Bad Golf Shot Starts Wildfire

[rucky]

Source: AllGov

A bad slice into the rough not only can burn a golf score but also the surrounding terrain. That’s what a golfer at Shady Canyon Golf Club in Irvine, California, found out on August 28 when he hit a rock while chipping his way back onto the course behind the fourth green. The rock strike apparently produced a spark that immediately ignited the dry brush, setting a blaze that eventually consumed 25 acres. It took 150 firefighters, 38 trucks, 53 helicopter drops and 22,000 gallons of water to put the brush fire out. No homes were damaged, and no charges were filed against the golfer.

Although suspicions immediately arose that the golfer had actually been smoking, club officials confirmed that neither the golfer nor the other members of his party—his wife and another couple—were smokers...

Read more: http://www.allgov.com/Unusual_News/ViewNews/Bad_Golf_Shot_Starts_Wildfire_100904

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[elocs]

1. Yes, I remember seeing this on the news. Wednesday morning. n/t

[Angry Dragon]

2. And I thought I had some bad rounds of golf

[Regret My New Name]

3. Damn bourgeois sports and their fire causing ways.

[Fearless]

5. I think George Carlin said it best...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbSRCjG-VLk

Relevant part starts about 2:40.

[Lasher]

4. Really? I thought they caused it by setting a signal fire.

Strange.

[uncle ray]

6. titanium clubs i reckon.

Ti makes very bright white sparks, and flares up quite a bit when a spark is made.

[louis-t]

7. Something is not right about this.

There is no way this happened the way he says.

[burrowowl]

11. Hot car tail pies,

sparks from trains passing can cause a fire in dry areas. He was using a steel club, hit against a piece of flint or like rock could cause a fire.

[Plucketeer]

8. "Some family and I played a round of golf last week"

"I'm here to tell ya, I burned up the back nine!"

[Po_d Mainiac]

9. ....+1 n/t

[wordpix]

10. maybe this golfer is not a smoker like Boehner's not a smoker

[Bombero1956]

12. how many strokes penalty is it for starting a fire

I would have to say at least 5

[petronius]

13. If a similar incident happened a few years ago, perhaps a rule of

"don't hit balls from the dry grass" should have been implemented? Given that the potential was known from experience, I'd say the club needs to share some responsibility here...