Country club golf pro sues family friend after face ‘permanently disfigured’ by ‘careless’ swing
A Texas oil-and-gas executive taking a golf lesson failed to ensure the surrounding area was clear before “negligently” swinging his club directly into the instructor’s face, necessitating emergency reconstructive surgery and resulting in “permanent disfigurement,” according to an eye-popping negligence lawsuit obtained by The Independent.
Houston resident Youssef Abbad El Andaloussi took a cut at the ball “without checking his surroundings,” causing traveling pro Mohammad Mohseni Goudarzi – who was standing nearby “in a vulnerable position” at the country club – to suffer “multiple facial bone fractures,” Goudarzi’s complaint states. It says he later developed serious infections, “and is expected to require further surgeries and ongoing rehabilitative care.”
Goudarzi, who is now seeking seven-figures in damages, says El Andaloussi’s “careless act” not only shattered his face but has also caused him severe “emotional trauma.”
El Andaloussi’s wife, Azi Mohseni, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, which was filed May 20 in Harris County District Court. She “left voice messages apologizing for her husband’s conduct, and later apologized directly to [Goudarzi’s] mother,” a family friend, according to Goudarzi’s complaint.
“However,” it contends, “neither she nor [El Andaloussi] agreed to compensate [Goudarzi] for his injuries or medical expenses.”
In an email, Goudarzi’s attorney, Mahsa Monshizadegan, told The Independent, “As this case is now pending before the court, we are not making any public comments at this time.”
El Andaloussi and wife Azi Mohseni did not respond on Thursday to requests for comment.
While it may sound counterintuitive, golfers in fact have a higher injury rate than that of rugby, hockey and baseball players. A New Jersey man who took a golf club to the side of the head in 2001 suffered a traumatic brain injury that affected his ability to walk and talk, erased his short-term memory and left him almost completely unable to regulate his emotions.
A paper published last year in the South African Medical Journal laid out the reasons why getting hit in the head with a golf club, while rare, can be so deleterious. For one, the club head’s leading edge imparts a tremendous amount of force to a very small surface area, “resulting in more severe damage to the skull,” it explained. The “injury pattern” caused by a golf club is also especially destructive, and the “soil-contaminated” surface of the club head significantly increases the risk of sepsis.
The Iranian-born Goudarzi lives in Bolivia and teaches in various countries, according to his bio for a Canadian golf academy run by his former coach. El Andaloussi is a Moroccan native whose LinkedIn profile says he is an exec at Schlumberger, an energy compnay.
On December 27, 2024, Goudarzi “informally agreed, as a family favor, to instruct… El Andaloussi, on basic golf techniques,” his complaint states. It says the lesson took place at the BlackHorse Golf Club, an upscale public-private course located in the Houston suburbs.
BlackHorse, which features one members-only 18-hole course alongside a second 18-hole course open to the public, describes itself as “a perfect blend of lively gatherings and serene moments.”
“Whether you’re looking for social interactions or relaxation, dining or recreation, this active and fun Northwest Houston golf club community offers endless opportunities for enjoyment,” the club’s website tells prospective guests.
However, things went quite differently the day Goudarzi and El Andaloussi were there.
