Altercation between ‘numerous’ golfers on B.C. course broken up by RCMP

Authorities broke up an altercation involving “numerous” golfers at a course in B.C.’s Lower Mainland over the weekend – an incident that was apparently prompted by serious breaches in etiquette.

The incident unfolded at the Riverway Golf Course in Burnaby, where RCMP officers responded to a report of an assault in progress on Saturday morning.

Social media video shows multiple golfers punching and kicking one another on the course. Authorities confirmed a woman was also pushed to the ground during the confrontation, suffering minor injuries.

In a statement, Cpl. Laura Hirst of the Burnaby RCMP detachment said before the fracas began, one group of golfers allegedly “almost hit” another group with their golf balls “on several occasions.”

“This began the dispute that quickly turned physical,” Hirst added.

Sports commentator Matthew Sekeres, of the Sekeres & Price Show, said if the allegations are true, the group playing behind should have known better than to keep teeing up early.

“If you do that once during a round of golf, you should probably be very judicious from that point afterward – if you hit into a group once, once is enough,” Sekeres told CTV News.

He described the violence recorded on the video as “quite alarming.”

While paramedics were called to the scene as well, the RCMP said no one had to be transported to hospital.

Hirst said officers “separated all parties and escorted them off the golf course,” then took statements from several witnesses.

The Burnaby detachment told CTV News it was too early to confirm Tuesday whether any of the golfers involved could face criminal charges.

With files from CTV National News’ Andrew Johnson