A hazard near the 18th green at Westmoreland Country Club was more than just a penalty for a poor shot, according to a lawsuit filed this week.
Matthew D. Zegarelli of Trafford claims he was injured when he stepped into a hole from a sprinkler head hidden under overgrown grass between the green and a sand trap.
The hole should not have been there, or at the very least should have been marked as a dangerous hazard and cordoned off, according to the two-count lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County Court.
“The hole was in an area in which the defendants knew or should have known that a golfer and invitees would traverse,” the filing states.
Zegarelli claims he sustained a ruptured right quadriceps that required surgery.
He is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory damages from the Penn Township country club and its golf course manager. The lawsuit alleges Zegarelli underwent pain and suffering and that he and his wife experienced emotional distress as a result of the leg injury.
“There were no warnings that the hazard was present on the subject premises, nor was plaintiff told to not walk in this area or to proceed with caution,” the lawsuit claims.
Zegarelli alleges the club and its managers were negligent and careless by failing to properly mark the area.
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Westmoreland Country Club and its course manager, Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Troon Golf.
A call to the Westmoreland Country Club seeking comment on the allegations went unanswered Friday.