High school golfer hospitalized after being hit by fallen tree branch at Santa Cruz County Club
A large branch broke off to the left of a Monterey cypress tree on the right side of the 16th fairway at Seascape Golf Club, hitting a high school golfer Thursday afternoon. The golfer was hospitalized. (Jim Seimas – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
APTOS — A junior varsity golfer at Aptos High has been hospitalized after being struck by a large, fallen Monterey cypress branch during a practice round at Seascape Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.
The accident occurred to the right of the fairway, near the cart track, midway between the tee box and the green on the 196-yard, par 3 16th hole.
“It was an unfortunate, unusual occurrence,” said Gary Nelson, the course’s general manager.
Nelson, Seascape Director of Golf Brant Wilson, Aptos Athletic Director Travis Fox and Mariners College golf coach Paul Zech declined to comment, referring all inquiries to Alicia Jimenez, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District public information officer. Jimenez told the Sentinel that information would be available to her by Saturday morning.
A paramedic and a firefighter were at the scene treating the boy, who was conscious, before he was taken to a hospital outside of Santa Cruz County for treatment, a source said.
“It was a big branch,” said the source, who was at the scene but wished to remain anonymous because the incident involved a minor.
The tree appears to be more than 30 feet tall. A portion of the large branch that fell was about 8 inches in diameter. Portions of the fallen branch had been sawed and removed from the cart path by Friday night.
The course — which features towering cypress, eucalyptus, and Monterey pine trees, among several other species — was hit hard by a recent storm surge that hit the regions. On Monday, the area was also hit by winds of 50 to 70 miles per hour.
There are fallen trees and branches throughout the course, including two on #16, one to the left of the fairway on #17, and another just off the tee on #18. The one on #18 also fell over the cart track. It was nearly three feet in diameter and was sawn in half and placed by the side of the road for carts to pass through.
One of the wettest winters in decades has wreaked havoc on multiple fronts, from flooding to mudslides and collapsed roads. Nearby Santa Cruz received 45.95 inches of rain on Sunday. The average season to date is 26.70.
More rain is expected on Tuesday. Due to the saturated soil, this could lead to more fallen trees. Accidents involving fallen trees are not uncommon in wet winters. A 72-year-old Santa Cruz resident died Dec. 31 when he was struck by a fallen tree at Lighthouse Field State Beach.
