Harold Varner III has found himself at the center of controversy during LIV Golf’s season finale week after he and members of his group were asked to leave an Indiana golf course following a dispute over group size.
The incident took place at Bear Slide Golf Club on August 18, just days before LIV Golf Indianapolis, where Varner was competing alongside his OKGC teammates.
According to Bear Slide, Varner had booked a tee time for four golfers but arrived around 30 minutes late with six players. The club said it accommodated the additional golfers by allowing them to play as two separate groups of three.
However, the situation reportedly became tense when the group wanted to play together as a six-some.
The club said its starter explained that groups of six were not permitted. According to Bear Slide, the group continued asking to play together, and Varner later approached the pro shop three separate times to ask whether an exception could be made.
The answer remained no.
Bear Slide stated that the group was specifically told that playing as a six-some was not allowed, particularly because other golfers were on the course behind them.
The two groups initially played separately for the first three holes. However, according to the club, the six golfers reunited on the fourth hole and continued playing together.
That was when course officials stepped in.
Bear Slide said staff watched the six golfers tee off and putt together before asking them to leave the course after they completed the fourth green. The players were reportedly asked to return their golf carts and were given refunds.
The club also pushed back against claims that Varner and the others were aggressively thrown off the course.
“Nobody was told to get the hell off the course,” the club said, adding that all six players received refunds.
Bear Slide also made it clear that it believed its rules should apply to everyone, regardless of their status.
“Perhaps this group felt like they should get special privileges because of who they are and the organization they belong to,” the club stated. “But we believe that everyone should be treated fairly and should follow the same rules.”
The incident quickly attracted attention across the golf world, particularly because Varner is one of the most recognizable personalities on LIV Golf.
Varner joined LIV Golf in 2022 and has remained with the league since its inaugural season. Known for his outspoken personality and relaxed approach away from competition, he has also developed a strong following among golf fans.
The controversy came at an awkward time, with LIV Golf preparing for its final event of the 2026 season in Indiana.
For Varner, the story has become an unexpected distraction from the tournament itself. Instead of focusing solely on his performance, attention has shifted toward what happened at Bear Slide and whether the golfer will eventually provide his own version of events.
At the time of the latest reports, however, there had been no verified public statement from Varner himself directly addressing the incident.
That detail is important because the account currently dominating the conversation comes from Bear Slide Golf Club. Until Varner publicly responds, there are still questions about his perspective on the disagreement and what happened between the group and the course staff.
Regardless of how the incident is ultimately viewed, the episode has generated significant discussion among golf fans. Many have argued that the course was right to enforce its four-player limit, while others have questioned whether the situation could have been handled differently.
The controversy also adds another headline to an already eventful LIV Golf season.
As LIV Golf’s 2026 campaign reaches its conclusion, Varner will now hope the conversation can return to his golf rather than an incident away from the tournament course.
For now, the biggest question remains unanswered: What is Harold Varner III’s side of the story?
