News

More bad news for guy who drunkenly drove golf cart into a car, fought police

Published

11 years ago

Nov 5, 2015

Does this look like the face of a man who “got drunk at a golf tournament, took a cart on a joyride on a public road, ran a red light, crashed into a car, fell onto the street and, while kicking and screaming, had to be wrestled to the ground by cops?”

David Ovalle of the Miami Herald reports on a ridiculous incident that has only become more bizarre.

The 2009 drunken afternoon ride of Daniel Carpenter has had some unintended consequences, not the least of which is Mr. Carpenter can’t claim the $182,429 he was awarded in a separate lawsuit.

Here’s why.

Wednesday, a Miami-Dade appeals court dispensed with the verdict in a separate 2009 suit brought by Carpenter against a driver who struck Carpenter’s vehicle on Interstate 95 in September of that year.

Carpenter sued the driver, whose lawyers allege the accident was a “minor fender bender,” after complaining of neck and back pain (although a visit to a chiropractor revealed no evidence of injury following the car accident).

And, as you probably guessed, Carpenter’s ill-fated golf course episode occurred shortly after the car accident and prior to the eventual spinal surgery, which was the core of Carpenter’s appeal for damages.

The jury in Carpenter’s original case wasn’t made aware of the golf cart wreck, or the resulting struggle with law enforcement. Thus, the judges ruled it couldn’t be determined whether whatever necessitated the spinal surgery resulted from the car accident or the golf cart accident/police altercation.

Therefore, Carpenter isn’t entitled to the damages. Or at the very least, the jury should have been privy to information about his drunken EZ-Go buffoonery and its possible causation of his back ailment, and a new trial is necessary.

Let this serve as a cautionary tale next time the beverage cart rolls by.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

9 Comments

Lob Wedge

Nov 7, 2015 at 5:11 pm

This is why I don’t let my kids golf. It’s just too dangerous.

Reply Report comment
Adam

Nov 6, 2015 at 12:44 pm

You just cant cure Stupid….

Reply Report comment
Robert

Nov 5, 2015 at 2:03 pm

Some guys just can’t handle Vegas.

Reply Report comment
- Jon
  
  Nov 5, 2015 at 2:47 pm
  
  Some guys cant handle Hawaii
  
  Reply Report comment
devilsadvocate

Nov 5, 2015 at 1:24 pm

I enjoyed the story… Worth the 45 sec imo… Golf is not really in its big time news season folks calm down

Reply Report comment
Tom

Nov 5, 2015 at 12:03 pm

Awww come on guy’s were your sense of humor?

Reply Report comment
b

Nov 5, 2015 at 10:55 am

every village has their idiot…

can we stick to golf related articles from now on.

Reply Report comment
Steve

Nov 5, 2015 at 10:27 am

And this is golf related, because he drove a golf cart drunk? This site really wants content, sometimes less is more

Reply Report comment
- If you don't like it, don't read it....
  
  Nov 14, 2015 at 12:35 pm
  
  So many times they’re are those complaining about the content of the biggest golf site that caters to tour news, equipment, instruction, WITB section that no other site can compare to, and much more you could spend weeks or even some extra scratch going through BST. If you don’t like the article, stop reading and move on to one of the thousands of others. if that doesn’t satisfy you, go read “new content” in the forums…why waste your time writing a flat out knock on the site you are sitting on, then ignorantly voice your opinion of what the most successful golf site should write about.
  Remember they are doing it for free. You are reading it for free. If you don’t like it, go somewhere else. And while your at it, look at the numbers of members, then actual members/guest online, and their number of sponsors and compare to any other golf info/news,forum site. WRX must be doing something right. So hop out of the Bentley, and go test drive a few pinto’s. Maybe then you will respect the effort made by those on this site who don’t get paid to provide “useless info” that wasn’t apparently designed around your preferences.
  
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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping Max G440
Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
Wedges
Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026

LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.

Niemann’s Suitcase