One in the eye

A recent case in the US has revealed that making a bad shot on the golf course may well drag you into the courts. The example arose in the New Jersey appeals court over the case of Jeffrey Schick, who sued for damages due to injuries occurred when he was hit between the eyes at the 16th tee of East Orange golf course.

Originally, the case was dismissed by the citing of an assumption of "risk", a general defence to sports injury suits based on negligent conduct. However, that was reversed on appeal on the basis that this shouldn't apply to non-contact sports. "A golfer hitting a ball has a duty to use reasonable care before executing a swing," ruled the three-judge panel.

The problem though, is that the ruling also noted that the golfer had to act "recklessly" before a lawsuit could be made. And so the question remains as to the exact definition of "reckless".