Anyone ever have this happen?

[darkhelmet]

Dog on the golf course

Was playing by myself yesterday, hit a very good second shot on a par 5 that should have left me right in the middle of the fairway, about 20-30 yds from the front of the green.

Driving up to where the ball should be, and I didn't see a ball anywhere -- but I did see a little 10-lb dog strutting back up the fairway towards me. Looked a little closer, and realized the little bugger had my ball in his mouth!

Tried to get him to stop -- of course he ignored me and kept on going. Luckily, his owner was right there and got him to give up the ball -- threw me off, though, and I ended up bogeying the hole after dropping where I thought the ball might have ended up.

[Jimmy Mac]

Never had a dog steal a ball, but one of the holes on a course I play had a family of foxes. If you hit near their side of the fairway, the kits would come out and pounce on your ball. They'd move it around some but never had one outright stolen.

[AntLockyer]

A fox took a Snickers from my bag once.

[cardoustie]

I had a crow steal a snickers from my cart in Vancouver once

DOG STORY

On the day of my wedding, 16 yrs ago. 18th hole at Greystone in Milton Ontario.

I roll a putt for eagle from about 45 feet away and a greenskeeper's dog comes barreling onto the green and scoops up my ball when it was in motion and 5 feet shy of the hole. The putt was looking good as well. Completely surprised me. No idea on the ruling either ...

We had a good laugh about it afterwards

[Pweb44]

Never have I seen a dog take a ball on a course but I have seen it happen myself with a fox. Playing in PEI one time, a playing partner hit his ball onto the green and as we are approaching, suddenly a fox darts out of the trees, snatches up the ball and run off into the trees again. My playing partner started to chase after the fox but we convinced him it was not worth it to chase the fox into the woods over a golf ball. Ironic thing was the course was called Fox Meadow......

[DaSportsGuy]

Never had anything like that happen to me. I'd probably get really pissed though if it did and I didn't get the ball back, lol. For some reason I get really, really, really pissed off when I lose a ball. I don't mind losing a ball that I hit into the woods or the water or something, but when I just flat out lose a ball that I shouldn't have, I get really pissed. It totally takes me out of my game and I just go ape s*** haha. I think I may have anger issues.

[ej002]

"Hey, that Kangaroo just stole my ball!"


I am sorry but these stories are hilarious.

[RickK]

Had a feral hog come out of the woods and onto the green on a par 3 we were playing. I was the only one who had hit a shot. Picked up my ball in its mouth and when the hog left there was nothing left but a shriveled up cover and a bunch of little tiny rubber band pieces everywhere. This was back in the days of the wound Titleist balls.

[blade_man]

Had one run up to the tee box where my ball was teed up and grab the ball and took off! Had a duck take one out of the 10th fairway at the Bull ( we have tons of geese and ducks!), ducks are looking for food and the geese are pigs with wings!

[NoPro]

While playing early one morning our 4some came up on a par three that has a small pond in front of the tee box. It was a chilly morning and a man was letting his Dog out for it's morning " romp" ...a golden lab I believe,naturally the dog became rather frisky and came over to the tee box to make friends. He saw the last player set to tee off and went directly opposite the players stance and started to stare down the ball. The player decided to swing away and as fate would have it he topped the shot badly and the ball went screaming into the water as did the dog after it. Well we all drove off and procceded to the drop area and then on to the green. Thats when we heard the longest and loudest scream of obsenities coming from the dogs owner because the dog was still swimming and naturaly soaking wet. You could hear that guy all across the course ...I don't think any of us made a putt the rest of the round after that .

[bthug10]

[quote name='CARDY' timestamp='1320686262' post='3770665']
I had a crow steal a snickers from my cart in Vancouver once

DOG STORY

On the day of my wedding, 16 yrs ago. 18th hole at Greystone in Milton Ontario.

I roll a putt for eagle from about 45 feet away and a greenskeeper's dog comes barreling onto the green and scoops up my ball when it was in motion and 5 feet shy of the hole. The putt was looking good as well. Completely surprised me. No idea on the ruling either ...

We had a good laugh about it afterwards
[/quote]
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you could've just re-played the eagle putt. From as close to the spot as you remember it.

[barriec]

had a dog run onto the 17th green at pebble beach of all places and grab my golf ball. guy came up on cart and apologized. was great!

[NPVWhiz]

This type of thing happened to me a few weeks ago at a preview round at a local private club. Our foursome was on a hole, and there was a young girl, probably 11 or 12 talking on the cell in the back yard with a little fluff ball dog, and when the dog saw us he bolted out to the fairway and basically ran around us for about 10 minutes. Everyone was nice, because she immediately got off the phone and ran out to try to get the dog, but the dog wouldn't come when called. I could tell she was getting distraught, probably because she thought we would complain (not going to happen). I tried to reassure her it was no big deal, but then once we had hit, we took the carts and moved on up to the green, and the darn dog followed us on up to the green.

