Craig Surgeon says he has “found” his ball.
So Scotland’s Lothians Golf Association found out how he did it.
As a result, and as previously reported by him Scotsman Martin Dempsterthe group suspended the Scottish amateur player five years – and wrote many social media posts explain what happened. His move came in July during the Lothians Golf Association Lothians Amateur Championship.
According to Dempster’s story, the Lothians Golf Association said at the time that the Surgeon had contacted the group after his round of the day to report that he had played the wrong ball and disqualified himself. On social networking platform X, Surgeon confirmed a place who said there was “a major incident” at the event and a player was “redacted”.
“Unfortunately it’s true,” read Surgeon’s post. “It was me, I DQ myself and I had and I faced the consequences. Everyone knows, it’s not a secret. Again to everyone, I’m sorry and it’s something I have to deal with moving forward. Thank you.”
More than several answers to questions, the surgeon explained what he did.
He wrote that he had hit his tee shot “neck” and into the trees, then made a provisional “on a similar line, but smoked inside the tree line (it should be safe, but higher).” But he found the first ball and not the provisional one – both were the same style of ball, which, he wrote, could have led to some doubts.
So he placed a temporary “new” and took it.
“I found the first one,” wrote Surgeon, “but I panicked in the heat of the moment because I didn’t think my playmates would believe me.”
There was a problem with his plan, however. “Someone,” he wrote, had seen his move, which he learned when he got home. “So I DQ myself,” he wrote.
A user X then asked what Surgeon would have done if he hadn’t been told he had been caught. Would he also be disqualified himself?
“Hard to answer … because it didn’t happen that way,” he wrote. “Someone saw to make the decision easy.”
Recently, the Lothians Golf Association sent a statement to the Scotsman’s Dempster regarding “an incident” in the tournament and the five-year suspension that followed, although it did not name the surgeon.
“Following an incident that occurred during the qualifying rounds of the Lothians Amateur Championship in July, the Association investigated the actions of a player. As a result of these investigations and the information available, they have now concluded this investigation.
“A player was subsequently suspended from entering all Lothians Golf Association events for a period of five years, with the final three years suspended.
“The Association feels that its actions are justified, prioritizing the integrity of golf. The player and his club are now informed and the Association now considers the matter closed.”
Surgeon’s Scottish club, Kingsknowe Golf Club in Edinburgh, too sent a statement to Dempster, saying that he would “replicate” the punishment of the Lothians.
“Kingsknowe Golf Club has been informed that a member has received a suspension from county golf by the Lothians Golf Association following a confirmed incident of cheating during a regional event.
“Although the individual has only been a member of Kingsknowe for a short period, the club would like to make its position absolutely clear.
“Kingsknowe Golf Club will not tolerate or condone any behavior that undermines the integrity of the game. Honesty, respect and adherence to the rules are core values of our club and essential to the spirit of golf.
“In accordance with the decision of the Lothians Golf Association, Kingsknowe Golf Club will replicate the suspension and the individual concerned will not be allowed to represent the club in any capacity for the duration of the county ban. A formal disciplinary procedure is also underway in accordance with club policy.”
Editor’s Note: To read Dempster’s stories, click here here and here. To read the Surgeon’s X thread, click here here.
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