Golfer, 28, dies after being struck by lightning at course as player questions course safety

A golfer has died after being struck by lightning as a storm swept through during his game at the 15th hole

On July 8 Simon John Mariani, aged 28, was playing at the Ballyowen Golf Course in Hardyston, New Jersey when tragedy struck. Mr Mariani was playing during the storm when the weather conditions worsend and he was struck by lightning.

Fellow golfers and an off-duty firefighter sprang into action, administering CPR to Mariani before he was urgently taken to hospital. Despite being rushed to hospital, Mariani succumbed to his injuries on Monday. This unfortunate event adds to a recent spate of lightning-related fatalities on golf courses, including the loss of a former Olympic medalist at the age of 49.

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As the storm rolled in, Ballyowen Golf Course officials activated an alarm to alert players of the impending danger. However, fellow golfer Brian Delia told News 12 New Jersey that the warning signal was insufficiently loud.

"It was like a small little bullhorn... it wasn't even that loud. I don't even think most people heard it," Delia recounted. "We immediately just bolted off the course, ran into the clubhouse, and then that's when we saw the police coming.", reports the Mirror US.

Delia also expressed to ABC 7 that there was a lack of communication from the course staff: "Nobody did say anything to us, we didn't hear any horns to get off the course at all. They started blowing the horns when we were back at the clubhouse, and that was after the police were already out there."

Delia captured the ominous clouds rolling in, darkening the sky just moments before Mariani - who leaves behind his parents, Scott and Kathleen Mariani, and two sisters - was tragically struck by lightning approximately 300 yards ahead. Delia immediately realised the gravity of the situation.

"I started filming, and he was right in front of me, and all of a sudden the lightning strikes and I ended the video recording and we immediately just started heading back to the clubhouse," Delia recounted the harrowing moment.

Ballyowen is celebrated as one of New Jersey's premier golf courses. Prior to Mariani succumbing to his injuries, Crystal Springs Resort, which manages Ballyowen, expressed to News 12 last week: "The safety of our guests is one of our top priorities. Our primary concern right now is the well-being of the guest and his family."

A University of Notre Dame alumnus, Mariani completed his undergraduate studies in accounting and economics in 2019 and went on to obtain a master's in finance in 2024. At the time of his untimely passing, he was employed as an associate at MTS Health Partners in New York.

His obituary honoured him: "Driven, dedicated, smart, likeable and exceptionally talented, Simon was admired by colleagues for his intellect, integrity, teamwork, sense of humor and strong work ethic."