Sharing the Course

Geese on the 5th Fairway
Carroll Park, Baltimore, MD
August 10, 2025

 Playing golf, which is a fantastic outdoor sport, usually means that we share the course with the local fauna. 

I have enjoyed many different species over the years. There were geese on Sunday--they are messy and we have a rule that golf balls that come to rest in goose poop can be cleaned or replaced. Geese poop a lot! 

But there are many other animals prowling the golf courses. I have avoided alligators in Florida. We have another rule that a free drop is given for any ball landing within 10 feet of a gator. 

In addition to geese and gators there are sand hill cranes, foxes, turtles, woodchucks, deer, snakes, and lizards. 

It is fun to see all of the wildlife, but some of them require a wide berth.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD