Golfer who killed hawk apologises after being charged

[Robert T]

An animal rights group wants the PGA Tour to take action against player Tripp Isenhour, facing charges for hitting a hawk with a golf shot

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[Chocky]

What a despicable thing to do . He must have known that by hitting the bird with a golf ball like that it would kill the bird.

[rolf]

Yes, I initially thought it was accidentally, until I saw the rest of the article.

Tripp Isenhour was charged on Wednesday with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird after the hawk was felled by one of the balls. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 (£745) in fines.

"Because of the high-profile nature of this case, the PGA [Professional Golfers' Association] needs to take steps to address its interest and to make it clear that they don't condone animal cruelty," said Dale Bartlett, of the Humane Society of the United States.

He said the organisation would contact the PGA Tour today to discuss the issue.

Isenhour, playing on the Nationwide tour this season after losing his PGA tour card last year, apologised in a statement released yesterday and said he had been trying to scare the hawk away.

The 39-year-old, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, became angry when a squawking red-shouldered hawk interrupted filming of Shoot Like A Pro on December 12 at the Grand Cypress golf club in Orlando, Florida.

He drove closer to the bird in his golf cart and starting hitting balls at it, but the bird didn't move and Isenhour gave up and drove away.

Isenhour started again when the hawk moved within about 75 metres of him, according to a Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission officer, Brian Baine.

Isenhour allegedly said "I'll get him now" and aimed for the hawk.
"About the sixth ball came very near the bird's head, and [Isenhour] was very excited that it was so close," Baine said in a report.

A few shots later, witnesses said, he hit the hawk. The bird, protected as a migratory species, fell to the ground bleeding from both nostrils.

"As soon as this happened, I was mortified and extremely upset and continue to be upset," Isenhour said in his statement. "I want to let everyone know there was neither any malice nor deliberate intent whatsoever to hit or harm the hawk. I was trying to simply scare it into flying away."

Jethro Senger, a sound engineer at the shoot, said hitting the bird was "basically like a joke" to Isenhour.

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[Chocky]

Thing is a golfer on his par can, because of his accuracy, use his golfing tools like a weapon. And this is what he did.

[rolf]

It wasn't so much a matter of his skill, but the fact that he repeatedly fired balls until he hit it.

[Chocky]

Yes. Sounds like a selfish person to me

[rolf]

Unfortunately, he is not a rare breed, there are lots of people like him.