California Golfer Plays Firestarter Burns 25 Acres with Golf Club

by hearit

Cavemen were steps ahead of a California state golfer—if The Prodigy was right, that golfer’s soon to have a new nickname: “Firestarter”. 25-acres of Irvine city land have been burned—using only a golf club and a rock.

In life, it really does come down to timing—and just the right set of circumstances, proved by a golfer this past weekend at the Shady Canyon Golf Course in the city of Irvine, California. Shade has apparently been lacking on the “Shady Canyon” green; sunny, prime California weather conditions coupled with a recent heat wave have created perfectly dry brush on the course. Cavemen had it right: no need to rub two sticks together—a long metal “stick” in the form of a golf club, plus a single rock, create just the right “spark”.

And so the story goes, much along the lines of history’s most popular childrens’ books:

There was once a golfer, a golf club and a rock (a golf ball must have been involved at some point though it’s hard to confirm, since participation seems limited in this tale). The golfer takes a routine swing in the rough with his golf club. The golfer (who takes a routine swing in the rough with his golf club) strikes a rock. The rock (hit by the golfer who takes a routine swing in the rough with his golf club) sets off a spark through the impact (cavemen be proud). The spark, set by the rock that was hit by the golfer (who was taking a routine swing in the rough with his club), starts a fire. The fire, started by the spark (which was set by the rock that was hit by the golfer, who was taking a routine swing in the rough with his club), turns into an outright blaze. Overall devastation factor: the burning of 25 acres of Irvine city land. Before the blaze is through, 150 Orange County firefighters are required to battle the blaze—including air helicopter crews, and ground firefighting crews.

Not a golfer’s best day on the green—a golfer who better learn to like The Prodigy. On the bright side, at least for the golfer, his name is currently being withheld and no legal charges are being filed.

There isn’t a huge moral to the story—possibly none. The only moral may include the idea of never being underinsured. Even the highest liability limits, however, may not prove so fruitful for the golf course: as much as the golfer may wish, odds are that the scenario won’t fall under “an act of God”.

Only you can prevent forest fires, but a fire on the hole is a whole ‘nother circumstance.