Golf: Elements While Playing Golf in Australia

I have been playing golf since the age of five. I turn 40 at the end of September. There are many golf courses that I would love to play on. We know as players that in the lovely game of golf conditions are vital. Every golf course has different elements whether it’s a ton of water hazards or sand traps. Others have deep rough and wooded areas. Some courses have the weather that plays a factor. Golf is different in many countries around the world. The courses in the US are different from the ones in Australia. I do not remember ever, other than alligators and snakes, that wildlife would play an impact on your round of golf. In Australia wildlife plays a huge role on the golf course.

The first animal that is well-known in Australia is the kangaroo. At the Anglesea Golf Club, there are over 300 Eastern Grey kangaroos on the golf course. The course is just a one-hour drive from Melbourne. People that come from other countries love seeing them like many golfers seeing squirrels and deer. At Anglesea, there is no perimeter fence so the kangaroos can move freely. The good news is that they do not mind having people or golf balls flying. It is a good environment for everyone. The golfers respect them and do not bother them. How cool of an experience would that be?

We know that water hazards are part of golf. Often, once our ball goes in the water, we do not bat an eye we grab a new ball. Some golfers will go and try fishing it out of the hazard. When we see alligators we know that we do not go after a ball. Well, just like seeing kangaroos in Australia another popular animal is crocodiles. Crocodiles are bigger and meaner than the American alligator. In the water hazards on the courses there, you would have to deal with these guys. According to statistics, there are more than 100,00 crocodiles in Australia. A golfer will most likely see a croc on the golf course. They just have to use common sense and not mess with them.

One of the elements that I rarely run into is snakes on the course. I know growing up and mostly playing golf in Florida I probably do have much to say about that. Some golfers have run into rattlesnakes and water moccasins. On another golf course, a player was holding the flag when she saw a four-foot snake coming her way. See poisonous snakes are dangerous to players. She was able to put the flag back in the hole and the snake coiled back into the hole. That is scary even if people are not afraid of snakes. I am not scared of snakes, but I will run toward my golf cart if that happens to me.

It was cool to read and see what kind of elements I might see playing in Australia. Seeing the kangaroos would be a cool thing to see and take a picture of. As far as crocodiles I know to stay away from them. Snakes are scary but just like Crocs, just try and stay away from them. I had an alligator run-in while playing in Georgia. I went to try and get my ball in a swamp area and saw a bunch of balls but then realized there were also baby alligators. If I had stepped down, their mama gator was not too far away and I could have been lunch. Golf is so cool no matter where you play.

What is the one thing that has scared you while playing golf? Leave a comment below.

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