Cops detail DWI drive on golf course

A Sayville man who police said was drunk drove his car onto the Deepdale Golf Club in Manhasset and then, angered by a teenager's obscene gesture at him, crashed into him as he sat in a golf cart, authorities said.

No one was injured in the Monday incident, said Nassau Lt. Ray Cote of the Third Squad.

Chris Meier, 49, who police said was not an employee or a member of the private club, caused a commotion when he drove his red 1995 Ford Taurus sedan onto the driving range area just before 6 p.m., then drove around the course, causing more than $10,000 worth of damage.

Police said after he crashed into an unoccupied golf cart, Meier trained his car at a second golf cart because, he said, the occupant, Patrick Heaney, 19, made an obscene gesture at him. Meier and Heaney do not know each other.

"I wanted to teach him a lesson," police said Meier told them. "I wanted to hit him, but I really didn't want to hurt him."

Heaney dived out of the golf cart before Meier's car plowed into it, police said. As Heaney ran away, Meier chased the teenager with his car.

"The victim did have to [run] as fast as he could to avoid being struck by the defendant's vehicle," police said.

Meier continued his destruction, tearing up the fairways, tee boxes and sand traps, police said. Eventually, his car became stuck in a sand trap on the fourth hole.

"He was chewing up the grass," Cote said. "The spinning wheels were turning the grass and sending turf flying."

Meier was arraigned Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead on criminal mischief and reckless endangerment charges. He pleaded not guilty and was held on bail, set at $7,500 cash or $15,000 bond.

Attempts to reach Meier's family Wednesday were unsuccessful. Heaney's mother said he declined to comment.

Police impounded Meier's car and inside they found several open cans of malt liquor, Cote said. Meier's blood alcohol level was .19 percent, more than twice the legal limit of .08 percent, police said.

Cote said Meier told police he drives by the exclusive golf course frequently on his way to work in the Bronx, where he sells cemetery plots. It's not clear what prompted Meier to take a detour Monday evening and drive onto the golf course, Cote said.

"He had too much to drink and had an incredible lapse of judgment," Cote said.