LIV golfer Harold Varner III asked to leave Indiana golf course for breaking rules by playing in sixsome
An Indiana golf club is responding to a dispute involving LIV golfer Harold Varner III and members of the tour’s OKGC team that resulted in their group being asked to leave the course earlier this week.
Varner, competing in LIV Golf Indianpolis, had a tee time at Bear Slide Golf Club in Cicero, Indiana on Tuesday. According to a post from the club on social media, Varner had a foursome booked, but arrived 30 minutes late and with a total group of six golfers.
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The club said that the group was accommodated, but was told that they would have to split into two threesomes. The group insisted that they should be allowed to play as a group of six, but a course official told them that wasn’t allowed. The starter was asked four more times if the group could play as a sixsome, after which one of the golfers said the official was being rude.
“The starter said no, but that they could ask the pro shop if they would like,” the Facebook post said. “Mr. Varner asked the pro shop 3 separate times if they could play with a large group, to which he was informed that is not allowed, especially when there is play behind them.”
The groups then teed off as 2 threesomes, and continued playing this way on holes 1-3. When they got to the par 3 4th hole, away from the clubhouse, they joined together. One of the members of the group said they were just watching the group in front tee off, which was completely untrue. Our staff watched all 6 tee off and putt out together.”
After finishing on the fourth hole, the group was informed by course officials that they had to leave. The golfers were informed that they would receive refunds for the tee time. Bear Slide Golf Club disputed accusations that the group was told to “Get the hell off the course.”
At the time Varner’s group was told to leave, groups were behind them on the third and fourth tee, in addition to two groups on the second hole, according to the club.
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“Perhaps this group felt like they should get special privileges because of who they are and the organization they belong to,” Bear Slide Golf Club said in its post. “But we believe that everyone should be treated fairly and should follow the same rules, regardless of your playing ability or connections.”
The club did not confirm who else was in the group on Tuesday, but other members of the OKGC team include Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak and Graeme McDowell. OKGC was previously branded as Smash GC.
Varner entered Sunday’s final round of LIV Golf Indianapolis tied for 16th at 9-under. He played on the PGA Tour from 2015 to 2022 before joining LIV. Varner won the LIV Golf Washington, D.C. tournament in 2023.
