The golf club groundskeeper once captained by King Edward VIII wins an unfair dismissal case after he was fired because his excavator fell into a hole.

The greenkeeper at a renowned golf course won a wrongful termination case after he was fired when his excavator fell into a hole.

Michael Haynes’ digger had to be pulled from a ditch at Walton Heath Golf Club in Tadworth, Surrey, which was once captained by King Edward VIII and which included Sir Winston Churchill among its members.

Haynes, 58, assistant camp manager, dismissed the incident as minor because no damage was done and he did not formally report it in a log book.

However, his bosses took a different view and he was later dismissed for gross misconduct after almost 40 years of service.

An employment tribunal has found that the disciplinary measures taken against Mr Haynes had been multiplied without alternatives being considered, and he will now receive compensation.

In addition to his job, Mr Haynes and his wife lost the free accommodation provided by the club.

The court heard that the golf course had two excavators weighing 7.5 tonnes and 2.5 tonnes and that, during a training course for staff in November 2021, instructor Ian Foster told course manager Michael Mann that Haynes was lucky not to be injured in his accident earlier that year.

But Mann said he was not aware of the incident, in which Haynes’ excavator fell into a hole with the cab down while he was not wearing a seat belt.

Walton Heath Golf Club in Tadworth, Surrey. Michael Haynes was sacked from the club after his digger fell into a ditch, but the groundsman has since won a case for unfair dismissal.

The club launched proceedings against Haynes, saying his failure to report the incident constituted a serious breach of health and safety procedures.

Haynes argued that he had mentioned the incident to Mann at the time and did not need to formally note it in the accident book.

He was subsequently dismissed without notice because his explanation was deemed “unacceptable” and he had not followed correct reporting procedures.

The club said it had “no confidence” in Haynes following health and safety rules and the possibility of future incidents going unreported was “high”.

Mr Haynes appealed his dismissal twice and provided evidence of unreported incidents by other staff members.

The court has now found that Mr Haynes’ dismissal was “procedurally unfair” because those investigating his conduct “exaggerated and maximized” the seriousness of the incident.

They also criticized him for not reporting the incident.

Employment judge Adam Leith said: “The onus was on (Mr Haynes) to record the incident in the accident book. His failure to do so was made considerably more evident by his (senior) role.”

Haynes lost his job and the free accommodation provided by the club (file photo)

Mr Haynes’ compensation, which will be reduced by 50 per cent because of his mistake, will be decided later.

Walton Heath features two Herbert Fowler-designed courses, one of which has been ranked in the top 100 in the world since 1938, and claims to be one of the most respected golf clubs in the world.

According to its website, it is famous for its “rich political and golf history” and the quality of its two “exceptionally challenging heath courses”, described by American golf legend Jack Nicklaus as “wonderfully pure”.

The club has hosted top-level competitions, including the Ryder Cup in 1981. A round of golf can cost up to £350 for a visitor.