POMPTON PLAINS -- A 54-year-old man was charged this week with beating a Canada goose to death with a golf club on the 18th hole of Sunset Valley Golf Course, police said.

William Mitchell, of Parsippany, was charged on May 17 with killing waterfowl two days earlier following an investigation by the Morris County Park Police and the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Lt. Steve Ferraioli with the Morris County Park Police confirmed.

Mitchell hit his ball in the direction of a nest that was being protected by a male goose, and, during an altercation, beat the goose with his club as he was trying to retrieve his ball, Ferraioli said. After "flopping on the ground," the goose ended up in the pond, he said.

According to Ferraioli, Mitchell confessed to beating the goose and faces a fine for killing waterfowl out of season.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.