Man Stabbed on Golf Course in Slow Play Dispute
The man was told he and his wife were not allowed to come through and proceeded to stab a member of the group ahead


Thank you for signing up to Golf Monthly. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Man stabbed on golf course near Salt Lake City in Utah after refusing to let group behind play through
Man Stabbed on Golf Course in Slow Play Dispute
Have you ever been so fed up with slow play on the golf course that it's pushed you over the edge?
That's what happened to 61-year-old Lee Johnson in Payson, Utah, south of Salt Lake City.
Johnson was playing golf with his wife and had to ask the group ahead of him to be let through, however they didn't take it very well.
The Golf Monthly Pace of Play video playlist…
- Players not being ready to play when the course is clear or it’s their turn
- Elaborate pre-shot routines that take too long
- Players not calling faster golfers through soon enough
- General greenside etiquette
- Not playing a provisional ball when the original is in some doubt
- Not following or watching offline shots closely enough
- Marking cards on tees when someone should be hitting
Lieutenant Bill Wright of Payson Police said that a fight broke out and the clubhouse security staff were called out to resolve the issue.
According to KUTV.com, a Salt Lake City news website, around the ninth hole Johnson and his wife caught up with part of the group and thought they would be allowed to play through, but again the group refused.
Johnson then pulled a pocket knife and stabbed one person, Wright said. He was wrestled to the ground by the other golfer from the group.
The victim was treated at hospital for non life-threatening injuries whilst Johnson was sent to the Utah County Jail.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Tips on how to play better, latest equipment reviews, interviews with the biggest names and more.

Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news, features, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as four Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats anywhere between 2-5. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max
Irons: Mizuno MP5 4-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
-
-
Who is Belen Mozo? 15 Things You Didn't Know About The Solheim Cup Opening Ceremony Host
Get to know talented amateur Belen Mozo better
By Elliott Heath Published
-
‘It Was Devastating’ - Bradley Reveals Netflix Filmed Ryder Cup Phone Call
Keegan Bradley says a Netflix film crew rushed around to his house to film him as he was told he didn't make the Ryder Cup team
By Paul Higham Published