Amateur didn’t know someone saw him cheat. Now he’s banned

Craig Surgeon says he ‘found’ his ball.

Then Scotland’s Lothians Golf Association found out how he did. 

As a result, and as first reported by the Scotsman’s Martin Dempster, the group has suspended the Scottish amateur player five years — and he has written several social media posts explaining what happened. His move came in July during the Lothians Golf Association’s Lothians Amateur Championship.

According to Dempster’s story, the Lothians Golf Association said at the time that Surgeon had contacted the group after his day’s round to report that he had played a wrong ball and that he had disqualified himself. On the X social media platform, Surgeon confirmed a post that said there had been “a major incident” at the event and that a player had been “caught red-handed.”

“Unfortunately it’s true,” Surgeon’s post read. “It was me, I DQ myself and I have owned up and am facing the consequences. Everyone knows, it’s no secret. Again to everyone I’m sorry and it’s something Iv got to deal with moving forward. Thank you.”

Over several responses to questions, Surgeon then explained what he did. 

He wrote that he had hit his tee shot “necky” and into the trees, then hit a provisional “on a similar line but smoked inside the tree line (should be safe but further up).” But he found the first ball and not the provisional — both of which were the same style of ball, which, he wrote, might have led to some doubts.   

So he put down a “new” provisional and picked it up. 

“Id found the first one,” Surgeon wrote, “but panicked in the heat of the moment as I didn’t think my playing partners would believe me.”

There was a problem with his plan, though. “Someone,” he wrote, had seen his move, which he learned when he got home. “Then I DQ myself,” he wrote.  

An X user then asked what Surgeon would’ve done had he not been told he’d been caught. Would he have still disqualified himself?

“Hard to answer … coz it didn’t happen that way,” he wrote. “someone did see to make the decision easy.”

Recently, the Lothians Golf Association sent a statement to the Scotsman’s Dempster regarding “an incident” at the tournament and the ensuing five-year suspension, though it didn’t name Surgeon. 

“Following an incident that occurred during the qualifying rounds of the Lothians Amateur Championship in July, the Association investigated one player’s actions. As a result of these investigations and the information available, they have now concluded that investigation.

“Subsequently, a player has been suspended from entering all Lothians Golf Association events for a period of five years, with the last three years suspended.

“The Association feels its actions are justified, prioritizing the integrity of golf. The player and his club have now been informed and the Association now considers the matter closed.”

Surgeon’s Scottish club, Kingsknowe Golf Club in Edinburgh, also sent a statement to Dempster, saying that it would “replicate” the Lothians’ punishment. 

“Kingsknowe Golf Club has been made aware that a member has received a suspension from county golf by the Lothians Golf Association following a confirmed incident of cheating during a regional event.

“Although the individual has only been a member of Kingsknowe for a short period, the club wishes to make its position absolutely clear.

“Kingsknowe Golf Club does not tolerate or condone any behavior that undermines the integrity of the game. Honesty, respect and adherence to the rules are fundamental values of our club and essential to the spirit of golf.

“In line with the Lothians Golf Association’s decision, Kingsknowe Golf Club will replicate the suspension and the individual concerned will not be permitted to represent the club in any capacity for the duration of the county ban. A formal disciplinary proceeding is also underway as per club policy.”

Editor’s note: To read Dempster’s stories, please click here and here. To read Surgeon’s X thread, please click here. 

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