Animal Encounters on the Golf Course

[Big Brother Dunk]

One of my favourite golf courses is the Waskesiu Golf Course in northern Saskatchewan. It’s cut out of the boreal forest and is in the Prince Albert National Park. Because it’s in a national park, the wildlife is protected there. And I’ve seen my fair share of that wildlife.

Once I had to hit my tee shot over a mother black bear while her two cubs frolicked in the fairway off to the side. Needless to say I was more than a little concerned and gave the bears a wide berth. There was a park ranger watching the proceedings, but I was still a little nervous.

Another time, same course, a fox ran out of the forest and stole the tee shot of one of my foursome as it rolled down the fairway.

Then there was the time I had to wait for a herd of about 30 elk to cross the fairway. They obviously weren't concerned about slow play because they took their sweet time.

What are your animal encounter stories?

 

[ualtim]

Nothing so grand as herds of elk and bears, but I witnessed a squirrel come within inches of being a former squirrel.

I was playing in a scramble tournament in Dallas when one of my parters stepped up to the tee and began his pre-shot routine. Just as he started to take his club back a squirrel darts out from behind a tee and heads straight for him. I wanted to say something, but just could not bring myself to say anything as he was in his backswing already. The squirrel passes about a foot in front of his left foot heading across the tee box and just barely gets by the path of the oncoming club and ball as my partner is now in his follow through. Releived that nothing happened, we all just about fell over laughing. The guy on the tee is now paranoid. "What are you guys laughing about?" he asked. Upon questioning him, he never saw the squirrel! The thing came within inches of his foot and ball, and the guy never saw him. We ended up using his drive on that hole for the first time all day, so we were kidding him the last few holes that he should be putting some acorns down on the tee box to try for some similar results.

 

[cabinessence]

There was a huge alligator on the course in a tournament I played in south Georgia. One of the greens was on a huge mound so you couldn't see it while you were putting, but it was definitely in view from the next tee box.

I also hit my ball about ten feet away from what looked to be a very angry heron earlier this summer. I chipped my ball and ran away laughing.

 

[Jay McNasty]

Another time, same course, a fox ran out of the forest and stole the tee shot of one of my foursome as it rolled down the fairway.

What's the ruling on that?

I don't see much wildlife on the courses I play. Mainly just wabbits. They are beginning to multiply rather rapidly and aren't near as timid as they used to be. They haven't run off with any of my balls yet.

 

[Big Brother Dunk]

What's the ruling on that?

I guess the fox is an outside agency so there's no penalty. We let the guy play his next shot from where we thought his ball might have ended up.

 

[SilverUberXeno]

Traveling up the cart path one day, my dad swears he saw a mink run into the woods. A mink that looked a lot like a squirrel, to me.

There were seaguls on the driving range one day too... poor things...

 

[Augster]

I got chased by a black bear last year. Scary as hell I'll tell you.

I was playing Nemadji in Superior, Wisconsin. I'm on the 8th hole on the east and snap a driver into the red stakes on the left. The rest of my group is up ahead at their drives, and I'm probably 80 yards behind them because of the snap.

I take my drop, and am getting my club out when I hear my cousin up ahead on the right of the fairway say, "Holy Shit! Look at that bear!" I turn around an there is a HUGE black bear lumbering out of the woods on the right side of the fairway, about 75 yards behind and 80 yards to the right of me. ****er sees me and starts running at me.

I grab my wedge, start screaming, and run as fast as I ****ing can up the left side of the fairway. Took ONE glance back and saw he was gaining and decided not to look back again.

In about 5 seconds I had passed my friend who was standing there shocked on the left side of the fairway. I figured the bear would get to him first at that point and looked back as my cousin was saying the bear took off.

I turned around and the bear had headed into the woods, at about my dropped ball. Then you could hear the next tee box over yelling about the bear as he wandered through. Then the next, and the next as he traveled through the course.

From the time he chased me to the time he went into the woods, it was probably a whole 5 seconds. That's it. It felt like a lifetime. It's amazing how much shit can go through your head in 5 seconds when you are really, really, really scared. Course of action, contingency plan, trying to remember how to defeat black bears, how much it's going to hurt, what he'll get me with first the paw or the teeth, how much I'll miss my kids, how much I'll miss my wife, how much they'll miss me as they grow older, what they are going to look like when they are full-grown, where I'm going to hit the bastard with my wedge if he catches me, my infant daughter will never have really known her dad, I'm not going down without a fight, if I happen to get to the green should I try to use the flagstick as a polearm, can bears run through sand, will he follow me into a pond if I go in there.

All that shit went through my head, and more. 5 whole seconds. I was thankful the bear spotted me a 100 yard lead.

I talked with my cousin afterward, and he said in his head he really felt he should do something, but he'd just come to realization he'd just have to watch his cousin get mauled. He wouldn't be able to step in. Sorry about that. I told him I'm glad it didn't come to that. He was too.

Shaking, quivering, sweating, and almost vomitting from the adrenal surge, I went back.

I took 8 on the par 4 hole and lost my nassau because of it.

 

[dave.]

Playing golf near some bears is a wonderful thing.Living in England,I can only imagine how great that experience was.

It makes me realise how lucky in life we are.

 

[IrishGolfer]

I got chased by a black bear last year. Scary as hell I'll tell you.

