Comments on: 12 Golf Course Perils

By: EColt

EColt — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:33:55 +0000

My hometown in Western NY is host to an annual hot air balloon rally in the summer. Balloons go up best early in the morning, which of course is when the most golfers hit up the local country club to get a round in before the July heat gets too bad. Needless to say, what goes up must come down and the course has always been a popular landing spot for balloons because of the open areas down some of the wider fairways. More than one hole has been delayed while crews figure out a way to drive to the back nine to get a stranded balloon. Quite the headache for the groundskeeper, too!

As for the geese, most of the golfers I know have discovered that carts are pretty good at chasing them far enough away to get to your ball. It’s not being attacked they dislike so much as the mess the geese leave behind.

By: Calli Arcale

Calli Arcale — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:09:55 +0000

Canada geese are becoming a significant threat on golf courses as well. Golf courses pretty much look like perfect breeding grounds to geese — small, safe ponds for teaching the kids to paddle; short grass so it’s easy to see predators; thick, lush grass that makes for delicious grazing. It basically looks like the tundra, in other words, only juicier and without having to fly so bloody far north. It’s no wonder so many geese like it.

The problem is that geese are not particularly shy, especially during breeding season. Golfers who come too close to the family could be attacked by the parents, who in addition to biting, can land quite wicked blows with their wings. People have actually been clubbed into unconsciousness by geese.

Of course, if you just stay away from the geese, they won’t attack. Most are well habituated to humans and do not regard us as a particular threat as long as we don’t come too close. (Exception: geese who have been hand-fed by humans. These will actually bully people to try to get fed, sometimes resulting in injury. Don’t feed the geese; they have plenty of food already.)

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:49:18 +0000

The great Bing Crosby died from a grabber right after a round of 18.

By: tristan

tristan — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 05:43:00 +0000

Add ‘roadrunners’ to the wild animal portion. While playing in Vegas, the ball bounced off a rock and knocked a roadrunner square in the head. Three others began to avenge their pal and chased us down the fairway.

By: dawn

dawn — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:28:31 +0000

I hate golf too, this was a very entertaining read!

Recaptcha: producing close

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:43:02 +0000

The last one should end with “Yi pulled his gun,” right?

Great list, though.

By: Codius

Codius — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:01:50 +0000

@ #4-

How do you get hit by a train? Can you not hear them coming from a mile away?

ReCaptcha- Louis Valentine (Sounds like a jazz musician.

By: Cardinal Fang

Cardinal Fang — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:01:32 +0000

Wildlife, definitely the most serious peril for me on the courses I play in the Canadian Rockies. From bears to belligerent elk and moose you always have to be on your toes. I guess itâ€™s a small price to pay to play at some of the most scenic golf courses in the world. And besides, the wildlife were there first.

By: c.a. Marks

c.a. Marks — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:05:03 +0000

I’ll forgive you for hating golf because it was from your YOUTH that you have surmised the resentment. I’m new at golf, I’m 41 years old though, and I love it. To each his own, I reckon. :-) Thanks for the post. Awesome, as usual.

By: ACute Angle

ACute Angle — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:31:11 +0000

I wasn’t going to comment, but my Recaptcha is “Bergen Ball.” Is it a type of golf ball used by former sitcom stars?