Creatures of the Course
August 23, 2010
If you know me, then you know that I love to play golf. I have been playing since I was ten when I got my first set of clubs (they came in a hideous “Spalding” golf bag) for either a birthday or a holiday (who can remember these things after a while).
I’d like to think I’m a pretty good golfer, but it totally depends on the day, so I’ll leave it open-ended and say I’m a “decent” golfer. Incidentally, “decent” is my go-to word when I want to say something positive about myself, but am hesitant to be too self-assured.
That said, I have played a lot of golf in my 26 years of years of life. “What’s the best part of golf,” you ask? Just barely ranking behind the satisfaction of hitting a great shot and ahead of that slap-happy state-of-being achieved after playing a few holes with good friends, I’d say the time outside and the scenery.
I’ve played courses in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Florida, California, and Idaho (some of my favorites are in the potato state), to name a few locales. But what you might not guess is the great variety of mammal, bird, and reptile species that I’ve encountered during my time spent on the links. Taken together, the various animals I’ve seen on the golf course could constitute a zoo…a pretty awesome one at that. Here’s the short-list:
THE FOX.
Sighted: Sun Valley, ID
Dates: 2007, 2000, 1998
Course(s): Sun Valley Golf Course, Elkhorn Golf Club, Bigwood Golf Course.
Notes: Foxes are pretty cute, but I definitely had the feeling that I wanted to keep my distance.
THE BUCK (aka the male deer with antlers).
Sighted: Lords Valley, PA
Dates: 2008, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998
Course(s): Lords Valley Country Club
Notes: One time I saw a deer get hit square in the side with a ball off of a drive. The deer was okay and ran away, but it must’ve stung. I was glad it wasn’t my drive.
THE ALLIGATOR.
Sighted: Lake Worth, FL and Carlsbad, CA
Dates: 2001, 2000
Course(s): High Ridge Country Club, LaCosta South Course
Notes: Scary. My grandparents freaked out and my grandmother screamed “Rachie! Leave your ball where it is!!!”…as if I was going to go wrestle with an alligator to get my ball. Ha.
THE BLACK BEAR.
Sighted: Lords Valley, PA
Dates: 1999
Course(s): Lords Valley Country Club
Notes: Very scary. This was a definite do-NOT-move situation. The bear took it’s time crossing the fairway and the other golfers and I took cover in our carts at a 150-yard distance.
THE GARTER SNAKE.
Sighted: Hilton Head, SC
Dates: 2002
Course(s): Shipyard Golf Club
Notes: Eew…
THE GOOSE.
Sighted: Sun Valley, ID, Westport, CT, Bronx, NY, and Hamilton, NY
Dates: Too Many to Count
Course(s): Bigwood Golf Course, Warm Springs Golf Course (now defunct), Longshore Golf Club, Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course, Seven Oaks Golf Course
Notes: Watch out for their turds…they’re everywhere.
THE WILD TURKEY. And we’re not talking about bourbon here.
Sighted: Lords Valley, PA
Dates: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005
Course(s): Lords Valley, PA
Notes: You would not want to eat this turkey…it’s scrawny and ugly and looks nothing like the paper cut-outs that decorate classrooms across North America in November.
THE UNIDENTIFIED SPECIES.
Sighted: Lords Valley, PA
Dates: 2010
Course(s): Lords Valley Country Club
Notes: I don’t know what this thing was, but it looked like a scrawny fox crossed with a hyena. Since I don’t think either of those animals are indigenous to the Poconos, I have no idea what this animal can be. It appeared twice during the course of 18 holes when I was playing golf three weeks ago. More to come on this bizarre creature when I learn more.
-R
