Overview
- The club says the episode began August 18 when Varner arrived about 30 minutes late with six golfers for a tee time booked as a foursome.
- Bear Slide says it accommodated the group but required two threesomes, repeatedly denied requests to play as a sixsome, and then asked the party to leave after staff observed them joining together on the fourth hole.
- Course officials say all players received refunds and they disputed social posts that quoted staff telling the group to “get the hell off the course.”
- Varner remained in Indianapolis competing at LIV Golf Indianapolis and was tied for 16th entering the final round, and neither he nor LIV Golf have issued a public comment about the removal.
- Public courses commonly cap group size to protect pace of play, and the club framed the removal as routine rules enforcement that drew extra attention because of Varner’s profile and the nearby LIV event.