I have to admit that we were sort of in the "that's her problem" mode at that point, and she had gotten on the phone to call a parent I suspect, but once the dog followed us up to the green, the little rascal picked up a jogger and just happily followed the jogger on down the trail, across the road and on down the way into an area of busy streets.

I couldn't help but imagine how just an instant of inattention by the poor girl led to the dog being lost or killed and how badly she must have felt. Each of us did try to catch/call the dog, but mainly to just get our shots finished without the distraction and risk of hiting the little fellow.

It's been weeks, and I still wonder if they were able to find the dog, or if she lost her pet because of that. Honestly, thinking about the risk of it (I had dogs that I was really attached to as a youngster) distracted me for the rest of the round. I doubled the next hole from the middle of the fairway.

It was really just how quickly she went from 'teen on the phone' to "gosh, my dog is going to get away". I could tell she was the type of youngster that actually cared, in that she was getting visibly upset.
You wish all youngsters could learn those lessons without having permanent consequences. I felt bad for her.

[bulldurham]

Not really a situation where an animal interfered with play, but I was playing in North Carolina with a buddy, and had just teed off on a long par 4. We pick up our bags and start strolling along the path towards the fairway. There had been a storm the day before and we saw what we thought was a fallen tree branch in the middle of the cart path. We are nonchalantly walking towards it when I realize its a 4 foot long snake!

I had never seen a snake in the state let alone one that big and the thing is just inching along the path towards the woods. Whatever, seems pretty placid so I walk right in front of it and my buddy walks behind it. The thing figures its being threatened or something and jumps back towards my friend. He launches himself backward and loses a couple clubs out of his bag. He was so shaken he duffed the next shot from the middle of the fairway, Hilarious.

[stevopagolf]

Self proclaimed dog lover.That is mine in my avatar The bigger the better. If the thing can fit in a bag or be an accessory its not a dog (I will save that rant for another time).

A few years back a buddy and I were playing Hartefeld National outside Philadelphia. We were on the back nine par 5 and both hit very good drives, as we were approaching our balls this 125 Chocolate Lab came charging and scooped up both of our balls at full stride and began rolling in the fairway bunker with these balls. His new owner came out horrified with a bag of balls apologizing for the dog. She had just rescued the big beast from a guy who had the dog in the city. He thought the country spaces would be better for the dog exercise and all.

We we laughing our heads off watching this lady try to corral the dog. She was overmatched. I called the dog over after a couple of minutes and he sat and dropped the balls. Wet but really undamaged.

[mozgolf]

Play a course in South Africa that has a notorious cat that steels balls off a green and whips them home to the owners delight!! He sheepishly turns them back in at the club every week or so

[FlopShotFred]

yeah, i was playing in a scramble (a well organized charity event at a nice course). All four of us had teed off on the first par 5 of the back nine, one was wet left, one was OB right, one was a playable shot and the last was an awesome drive that split the dog leg left faiway perfectly it was a great draw. we turn the corner, those an old guy in a golf cart toolin down the middle of the fairway towards us with his collie dog running alongside and he yelled "someone hit a great one, too bad lucy took it!"

we were all so shocked at what had just happened we just watched them go on down the fairway. we bogeyed a par 5 in a scramble....pretty sad

[mglosier54]

That has happened to me before in Tennessee! I hit my ball on the green on a par 4 to about 8 feet and went up there and four dogs were running around on the green. One had picked up my ball and the other 3 were chasing him trying to get it from him. It was actually very comical, and cute. I ended up getting it back and making par but its certainly possible when you play a course surrounded by a bunch of houses.

[Jim Clark]

At a local muni in Newton, MA, there was a black lab that would occasionally hang out near the pond in front of 18 green. The pond had been added to the short par 4 because too many people could reach the green. The lab would watch for balls that had been too hit far and rolled into the pond. He'd jump in the water and feel around with his paws until he felt the ball, then he'd dunk head under the water, grab the ball, and drop it in the fairway for you. Damnedest thing you ever saw.

At a local publinks in the DC area, there was a 3-legged lab that would cruise the course and greet the golfers, didn't steel their balls. Because it was his back leg that was missing, he could cruise around just fine.

A couple of years ago there was a fox at our club stealing balls from the fairway.

A number of years ago at the Players Championship, a seagull landed on 17 green and grabbed a player's ball (I believe it was Couples) and took off with it.

[That Bob Guy]

This is SQUIRRILY!


Had a squirrel take an unopened package of cigarettes from the cart and fled up a tree with them!

[bazinky]

A few years ago. there used to be an Australian Sheperd that would hang out by the chipping green at a public course near my house. If you hit a chip while he was there, he'd run on to the green, grab it, and then run back and drop it at your feet. He would do this all day if you let him. I always wonder what happened to that dog, since I haven't seen him in some time ...

