A judge in Canada has ruled that the famed Happy Gilmore golf swing has “breached the standard of care owed to other players on the course.”

WTF?

Justice Arthur J. LeBlanc basically slammed a non-traditional but legal swing that’s been a part of pop culture since its debut in the 1996 Adam Sandler movie Happy Gilmore.

“I am convinced that the Happy Gilmore shot,” wrote Judge Le Blanc in his decision, “would have been less controllable than a normal tee shot, both because it involved a run-up to the ball (rather than an aimed shot from a stationary position) and because the defendant had been drinking throughout the day.”

So what caused all of this?

In a fun filled round of golf on his wedding day, groom-to-be James Bezanson hit the links with Travis Hayter, Alan Bezanson, and Marvin Weeks. They loaded up 28 beers, some tequila, and a little pot.

On the 16th hole, Hayter sliced a shot into the trees. He hit another that dribbled up the fairway. At that point, the rest of the gang started to head down the fairway, but Hayter teed up a third ball, got a running start, and whacked the hell out of it.

His shot hit Alan Bezanson in the wrist.  A few weeks after the wedding, Bezanson decided to sue Hayter for loss of income and damages due to his wrist injury. Eventually, Justice LeBlanc ordered Hayter to pay $227,500.

The real issue here really doesn’t seem to be the Happy Gilmore swing.  What would have made more sense would have been to ban GWI, golfing while intoxicated.

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