Golf

by Joshua Piven

  • STICK OR KEY—Use the pointed end of a piece of wood or a key to scratch out your score. If you are unable to read the scratch marks, dip the key or small pointed stick into mud or wet dirt, then mark your score onto the card. If you have a match and can char the end of the stick, this may also help. You may also be able to use the charred end of the match itself.

  • GRASS OR FRESH LEAF—Find a wide blade of grass or a leaf, position it over the scorecard, and run a fingernail over it to leave a stain of a number or hash marks representing your score.

  • MAKEUP—Lipstick, eyebrow pencil, or mascara may also work as a writing implement.

  HOW TO GET A CLUB OUT OF A TREE

  1 Attempt to shake the tree.

  Depending on the size of the tree and the thickness of its trunk, you may be able to dislodge the club by gently shaking the tree. Take care to avoid being hit by the club when it falls.

  2 Try to dislodge the club using a ball retriever, flag-stick, or another club.

  Someone in your group may have a telescoping ball retriever, or, if you are near the green, grab the flag-stick. Use the implement to reach the club or shake the branch where it is lodged.

  3 Create a longer poker.

  Secure the flagstick to a golf club or to a telescoping ball retriever using athletic tape, shoelaces, or bandages. Tie the grip of the club to the base of the flagstick. Hold the head of the club and use the flag end of the stick to knock the club loose.

  4 Climb the tree.

  Use this method only if you cannot dislodge the club with the above methods, the tree is easily climbable, and the club is not too high. Carry another club in your belt to help you reach the stuck club or the branch that it is resting on, or have another player hand up a club when you are in position. See “How to Retrieve a Ball Stuck in a Tree” (page 24) for correct tree-climbing technique.

  Be Aware

  • Tossing other clubs into the tree in an attempt to dislodge the lost club may result in multiple stuck clubs or damage to the clubs.

  • Do not throw sticks and stones at the errant club. They are not very effective and may hit you or members of your party on the way down.

  HOW TO SURVIVE IF YOU RUN OUT OF TEES

  Look for discarded or broken tees.

  Golf courses are often littered with broken tees. You may be able to find one with a long enough head, or one that you can easily repair with a bit of tape or gum.

  Build a pyramid of wet sand or dirt.

  Before the advent of plastic and wooden tees, golfers used sand to get the ball off the ground. If no sand is available, try using moist dirt from the rough to build your pyramid. Make certain the dirt does not contain pebbles or rocks that may alter your shot or fly down the course with your ball. Drive normally.

  Use smashed ground.

  Before your shot, swing the club face, leading edge down, into the ground. This will cause the turf to wedge up, creating a small mound on which you can place your ball.

  Use small sticks.

  Collect several sticks and build a pyramid. Gently place the ball on the pile.

  The Rule

  A player is not required to use a tee on the first shot, but has the option of doing so.

  CHAPTER 3

  DANGEROUS ANIMALS

  HOW TO DEAL WITH AN ALLIGATOR NEAR YOUR BALL

  1 Determine the size of the alligator.

  Although even small alligators can cause injury, those less than four feet long are not as dangerous to humans. If the alligator is larger than six feet, be especially wary, as a bite can inflict major damage. Alligators larger than nine feet should be considered deadly.

  2 Calculate the distance from the alligator to your ball.

  The immediate danger zone is within 15 feet of an alligator.

  3 Try to determine if the alligator sees your ball.

  Alligators are attracted to objects that appear to be food. Golf balls look like alligator eggs, which alligators eat.

  4 Do not stand between the alligator and water.

  If disturbed, an alligator on land will seek refuge in water. Make sure the alligator is between you and any nearby water hazard.

  5 Make a loud noise.

  Alligators are sensitive to loud noises. Yelling or screaming may cause the animal to leave. If the alligator does not move, however, you will have gained its attention.

  6 Use a ball retriever to recover the ball.

  The alligator may lunge and bite at objects that invade its space. A telescoping ball retriever, best used when the alligator is not facing you or the ball, can quietly scoop up the ball. You can also use a flagstick, though you will have to use it to roll the ball out of the way.

  7 Quickly move away from the alligator’s territory.

  After retrieving the ball, or if you encounter difficulties, run. While alligators can move fast, they generally will travel only short distances and probably cannot outrun an adult golfer.

  Be Aware

  • Alligators are common on golf courses throughout the Gulf Coast states in the United States, and can be found as far north as North Carolina. To be safe, assume that any body of water on a course in these states is home to an alligator.

  • Never wade into a water hazard on a golf course known to be home to alligators. You are most likely to be attacked in or at the edge of water.

  • Be especially wary during spring months, when alligators wander in search of mates, and during late summer, when eggs hatch. Mother alligators will respond aggressively to threats to their young, and any adult alligator may come to the aid of any youngster.

  • An alligator more than nine feet long is likely to be male, and males tend to move around more and be more aggressive.

  • Do not assume any alligator is safe to approach. While some animals may be habituated to the presence of humans, alligators are wild animals, and therefore unpredictable: they may attack without provocation.

