There are many words used to describe a “gentleman,” such as honorable, honest and courageous, and one would assume that those qualities would exist in those who entertain themselves through the game of golf.

I have been living on the 14th fairway of Belle Terre Country Club in LaPlace for 16 years and recognized, when I purchased a home in that location, that I might encounter “errant” tee shots from the 14th tee box, so I always took heed, to where I parked my two vehicles.

Having had one of my cars serviced and washed late Thursday and being aware of the impending bad weather for Friday (Feb. 16) and potential of no golf activity, I took a chance of parking one of my cars under my carport.

In late afternoon on Friday, my neighbor alerted me to the fact that a golf ball had been driven through the back window, and was resting on the back seat, with the entire back glass shattered.

Where the vehicle was parked was strictly my fault, and I recognize that fact and assume that responsibility; however, some “Gentleman Golfer,” had to have realized the damage that had been done in his “search” to locate his “lost” ball.

During my 16 years of residence, we have absorbed three broken windows, and each time the golfer “owned up” to his error and remitted the deductible amount to cover the cost of repairs.

The “shot” that destroyed my car window had to have been from the golfer’s second shot, as the force from his “hook” was strong enough to not only penetrate, but go completely through the window, a feat that would be virtually impossible from the tee box.

In this case, the “Gentleman Golfer,” chose the COWARD’S way out — he RAN, and thus, failed to “own up” to his errant shot.

Bigger, however, that the $100 deductible I will assume, is the loss of the use of my vehicle, which will require three to four days for the new window to be delivered and installed.

With the “Moral Compass” in today’s society, swinging in the WRONG direction with young people, think about the lessons this “Gentleman Golfer”’ probably condones with his children, in that it is “OK” to destroy and not take ownership of his misdeeds.

Having been a coach/educator for 44 years and always stressing “right from wrong,” and encouraging my players to find HONESTY and COURAGE in their daily pursuits, I definitely feel in this incident, that this “Gentleman Golfer,” is lacking, in the “Gentleman” category.

Incidentally, the color of the golf ball doing the damage was, appropriately, YELLOW!

— Larry Dauterive, LaPlace