[TM Superdeep]

For some reason Members of our club think its ok to walk their dogs on our course at weekends. Anyway our fourball were approaching the 14th green. 3 of us were on green and no sign of the other ball. There was a white terrier in the bunker playing with a ball. My mate chased it and it was his. The dog ran onto the green and lifted another ball and ran off. The owner (a female member) thought this was funny. My 2 friends didn't and proceeded in some verbal abuse towards her. In my opinion if a dog is on the course off a lead it should be shot.

[helper_monkey]

We have a course here that has one par-5 that runs along some pretty deep woods and if you hit your tee shot too close to the edge there is a decent chance that a fox will take your ball. I always figured they looked like eggs to the fox and that was why they would grab them.

Two dog incidents stand out to me. The first one was pretty scary. My group was all on the 18th tee and this big happy lab come running over to us. He has a collar and was very friendly so everyone gave him a quick pat on the head and he hangs out around the golf carts. One of the guys goes to tee off and as he is beginning his backswing the dog suddenly decides he wants to snatch the ball away. The dog darts towards the tee box and we all start yelling at the guy to stop his swing, which he manages to do just as the dog grabs the ball. All's well that end's well, but man we all thought he was about to accidentally kill or seriously hurt that dog.

The second incident was really funny. The 12th hole at my home course is a par-5 with a large pond running down the left hand side. I am in the fairway trying to decide if I am going to go for it or not when suddenly I hear a kid yelling "NOOOO!!!! BOBBY GET BACK HERE!!!!" I look up and see a big happy yellow lab bounding across the fairway straight for the pond (which had a number of ducks in it) being trailed by a boy and girl who looked to be in the 8-10 year old range. The boy had a leash in his hand. As I watch the dog gets about five feet from the water's edge and does a massive belly flop right into the lake, scattering angry ducks everywhere. The kids stop running and dejectedly head to the water to try and talk the dog out, but he was having none of it.

It looked to me like they were taking the dog for a walk and the dog managed to look pitiful enough to get them to take the leash off, at which point he made a break for the water. I felt bad for the kids, but that dog looked about as happy as I've ever seen a dog look.

[blade_man]

[quote name='TheBobGuy' timestamp='1320846412' post='3778579']
This is SQUIRRILY!


Had a squirrel take an unopened package of cigarettes from the cart and fled up a tree with them!


[/quote]


squirrel was trying to do you a favor! LOL!

[EK16]

Never had a dog interfere, but I was playing in Temecula, CA a few weeks ago and some dog was running around one of the fairways. He was just going up and down the side and having the time of his life. Just running around, sniffing everything, but stayed away from people and out of the way. He ran up and down the fairway a few times and then finally just sat down under the shade next to a tree. No idea where the owner was.

My dog likes to chase balls at home too. Every once in a while I'll hit little chip shots and putts in one of the bedrooms. Sure enough she'll watch what I'm doing attentively for a few minutes and then pounce after one.

Seen all sorts of crazy animals on the course though: bobcats, foxes, coyotes, deer, dogs, squirrels, chimpmunks

[EK16]

[quote name='TM Superdeep' timestamp='1320849495' post='3778733']
For some reason Members of our club think its ok to walk their dogs on our course at weekends. Anyway our fourball were approaching the 14th green. 3 of us were on green and no sign of the other ball. There was a white terrier in the bunker playing with a ball. My mate chased it and it was his. The dog ran onto the green and lifted another ball and ran off. The owner (a female member) thought this was funny. My 2 friends didn't and proceeded in some verbal abuse towards her. In my opinion if a dog is on the course off a lead it should be shot.
[/quote]

I understand your frustration but you and your buddies need to relax a bit. It's just golf, there are more important things in life.

[anand]

Crows picking up balls are fairly common on our course.They pick the ball up and go sit on a tree.After a while, they just drop the ball down.

[FLGOLFJUNKIE]

Yikes! I've never had a dog pick up my ball, but I've had one running around all over the golf course before, and the most annoying thing was the owners going crazy calling the dogs name looking for it. IMO more distracting than the actual dog.

[iGolfism]

not making this up... we got ganged up on by a troop of monkeys. one stole our ball, and while it got our attention, our caddie had to fend off about 5 others and protect the food and drinks in our cart... seems in South East Asia the monkeys also have a liking to sunglasses, clubs and headcovers.

[rhyno18]

The groundskeeper at one of the courses I play has a huge black lab named Bear. Friendly as heck, just a really good natured dog that's always out on the course with him. Last fall, while playing a late afternoon round by myself, I see Bear out on the course, near the 8th green. No big deal, but I don't see his owner. I go ahead and tee off, but instead of going to my ball I go on past it up towards the green, to make sure the groundskeeper isn't someplace I could it him with my approach, or fallen out hurt or anything. When I get about 30 yards from Bear, I realize it isn't Bear, its a bear! A bear cub about the same size as Bear. Of course we all know, where ever a bear cub is, momma bear ain't far behind. I left my ball in the fairway and made a hard left turn away from the cub and even skipped number 9 to get back to the clubhouse. Sad thing is, that's a narrow hole and I hardly ever hit the fairway on that hole. The one time I do, I leave the ball and run like a schoolgirl