Laura Peters

lpeters@newsleader.com

WAYNESBORO – One Stuarts Draft man didn't quite get a hole in one when he went for a joy ride early Tuesday morning and ended up on a golf course.

He faces DUI charges and a misdemeanor destruction of property charge, according to police.

Waynesboro police said that Michael Liptrap, 22, got lost in a neighborhood and took a shortcut through the Waynesboro Country Club.

Luckily, Liptrap was not injured and no golfers were on the course at the time, Waynesboro police spokesman Sgt. Brian Edwards said.

"It was on par with being a very serious situation," Edwards said.

Liptrap told the officers that he got lost while driving in a nearby residential area. So he decided to drive down a path that was meant for golf carts thinking it to be a shortcut to Meadowbrook Avenue, a release said.

But the path ended, and Liptrap continued through the golf course until he reached a bridge which was close to Meadowbrook Avenue, a release said.

He misjudged the width of the bridge that can accommodate golf carts and got his 1998 Ford Ranger stuck.

Around 6 a.m. officers responded to the first hole of the golf course. The golf course damage is estimated between $500 and $1,000.

Edwards said there have been other instances where people have driven on the golf course, but deliberately.

"In this case, there was really no intention really by Mr. Liptrap to do that," Edwards said. "He came off a residential road onto a road that's a big gravel road ... so it narrowed."

Damon DeVito, manager at the golf course, said the bridge Liptrap ran over needs repairs.

According to DeVito, Liptrap tried to use a walking bridge to pass over a small creek. There are two types of bridges on the course — walking and golf cart bridges.

As for turf damage, there isn't any obvious damage to the grounds, yet.

"We've still got to retrace his path," DeVito said.

Liptrap is being held at Middle River Regional Jail until he is "sober enough for a bond hearing," police said.