MIAMI, Florida (AP) --A man who lived on a golf course for 40 years was told to leave because some golfers complained that he scared them.

Other golfers, however, said Kenny Bethel is harmless and should be allowed to stay at Palmetto Golf Course.

Bethel, 55, first showed up at the golf course after he ran away from home in 1963. He collected and resold stray golf balls, used the club's showers and toilets at night and slept in a sheltered area on the course that housed the showers.

"This course became my job and, later, my home," he said.

For the last nine years, he had been joined by his wife Francis, 43. They have since relocated to a space under a nearby bridge.

"What have I done to deserve this?" Bethel asked.

Bethel now gets chased away by the staff when he tries to collect balls. And the restrooms are locked at night.

"It's a huge dilemma," said Carlos McKeon, manager of Miami-Dade County Golf Operations. "We used to cast a benign eye on Kenny. But when a few golfers complained that he's trespassing and it's against the law, we had to get him off."

Bethel turned down a job in course maintenance because he wanted to be self-employed, McKeon said.

Golfers who had become accustomed to seeing Bethel on the course were surprised by his banishment.

"It seems a shame that someone who is an institution on the course can't be grandfathered in," golfer Jim Adamson said.

"He's a nice guy," agreed golfer Mario Deif. "You have to admire someone who has debunked modern life and lives off the land."

Poor guy stories like this always breaks my

As compensation I hear that they gave him a computer and told him to call himself 2the9s.

So this guy lives rough on a golf course and still manages to get married!?!:O

He must have one hell of a line of patter!

mcmeekle said:

That's what I was thinking. It's still sad that they're kicking him off though.

Boy talk about a "hole in one"!!


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2the9s said:

mcmeekle said:

mcmeekle said:

Lleena said:

I think it's only fair to say 2the9's joke was that it was a bad joke. I was only continuing his line.

Having said that, most of the time it's hard to tell!

mcmeekle said:

Thanks for explaining, mcmeekle. I got it. But Lleena? She's British.

mcmeekle said:

Oh Meekle. We must not mock the afflicted

2the9s said:

Do you find birds following you around trying to lay eggs on your chest!?