf was once known as a gentleman\u2019s game \u2014 built on silence, sportsmanship, and self-control. But lately, things have gotten messy.<\/p>\n
A viral video out of Canada shows a fight between two golfers ending with one man \u2014 a former NHL player who once suited up for the Florida Panthers \u2014 allegedly throwing another into a pond.<\/p>\n
The clip, circulating all over social media, exploded online under the hashtag #GolfRage, adding fuel to a growing trend of \u201cfairway freakouts.\u201d<\/p>\n
From club tosses to shouting matches, videos of golfers losing their cool are racking up millions of views on social media.<\/p>\n
While most meltdowns aren\u2019t happening on local greens, course managers say the cultural shift is noticeable \u2014 even in Palm Beach County, home to more than 150 golf courses and several major tour events.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was funny for the moment, but in context, out of context yeah, it was unfortunate,\u201d said Brian Conley, general manager of The Park in West Palm Beach. \u201cIf it gives the game a bad name, those of us in the industry get a little upset about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Conley hasn\u2019t seen any full-blown fights at his course, but says tempers flare more often than people realize \u2014 especially when alcohol is involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen some pretty classic club tosses. I\u2019ve actually even broken a club myself,\u201d he said. \u201cWe all can have a moment where we lose composure. But golf is a game where your personality \u2014 your character \u2014 it\u2019s all on full display.\u201d<\/p>\n
Staff at The Park say part of managing that pressure is setting expectations before players ever tee off.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe kind of set the precedent when you start here: don\u2019t take it too seriously. Don\u2019t take yourself too seriously,\u201d Conley said. \u201cOtherwise, it can escalate to where you saw it and where it can happen sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clay Myers, the head golf professional at The Park, says the biggest trigger he sees is pace of play \u2014 the same issue that reportedly sparked the pondside brawl.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number one thing is pace of play. From that viral clip, that\u2019s what it looked like to me,\u201d he said. \u201cOut here, we try to catch slow groups early. We try to mitigate that before it becomes an issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Myers says the goal isn\u2019t perfection \u2014 it\u2019s pace, patience, and perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re still going to come back and play again. It\u2019s not life or death. It\u2019s just a game. So I just try to have fun every time,\u201d said Myers.<\/p>\n
Even professionals say the frustration is real. Brody Harbinson, an Australian touring pro based in Florida, says he\u2019s had his moments too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have absolutely thrown clubs, and I\u2019ve learned my fair share,\u201d Harbinson told CBS12 News reporter Katie Bente. \u201cBut we\u2019ve always got people watching us. As much as the game frustrates us, you have to be respectful to an extent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harbinson says tour players face fines and penalties for behavior \u2014 even slow play \u2014 and are expected to uphold a code of conduct.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re caught swearing, that\u2019s against the code of conduct,\u201d he said. \u201cEven slow play can affect the rest of the field. So there are so many regulations in place to keep the respect in the game \u2014 not just for the game, but for other players too.\u201d<\/p>\n
And in the era of viral content, the lines between authenticity and performance can blur.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much out there, you don\u2019t know what\u2019s real and what\u2019s fake,\u201d Harbinson said.<\/p>\n