Golf courses have seen their share of chaos this year. Be it a rogue plane crash near Donald Trump Golf Course or the viral brawl between a former NHL player and a fellow golfer.
But Thursday’s incident at New Jersey’s Ballyowen Golf Course was something else entirely.
During an all-day Iron Man golf competition, a 28-year-old man named Simon Mariani was struck by lightning on the 15th hole, turning the friendly tournament into a life-or-death situation.
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS – JUNE 27: Players warm up on the practice range during a weather delay due to lightning during the second round of the Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS 2025 at Panther Creek…
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS – JUNE 27: Players warm up on the practice range during a weather delay due to lightning during the second round of the Memorial Health Championship presented by LRS 2025 at Panther Creek Country Club on June 27, 2025 in Springfield, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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Golfer Lucky to be Alive
According to the Hardyston Police Department, a 911 call was placed at 1:53 p.m. ET, and Mariani was airlifted by medevac to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston for treatment.
Fellow competitor Brian Delia, who was filming the storm from the 14th tee, described the moment lightning hit.
“OK, this is enough,” he told WABC, adding, “As an adult and as an avid golfer, when I see lightning, I’m not going to sit there and hold a metal golf club, so we immediately left.”
But for Mariani, it was already too late. “He definitely died on the course,” Delia said. “The dad and the two golfers saved his life.”
Mariani had been playing alongside his father, who immediately began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, while other golfers, including an off-duty firefighter, administered CPR until paramedics arrived.
The storm had rolled in fast, and Delia noted that no audible alarms warned players to seek shelter.
“I guess they thought it was just going to be a passing shower,” he said.
While Crystal Springs Resort, which operates Ballyowen, stated that warning horns were sounded, Delia insisted “most people didn’t hear it.”
As per the course’s spokesperson, Michelle Abate, “The safety of our guests is one of our top priorities. Our primary concern right now is the well-being of the guest and his family.”
Mariani’s current condition remains undisclosed, but the incident has reignited concerns about lightning safety protocols on open courses.
According to the CDC, the odds of being struck by lightning are less than one in a million, yet golf remains one of the most vulnerable outdoor sports.
The PGA advises players to scout shelter locations before teeing off and to avoid holding metal clubs or standing near trees during storms.
Thursday’s tragedy echoes past incidents, including the 1975 Western Open, where Lee Trevino and two others were struck by lightning, and the 1991 U.S. Open, where a spectator was killed at Hazeltine.
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