  HOW TO DEAL WITH A SNAKE NEAR YOUR BALL

  1 Observe the color pattern and markings of the snake—from at least six feet away.

  All snakes should be considered dangerous. Although there is no universal way to determine whether a snake is venomous from its markings, there are some species that can be identified and should be avoided.

  In the United States, watch for:

  • Rattlesnakes, which are instantly recognizable by the rattle on the tail.

  • Copperheads, which have a distinctive pattern of hourglass-shaped bands down the back.

  • Water moccasins, which lack any single feature that allows them to be immediately identified except that they will open their mouths wide when disturbed, exposing the white interior (hence their nickname, “cotton mouth”).

  • Coral snakes, which have repeating colored bands of black, yellow, and red—in that order.

  Outside the United States, you may encounter:

  • Cobras (Asia, Africa, and India), which flare a hood below their heads when disturbed. The hood may not be noticeable if the snake is calm. A cobra will rear up and “stand” when threatened, and some types may spit venom up to several feet, aiming for the eyes. The venom can cause blindness.

  • Kraits (Southeast Asia and India), which may be “common” (black with white bands) or “banded” (alternate black and yellow bands). Both have hexagonal scales along the ridge of the back, though these may be difficult to see from a distance.

  • Tiger snakes (Australia, Tasmania, and surrounding islands), which vary in color, will raise their heads, flatten their necks, and hiss loudly when threatened.

  2 If the snake appears to be one of these species, take a drop.

  You should sacrifice your ball, but you do not need to sacrifice a stroke penalty: the rules allow a free drop to avoid dangerous animals.

  3 If the snake is coiled, this is a sign that it is ready to strike—leave it alone and take a drop.

  A coral snake can strike from what appears to be a relaxed posture, however.

  4 St
and still.

  If the snake does not feel threatened but is intimidated by the sight of you, it may leave the area on its own. Give it time to move away before attempting any ball retrieval measures. Do not try to scare the snake, however, or it is more likely to react defensively.

  5 If the snake remains, is not coiled, and does not appear to be venomous, estimate its length before attempting to retrieve your ball.

  If the snake is five feet long or shorter, use your club or a telescoping ball retriever to get your ball. A snake of this size should not be able to strike beyond the length of a golf club. Most snakes can strike half their body length. If the snake is longer than five feet, use a tree branch at least four feet long to retrieve your ball.

  Be Aware

  • Snakes can be encountered at any time of day in the spring or fall. During summer when temperatures rise, snakes are more active in the morning or late afternoon.

  • Some nonvenomous snakes imitate the coral snake, but have a band pattern in the following color order: black, yellow, black, red.

  • A golf glove will not provide sufficient protection to prevent a snake’s fangs from entering your skin.

  • Most deaths by snakebite are due to allergic reactions and lack of rapid medical treatment after a bite. Although a snakebite should be considered a medical emergency and treatment should be sought immediately, deaths from snakebites are extremely rare. There are thousands of bites each year in the United States but only a few dozen deaths.

  HOW TO SPOT A RABID ANIMAL

  1 Watch out for raccoons, skunks, and bats.

  All warm-blooded animals can carry rabies, but the disease is most common among these animals. Coyotes, foxes, and larger rodents, such as ground-hogs, can also carry rabies. It is rare among mice, squirrels, chipmunks, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, rats, and other small rodents.

  2 If the animal is foaming or appears to have a locked jaw, stay away.

  There are two type of rabies: “furious” rabies and “dumb” rabies. Animals with the former are hostile, may snap and bite, and have an increase in saliva, which makes their mouths appear to be foaming. Animals with the latter (also called paralytic rabies) are timid and shy, and may have paralysis of the lower jaw and muscles.

  3 If you are bitten by any animal, immediately wash the bite out with soap and running warm water.

  The wound can also be treated with an antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide or an antibiotic ointment. Dress the wound with a sterile cloth or bandage, and put pressure on the wound to stop bleeding. Get professional medical attention as soon as possible.

  4 Call animal control authorities to report the incident.

  Describe the animal and where you were when you received the bite so that they can try to catch the animal. Tests will determine if the animal has rabies. Without the animal to test, the medical treatment may mean painful injections, since health providers will have to assume the animal had rabies. Do not try to catch the animal yourself.

  5 Monitor your health.

  Early symptoms of rabies include mental depression, restlessness, and abnormal sensations such as itching around the site of the bite, headache, fever, tiredness, nausea, sore throat, or loss of appetite. Other early symptoms include muscle stiffness, dilation of pupils, increased production of saliva, and unusual sensitivity to sound, light, and changes of temperature. Symptoms usually develop within two to eight weeks after infection. The more severe the bite, the sooner the onset of symptoms.

  Be Aware

  Generally, you will know if a wild animal has bitten you. However, bat bites can be small and may not be felt. A bat that is active by day, that is found in a place where bats are not usually seen, or that is unable to fly is far more likely to be rabid.