I was playing Nemadji in Superior, Wisconsin. I'm on the 8th hole on the east and snap a driver into the red stakes on the left. The rest of my group is up ahead at their drives, and I'm probably 80 yards behind them because of the snap.

I take my drop, and am getting my club out when I hear my cousin up ahead on the right of the fairway say, "Holy Shit! Look at that bear!" I turn around an there is a HUGE black bear lumbering out of the woods on the right side of the fairway, about 75 yards behind and 80 yards to the right of me. ****er sees me and starts running at me.

I grab my wedge, start screaming, and run as fast as I ****ing can up the left side of the fairway. Took ONE glance back and saw he was gaining and decided not to look back again.

In about 5 seconds I had passed my friend who was standing there shocked on the left side of the fairway. I figured the bear would get to him first at that point and looked back as my cousin was saying the bear took off.

I turned around and the bear had headed into the woods, at about my dropped ball. Then you could hear the next tee box over yelling about the bear as he wandered through. Then the next, and the next as he traveled through the course.

From the time he chased me to the time he went into the woods, it was probably a whole 5 seconds. That's it. It felt like a lifetime. It's amazing how much shit can go through your head in 5 seconds when you are really, really, really scared. Course of action, contingency plan, trying to remember how to defeat black bears, how much it's going to hurt, what he'll get me with first the paw or the teeth, how much I'll miss my kids, how much I'll miss my wife, how much they'll miss me as they grow older, what they are going to look like when they are full-grown, where I'm going to hit the bastard with my wedge if he catches me, my infant daughter will never have really known her dad, I'm not going down without a fight, if I happen to get to the green should I try to use the flagstick as a polearm, can bears run through sand, will he follow me into a pond if I go in there.

All that shit went through my head, and more. 5 whole seconds. I was thankful the bear spotted me a 100 yard lead.

I talked with my cousin afterward, and he said in his head he really felt he should do something, but he'd just come to realization he'd just have to watch his cousin get mauled. He wouldn't be able to step in. Sorry about that. I told him I'm glad it didn't come to that. He was too.

Shaking, quivering, sweating, and almost vomitting from the adrenal surge, I went back.

I took 8 on the par 4 hole and lost my nassau because of it.

Great tale! Sounds like it was a bit too close for comfort. I'll bet it put the snapped tee shot right out of your head!

 

[Rockford35]

Big Brother,

Are you from Saskatchewan?

I'm in the Queen City. I've played Waskesui many a time. Never had the fox encounter tho.

I've seen my brother one hop one off a deer at Kenosee. Landed a 7 iron about 20 feet on the green from a black bear. Stood about 20 feet from a female moose in Cypress Hills. Hit into a temporary hazard on a local course, and area roped off because of a badger. Many encounters with Canada geese, white tails and the occassional robin that I walked too close to the nest.

But other than that, not much.

Cheers,

R35

 

[Big Brother Dunk]

Big Brother,

Are you from Saskatchewan?

I'm in the Queen City. I've played Waskesui many a time. Never had the fox encounter tho.

I've seen my brother one hop one off a deer at Kenosee. Landed a 7 iron about 20 feet on the green from a black bear. Stood about 20 feet from a female moose in Cypress Hills. Hit into a temporary hazard on a local course, and area roped off because of a badger. Many encounters with Canada geese, white tails and the occassional robin that I walked too close to the nest.

But other than that, not much.

Cheers,

R35

Rockford, I'm in Saskatoon. If you're ever up here, let me know and we'll get out for a round. I've got a cabin up at Christopher Lake which is about 30 minutes from Waskesiu so I get many opportunities for golf there.

 

[Rockford35]

Nice.

I'm not up in Toon Town very often. No family or friends there, so not much point.

You been out to Dakota yet? Outstanding course. I threw a few pics up in the gallery here of it when we went. A friend of mine's brother in law is the superintendent there.

You ever get out to Madge Lake (Duck Mountain PP)? They have a deal where you get 3 rounds of golf and 2 nights at the cabins for 125 a guy, minimum 4 guys. Great deal on an outstanding course.

Two Saskatchewanians here now. This site just went into the shitter. LOL. :biglol:

Good to have you aboard!

R35

 

[Bravo]

BBD:

Great bear story and good narrative. Welcome here! Loved the rambling description of what was going through your head... Good storytelling is always an added bonus...

You need to get together with Rock and kick the crap out of him..either in Regina or Saskatoon before the season ends...

He's the biggest bagger this side of the Atlantic.

DI holds the title on the other side of the pond.

 

[DaveE]

Two Saskatchewanians here now. This site just went into the shitter. LOL. :biglol:

Good to have you aboard!

R35

I didn't think there were that many people playing golf up there in the wilderness. Rock, maybe you can borrow his snowblower this winter.

 

[Rockford35]

I didn't think there were that many people playing golf up there in the wilderness. Rock, maybe you can borrow his snowblower this winter.

Highest number of rounds a year per capita in Canada, dude. :beach3:

And Newfoundland has more moose, so it's pretty safe to say that VT has a better chance of sleeping with a moose than I do.

But that's a pretty safe bet at any time.

Bagger? What the hell is that? I sunk a wedge from 110 last night. Jealous?

R35