Golfer stood down for Facebook comments

The potential perils of new technology are now fully understood by a young Bay of Plenty golfer, who has been suspended indefinitely for posting critical comments of his team manager on Facebook.

Brad Kendall, a son of former national amateur representative Owen Kendall, has been banned after describing Chris McAlpine as the worst manager he had had in his life.

The comment was made during a conversation he had on facebook with another teenaged team member the night after the SBS Invitational in Invercargill last month.

McAlpine, who just happens to also be the Bay of Plenty Golf Association chief executive, has stood Kendall, 17, down until the association board next meets to consider his punishment in May.

Owen Kendall, the national amateur champion in 1987 and a New Zealand representative from 1987 to 1990, has no complaints about the action taken, and said his son was very repentant once he realised what had happened.

"You don't say those sorts of things about your manager," Kendall senior said.

"Brad didn't realise the comments were going on to Facebook and they were taken off before it went too far.

"But, as parents, his mother and I agree you don't make those type of comments about anyone. It's not the done thing to do.

"He's suffering now, don't you worry about that."

The suspension means Kendall will not be able to attend Bay of Plenty coaching clinics until the issue is considered by board members.

Bay of Plenty have no representative fixtures scheduled for the next couple of months, while Kendall is free to play as an individual at the North Island amateur championship at Muriwai starting next Thursday and the New Zealand championship in Auckland on April 21-28.

- NZPA