A Coyote Picked My Ball Up Off the Green and Spit It Out on the Fringe. Ruling?

[mattboywonder]

I played an early round of golf this morning. On the 7th hole I had a great shot onto the green. A few moments later a coyote came out of the brush, walked across the green, picked my ball up and carried it off the green where he spit it out. My buddy caught it on video. It was awesome. If you watch this full screen, you'll see the coyote pick up the ball and walk away.

So, anyone want to guess what the ruling is on this?

[Lihu]

Play it where it lies. (That was one of your Youtube comments, and tend to agree.)

Bummer.

Next time douse your ball with hot chili oil

[Dave2512]

I don't think he liked the taste. Sweet looking course!

[stealthduffer]

Rule 18-1 - Ball moved by an outside agency. Must be replaced as close to the spot it rested before being moved. And determine if any of your buddies train coyotes....

[Pappy091]

Honestly, I would seriously question whether that really happened if you didn't have that video.

How did you end up playing it?

[Golfingdad]

At least he left it for you to put back ...

[Motley01]

Wow thats crazy. I wouldn't have beleived it either, good thing your buddy was quick to whip out the phone and record it.

Nice shot by the way.

[GillPier]

Beautiful looking course, need to get myself out to Utah

[Maddog10]

Wow, that's crazy! As far as the ruling, you get to place the ball back where it was.

I agree with the others. That's a beautiful looking course.

[Lihu]

Play it where it lies. (That was one of your Youtube comments, and tend to agree.)

Lesson learned, don't have me score your round.

[Wisguy]

The same thing happened to me on a really long drive I hit on my favorite hole on a local course, partially cutting a corner on a dogleg, but with a red fox instead of a coyote. He moved my ball about 10 yards back before dropping it. Damned if I was going to let some fleabag steal 10 yards off my drive, so I put it back about where it had been.

[TJBam]

I thought this thread was a joke until I watched the video. LOL

[David L Yskes]

that is hilarious !!   a friend of mine had a incident like this happen back in 2001..  back then i had 4 or 5 coworkers who every week would go out and play golf, well this time we was playing a nice course and my buddy had stuck the green to about 3 feet from the hole...  And we are all on the green and out of no where I see this Golden Retriever come running from the trees through the sand trap and up onto the green... And my buddies had their back to the dog.. So when the dog got close, I said hey you have a wild animal running up behind you!!!   And they all turned around and yelled a bit in shock... And No joke, the dog comes up and steals my buddies golf ball and runs off with it.. He eventually comes back and drops the ball in the sand trap...    We figured it was someones dog from one of the neighboring houses on the course..  but still very funny..

I mean the whole thing happened so fast that we all ended up laughing about it for a good 5mins....

[butt3r3dt0ast]

Haha, that is awesome. Can say I've never had that happen to me before. Nice shot, by the way.