Golfer trips near tee box, sues Alton course for $50k

A Greenville man injured while playing golf at The Woodlands Golf Club in Alton filed a personal injury suit in Madison County Circuit Court June 19, seeking damages in excess of $50,000 for permanent injuries to his ankle.

Travis Van Dorn claims he injured his left ankle walking away from the tee box, when he stepped into a recess hole which was intended for a sprinkler.

He claims Woodlands negligently and carelessly failed to properly design, construct, install and maintain their sprinklers causing a hole to remain several inches deep making the course unsafe.

Van Dorn also alleges Woodlands failed to use ordinary care to fix the alleged dangerous condition, barricade the area or warn him of the unsafe condition.

According to the complaint, Van Dorn suffered serious and permanent injuries to his ankle that are progressive and painful requiring surgery.

He also claims his injuries caused and continue to cause him to suffer pain in the body and mind, lost wages and medical expenses.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder.

07 L 552