A cordial game of golf turned violent last month at Hillcrest Golf Club in Durango, when three men allegedly attacked another group of golfers on the seventh hole.

A Durango man and two Albuquerque men are suspected of starting the fight about 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6, said Cmdr. Deck Shaline, with the Durango Police Department.

All three have been charged with misdemeanor assault.

The skirmish occurred when a group of golfers hit golf balls into another group ahead of them, Shaline said. The group of golfers who were enduring the errant golf balls yelled at the group behind them to stop hitting golf balls into them, and that is when the situation escalated.

“Words were exchanged, as could happen,” Shaline said.

Members who were hitting the wayward balls approached the group ahead of them and became physically aggressive, he said.

Cellphone video of the exchange was taken. Police reviewed the video and determined the group that was hitting the golf balls became physically confrontational, according to Shaline.

Punches were thrown, one person was thrown to the ground and one person was possibly put into a headlock, Shaline said.

Two of the alleged victims tried to defend themselves, including pushing the aggressors, but they did not instigate the fight, he said.

Police identified the three alleged aggressors and two alleged victims, including a man who refused medical attention on the scene but took himself to the hospital for observations.

“The three that got charged were the aggressors,” he said.

A witness said it appeared the suspects had been drinking, but police were unable to make contact with them the day of the incident. Police were unable to confirm whether alcohol was involved.

No golf clubs were used in the melee.

The suspects were ages 21, 26 and 48. Charges were filed Sept. 1 in La Plata County Court.

“You're out there to enjoy yourself on a round of golf on a sunny Sunday afternoon, you don't expect something like this to occur,” Shaline said.

shane@durangoherald.com