(Image: Getty Images)
AFL legend and budding golf pro Jason Akermanis has been controversially banned from a local golf club, according to a report by the Herald Sun.
The 2001 Brownlow Medallist and three-time premiership hero for the Brisbane Lions has been barred for a month by the committee of Thurgoona Golf Club, near Albury in country New South Wales, following explosive claims he was seen cheating on the course.
Akermanis, who harbours ambitions of turning professional on the fairways, was handed a one-month ban but he confirmed he wouldn’t be returning to the course.
“This was the sixth time I’ve had issues there and I’m not going back,” he told the paper.
“I’ve never had any trouble at any other club,” Aker said.
According to The Herald Sun report, a complaint came from a member who lives on the course, claiming “Aker” played the ball from out-of-bounds on the third hole. A one-week suspension was handed down but later rescinded after he successfully appealed. However, a fortnight later a member claimed Aker had six shots on the par-4 17th hole when he’d signed for a par four.
Akermanis disputed the claim, saying: “I knew he was watching, my first ball was in for four and I told my playing partners to watch this so I had a bit of a play around,” Akermanis said.
“I knew what the guy was doing, it’s an absolute joke.”
Just late last year Akermanis told the Border Mail‘s Brett Kolhagen he had slashed his handicap to one since changing clubs and was playing in seven competitions a week in a bid to make qualifying school in December for the PGA of Australasia Tour.
“I’ve been a good golfer for a bit but I never thought I was going to be good enough,” Akermanis, 42, said.
“Then I started caddying for ‘Muz’ (Zach Murray) and I got a new set of clubs from TaylorMade and all of a sudden I was training every day and hitting the ball 40-metres longer.
“I’ve started to score better and my handicap has come right in.
“I think they think I’m the most played amateur in Australia.”
