Dealing With Predators, Pests, And Problems On The Golf Course

Many find the golf course to be the best place to relax and unwind; however there are a few situations that could jeopardize your pleasant day on the greens. Since you never know who or what you may encounter when you are golfing, preparing for some unexpected pests or pesky problems is a wise strategy.

Birds

Maybe it is a less frequent occurrence, but anyone that has seen Hitchcock's The Birds knows that a bird attack is a possibility. If you are on the golf course and suddenly notice birds hovering and making a clacking sound, they are preparing to attack. They will attack your head and shoulders first, diving and hitting with their wings and pecking you with their beaks.

If you are under attack from birds, run for cover and keep these tips in mind:

• Try to keep your eyes closed and cover your ears with your clothing or hands. Wear a hat when you go golfing.

• Move away from the area quickly, as attacking birds might merely be defending their nests. The birds will likely stop attacking you when you are a distance away from their territory.

• Taking food with you on the golf course may prompt some species of birds to attack.

• Birds are typically protected by wildlife laws at golf courses or resorts. Never try to strike or hit them, with clubs or other weaponry.

Bees

One sure way to ruin a good day of golf is a swarm of angry bees. If you happen upon a hive or accidentally disturb a swarm of bees, you need to respond quickly to avoid getting stung.

Try these tactics to avoid stings:

• Refrain from swatting at the bees. This only makes them sting more.

• Get as far away from them as you can. You will not be able to out-run them, but they may be less inclined to fly after you the further you run.

• Bees will typically go for the head and face when they sting you. Pull your shirt or jacket up over your face, covering as much of your head as you can, while still being able to see where you are going.

• Head for the safety and cover of a car or building if possible.

• Avoid water. Bees are clever and able to hover over the water and detect when you come up for air. Then they will sting you.

Rabid animals

If you encounter an animal that appears to be frothing at the mouth or that displays a locked-jaw, they might be rabid. It is most common to find raccoons, skunks, and bats that carry rabies, as well as foxes, groundhogs, and coyotes. It is less common to find rabies in mice, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and rats.

Sore losers

Some problems that occur on the course might be caused by other players. Angry golfers or sore losers might become enraged during a game or after a shot, and could require intervention before someone gets hurt.

If you encounter an out-of-control golfer on the green, keep the following in mind:

• Ignore him or her and walk away if you can.

• Try to talk the person down from escalating with a low, calm voice and empathy.

• If the golfer is waving a club around or threatening to hit you with it, try to stand close to him in line with the center of the club. This will minimize the chance that the club will hit you when he swings.

• When the angry player starts to swing, use both hands to grab the club near the grip and pull downward so you may be able to wrap an arm around the shaft of the golf club. It will then be easy to wrench the club free from the person swinging it.

• Step out of the person's way, and try to keep them at a distance from where the golf bags are. This will prevent the angry person from gathering other potential weapons to use during their tantrum.

Don't let an angry bird, swarm of bees, or drunk player ruin your good time and golf game. Prepare yourself for some of these unanticipated, infrequent situations and you will remain calm, cool, and collected during your game, regardless of who – or what – shows up! Contact someone like Sterling Golf Services to set up your next game today.