Sure, it looks peaceful...
The case of 75-year-old Dubliner Thomas Talbot has long been a talking point in Irish golfing and legal circles.
As a member of Hermitage Golf Club – a tidy track in Lucan, West Dublin – the septuagenarian became embroiled in a dispute with the club’s committee over its decision to impose handicap reductions totaling nearly eight shots over a period of five years.
Alleging “defamation”, Talbot sued both the club and its then handicap secretary in 2006, for the perfectly reasonable sum of €10 million ($120 billionty-billion, approx.).
Currently awaited a judgment in the case, the pensioner spoke to the Irish Independent about his motivation and hopes for the future.
“I have four grown-up kids — Nicola, Colin, Alison, Frances. For personal reasons I don’t know whether they’re living in Dublin or abroad. I miss them terribly…
“This case has been going on for the past six years. It has been hugely stressful. I didn’t care so much about the handicap issue, it is more the principle of it.
“I’d turn up for a competition and there would be nobody to play with. I have learned the hard way that friends are a funny species — they’re never there when you want them.”
While the plaintiff believes the club’s action amounted to a suggestion of serial dishonesty on his part, Hermitage claims a right to adjust handicaps it believes unreflective of a player’s ability.
Highlighting the extent to which his loneliness and penchant for frivolous lawsuits may be connected, Talbot has publicly stated his intention to share any proceeds from the case with members of his extended family.
Conor Nagle
In the words of Judge Smails, he should get nothing and like it! Sandbagging is nothing more than cheating. In fact, it is cheating by way of lying. Maybe that’s why this guy is estranged from his family and has no friends.
The serial sandbagger is one of the most hated golfers out there – above the vanity handicapper who claims he’s a +1 but can’t hit a 7-iron 100 yards; but below the wannabe tour pro who takes 20 practice swings, needs 5 minutes to “visualize his shot”, plays blades even though his swing is an 8-piece over-the-top flip-at-impact monstrosity, and has to look at every putt from at least 7 angles.
My god, what a tool!
Three cheers for the Handicap Committee for actually taking some action against a bagger.
Do you think they are ready to enforce the pace of play rules here in the States? “Cause our Tour, the organizers of the Masters, or the US Open or PGA Championships certainly won’t.
If the judge is a golfer he is screwed. Nobody likes a sandbagger. Nobody.
As a member of my Great-Uncle Thomas’ extended family, even tho’ we haven’t actually met for some considerable time, some 62 years to pin it down a tad, I think ‘G-U-T’ is being a tad maligned here.
I am hopeful of a positive outcome in the Courts.
And, together with other extended family Members, including great-godson Conor and others, [too prominent to mention but currently living 'high' in USA] I look forward to seeing British Justice demonstrate it is not an ass, after all, and to enjoying my fair share of G-U-T’s hard-earned rewards.
And by extension, I hasten to add, in G-U-T’s defence, as well as my own…I also look forward to Irish Justice demonstrating that it too is not an ass. (Been away too long, sorry Thomas).
Will the pay us in Euros do you reckon’? Not drachmas or anything odd?
An old man has been abandoned by his family and nobody likes to golf with him either. Hmmmm, what does that all mean???
Don’t look at me!!! You couldn’t make it up!!
The real point here is his ability to go to court, an expensive option which Hermitage may well pay for. Other remedies for disputes should be in place; they are in the GAA, FAI and IRFU…arbitration. proceedures.