Former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky pummels golfer in brawl on Alberta course

Typically the worst thing you can do on a golf course is fire a shot into the forest, or leave it short in the bunker, or chunk an iron shot into the water.

But now we know the absolute worst thing you can do is pick a fight with a former NHL tough guy.

First posted on Reddit’s r/golf by user YEGG35, the viral clip shows Nick Tarnasky, who played 13 professional seasons between 2004 and 2017, repeatedly asking what appears to be an intoxicated person in a patterned shirt to hurry up on the golf course.

Warning: this video contains strong language

As Tarnasky and his group yell at the person to hit their shot, the man yells at them to “cry about it.” After yelling at one another, the golfer takes his glasses and glove off, then charges Tarnasky, who proceeds to shove the man into a water hazard.

The man gets up and approaches Tarnasky again, who in two instances grabs the man and feeds him with three hard rights, yelling “Bang!” after each punch. After the final punch, when the man staggers over one more time, Tarnasky grabs him and throws him a few feet in the air and near the opposite water hazard.

“Enough! Get him the f–k out of here. I asked him to get f–king moving!” Tarnasky yells off camera.

The clip has generated millions of views on different social media posts and has generated plenty of memes, including screenshots of the man flying through the air after Tarnasky throws him.

Tarnasky was taken by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the ninth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, spent five seasons in the NHL, scoring 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points, recording 297 penalty minutes in 245 regular-season games with the Lightning, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers.

He also spent parts of nine seasons in the AHL, scoring 80 goals and recording 65 assists for 145 points and 881 penalty minutes in 486 regular-season games with the Springfield Falcons, Rochester Americans, Hamilton Bulldogs, Hartford Wolf Pack and San Diego Gulls.

According to Hockey Fights, Tarnasky recorded 38 NHL fighting majors in the regular season, as well as 98 fighting majors in the AHL regular season.

Tarnasky spent four seasons playing junior hockey in the WHL, recording 36 goals and 43 assists for 79 points and 201 penalty minutes in 152 career games with the Vancouver Giants, Kelowna Rockets and Lethbridge Hurricanes.