LANCASTER, Mass. — It was a wedding celebration that went from a “wonderful evening” to bitter disappointment after police broke up the gathering, according to the mother of the bride.
It happened as LIV Golf brings the latest installment of its new professional golf series to The International Golf Club in Bolton, Massachusetts, literally a pitching wedge from Jennifer Benoit’s property.
It all started with a call from the golf club to police.
“Upset” is how Benoit described her mood Monday morning, one day after two Bolton police officers came on Benoit’s property and told her guests to leave.
“I’m really upset this happened,” she said. “Police walked on our property, and did that to our wedding guests. My husband, David, is livid.”
The family’s land borders The International Golf Club, where the LIV Golf series will hold a tournament over Labor Day weekend.
The series has been marked by protests over LIV’s connection to its financial backer, the government of Saudi Arabia and its crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
That country’s human rights abuses are a troubling development for some residents, and Bolton is divided over the tournament. Some residents believe it’s good for local businesses. Others don’t want a Saudi-backed tournament in their town.
With the backdrop of protests at previous LIV tournaments, when The International noticed Sunday morning that several tents were near the golf course, the club called Bolton police to check it out.
“The International Golf Club called about trespassers. We tried to restore peace,” Bolton police chief Warren Nelson said.
Guests who attended the wedding celebration slept overnight in tents into Sunday morning. The tents were in a wooded area on Benoit’s property, in clear sight of the golf course.
Around 8 a.m. Sunday, police came onto Benoit’s property and told those in the tents that they had to leave.
“My son-in-law told me police were waking people up, telling people to leave. That they were being forceful, and police shook the tents to wake people up,” Jennifer Benoit said.
‘Simple misunderstanding’
That is how The International explained the course of events in a prepared statement.
“The International enjoys strong relationships with its neighbors and this seems to be a simple misunderstanding. Sunday morning, our staff spotted tents within one of our property’s wooded areas alongside the golf course.
“Having no knowledge who was…
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