  HOW TO REMOVE A TICK

  Because you will probably not feel a tick biting you, it’s a good practice to check yourself for ticks thoroughly after every round of golf.

  1 Locate the tick.

  Look for a small bump on the skin, similar to the last remnants of a scab before it heals. Ticks vary in size from the head of a pin to a fingernail (when they are engorged) depending on the type and the stage of maturity. Ticks are usually brown or reddish. Check behind the knee, between fingers and toes, in the underarms, in the belly button, in and behind the ear, on the neck, in the hairline, and on the top of the head.

  2 Act quickly to remove the tick.

  Use a commercially available tick removal tool if one is available. Follow the instructions that come with the device. If no tick removal device is available, locate a pair of medium- or fine-tipped tweezers.

  3 Place the tip of the tweezers around the area where the jaws of the tick enter the skin.

  Using a slow, steady motion, pull the tick away from the skin. Do not jerk, crush, squeeze, or puncture the tick, because more pathogens from the tick may get into the wound. If part of the tick breaks off, try to remove it as you would a splinter. Your body will naturally eject the foreign material over time, so leave it alone if you cannot remove it easily.

  4 If no tweezers are available, use the nails of your index finger and thumb.

  Avoid touching the tick with your skin; use latex gloves, plastic baggies, or even paper towels to cover the skin of your fingers. If nothing to protect your skin is available, try using two credit cards as tweezers: squeeze the edges together to grab the tick and then pull firmly away from the skin. Failing this, it is better to remove the tick with bare forefinger and thumb than to leave it attached.

  5 Immediately disinfect the area around the bite with soap and water, alcohol, or antibacterial ointment.

  If you carry club-cleaning fluid in your bag, this may suffice until other disinfection means are available.

  6 Place the tick, dead or alive, in a sealable container.

  Include a lightly moistened paper towel. Take the tick to a local health department to be analyzed, to determine if it is carrying disease.

  HOW TO RECOGNIZE LYME DISEASE

  Watch for these symptoms:

  • A round, “bull’s eye” rash on the skin, which may be very small or up to twelve inches across.

  • Other rashes or skin bruising that can mimic common skin problems, including hives, eczema, sunburn, poison ivy, and flea bites. The rash may itch or feel hot, and it may disappear and return several weeks later. The rash will look like a bruise on people with dark skin color.

  • Flu-like symptoms several days or weeks after a bite from an infected tick: aches and pains in the muscles and joints, low-grade fever, and fatigue.

  • Other systemic symptoms, which can affect virtually any organ in the body, including jaw pain and difficulty chewing; frequent or painful urination and/or repeated urinary tract infections; respiratory infection, cough, asthma, and pneumonia; ear pain, hearing loss, ringing, sensitivity to noise; sore throat, swollen glands, cough, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing; headaches, facial paralysis, seizures, meningitis, stiff neck; burning, tingling, or prickling sensations; loss of reflexes, loss of coordination; stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, loss of appetite; and irregular heartbeat, palpitations, fainting, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

  Be Aware

  • Tucking your pants into your socks is a good preventive measure against ticks.

  • Ticks do not drop from high vegetation or trees; they climb up your body, generally seeking the highest point on the body. However, if the tick meets resistance, it will stop and feed at that point.

  • Ticks are most active in the spring and early summer, though they may be present at other times of the year.

  • Ticks are found in virtually all climates and geographic regions, from the Antarctic to the Sahara. They will often be most abundant in areas with wildlife, whose blood provides their food supply.

  • On the golf course, stay on the fairway and out of the rough to avoid ticks.

  • Ticks can be difficult to remove, and improper removal can cause tick mouthparts to
remain in the skin and/or pathogens from the tick’s body to enter the bloodstream. In particular, small, immature ticks (called larvae or nymphs) can be very hard to remove in one piece.

  • Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics—and the sooner treatment begins, the better.

  HOW TO SURVIVE A BIRD ATTACK

  1 Watch for hovering and clacking.

  To intimidate predators, many species will hover and clack their beaks before attacking. If you observe this behavior, be ready for a bird attack.

  2 Close your eyes and cover your ears.

  A bird will swoop down quickly, striking at the head or shoulders with its wings or beak.

  3 Run for cover away from nesting and foraging areas.

  Run as fast as you can onto the green or fairway and away from the area, most likely in the rough, that the bird is protecting. Many species will attack if their nests or foraging areas are disturbed, even incidentally. If a bird attacks, it will continue to attack until you leave these areas. Continue to cover your ears while running.

  Be Aware

  • Wearing a hat can offer some protection to your head against attacks.

  • Ducks and geese are notorious for going after people. They can approach noisily, heads high. When attacking, they will lower their heads, hiss and charge, and can tear exposed flesh with their sharp beaks.

  • Many species of bird common to golf courses will attack a human, particularly mockingbirds, blackbirds, and magpies.

  • Do not carry food. Birds habituated to human contact, including seagulls and crows, will swoop down and bite at foods and the fingers that hold them, particularly if the person is gesticulating with the food.