Hazards On The Course

Hazards On The Course

I encountered this hornet’s nest on a recent round. The nest must have been built quite rapidly, for it sits between the tenth green and eleventh tee and I had not noticed it before.

Hornets will aggressively defend their nests, and their stings are no fun at all, so I gave it a wide berth.

The hornet’s nest was a reminder that for all of their grooming, golf courses still are outdoor spaces with plenty of hazards other than sand and ponds. Among the hazards on the course I have encountered over the years are a bear, a bobcat, several coyotes, and innumerable snakes (including several rattlers).

Strangely, I have not spotted any alligators on my rounds in South Carolina and Florida. That’s a bit of a disappointment, really.

In recent years, even the seemingly innocuous has become dangerous. Ticks carry Lyme’s Disease, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. This summer in Michigan, there was an outbreak of Eastern equine Encephalitis, which has killed at least five people. EEE is a mosquito-borne virus, for which there is no cure. Nine others contracted the disease but apparently survived. Forty animals in Michigan also have had conformed cases.

It pays to be cautious when in the out-of-doors. There are plenty of hazards on the course. Wear mosquito and tick repellent, and keep your eyes open for wildlife. And of course, evacuate immediately if there is threat of lightening.