AUBURN, Wash. – For some, the game of golf can be strict, but on Sunday at the Auburn Golf Course, one golfer not only broke the rules, he broke the law.

Auburn Police say a golfer used a 6-iron to assault another golfer, hitting the victim so hard he broke the club.

KING

Golfer assaulted at Auburn Golf Course

"There's a lot of rules in golf and if you break the rules some people tend to take it really seriously out here, so I'm not really surprised someone got assaulted," said golfer Ryan Aker.

"There was a group of golfers ahead of another group of golfers and there seemed to be some disagreement on the speed in which the golfers ahead were playing," said Cmdr William Pierson, Auburn Police.

The argument between two groups of four golfers started at the 13th hole, and by the 15th it turned physical. That's when a 33-year-old Puyallup man pulled out his 6-iron and swung at the victim's head.

"It was just heat of the moment. He believed his friends were in some kind danger and he was going to solve the problem by introducing some sort of weapon," said Pierson.

Police found the 45-year-old victim bleeding profusely from the head. He was airlifted to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery.

Other golfers say they aren't surprised, especially because it appears alcohol was a factor on both sides.

"There's a lot of beer and stuff involved. A lot of times people drink and come out to have a good time, but sometimes testosterone flies," said golfer Nik Williams.

"When alcohol is involved and people are stopping at the 9th green to throw a few back before they go on the back 9, there's always some kind of argument going on," said Aker.

The 33-year-old suspect had no previous criminal record, but now he faces felony assault charges.

After surgery, the victim was listed in serious condition.