Report

I think I know the rule so this is really what would you do? Today on our 4th hole I hit a ball right next to the water. Due to a tree, I had no shot at the green, but I had a stance and I could advance the ball maybe up to 100 yards forward to the green (I was around 165 away). From there I expected to have an easy wedge to the green and more likely than not a two putt for bogey. As I'm lining up my shot, I look over and there's a decent size gator, probably +6 feet, about two feet away from me in the water looking right at me. Although I know it's very unlikely it would go after me, it's unnerving, so I took my allowed free relief and move my ball to a safe spot 15 feet away. From 170 I now had an opening to the green, I hit a nice 6i pin high and just missed the putt from 20 feet. I'm allowed free relief so I made par, but it doesn't feel right to record as a par? Thinking I should post a 5. Thoughts?

Anecdotally, yes I think so. Played TPC Louisiana recently which had tight Bermuda surrounds and Bermuda greens and the ball checked up so much quicker there than it does from bent fairways/greens I usually play on at home. I can get one hop and stop at home, but it felt significantly easier on Bermuda IMO.   I hit one of these shots today from about 30-40yds, it maybe just went over head high the entire way. My favorite part is when the playing partners immediately start saying "get down" or "bite" and I know it's going to do just that then the "oohs" when it took one big hop and stopped on a dime about 2 feet from the hole for an easy birdie.  

Played “Operation”… jeez, much tougher now at 60 than it was when I was 10.  Also last week got in a game of Sorry and Headache!

"It is fiction. You need to kill the bird."