Hawks Attacking Golfers

[iacas]

http://www.golf.com/extra-spin/2017/02/16/nesting-hawks-terrorize-orlando-golf-course

Quote

 

According to Orlando’s News 6, Orange Tree Golf Club is warning its members to beware of aggressive hawks nesting on the course. The birds have already attacked several golfers.

“Beware it is hawk nesting time of year again and the hawks may be territorial,” wrote the club in a message posted on Facebook. “They have been known to dive down and hit neighbors and members causing cuts and even stitches to the scalp. Please stay aware. A suggested protection solution is to use an umbrella in areas marked with hawk activity.”

Spring is nesting season, and the hawks apparently view humans (including weekend hackers) as dangerous predators, precipitating an untold number of skull scratchings.

 

Yikes!

[nevets88]

8 minutes ago, iacas said:

http://www.golf.com/extra-spin/2017/02/16/nesting-hawks-terrorize-orlando-golf-course

Yikes!

Once in university, was walking between two bushes and a little bird flying from bush to bush pegged me with its beak right in my noggin. Probably a practically weightless tiny finch or sparrow. That hurt, drew blood. Can only imagine what a much larger bird of prey can do from a dive 100+ feet up.

[phillyk]

There are those red winged black birds that harass golfers a lot.  I just carry my PW around them and wave it through air.  They stay far enough away not to get hit.  Idk that I'd do that to a hawk though.  An umbrella is a good idea.

[bkuehn1952]

One year complaints of a “crazy bird” started to be received at the clubhouse of our local muni. Players who hooked their tee shots on #11 reported being dive-bombed and harassed by a small bird. Eventually the course superintendant identified the problem. An Eastern Kingbird had nested in a small tree to the left of the 11th fairway. This particularly species has a well-deserved reputation for aggressively defending its nesting area. When a golfer would come too close to the tree, the Kingbird would go to war.

The superintendant chalked out a circle with a 30 yard radius and put up a sign that the area was GUR and added a warning: “Beware of the Bird”. During the City Championship one of the members of my foursome hit his shot into the GUR. The guy read the notice, looked at the little bird perched in the tree and said, “It’s just a bird, I’ll play it where it lays.” Having seen the little demon in action, I suggested he may want to reconsider but he would have none of it and addressed his ball. Suddenly a blur of feathers smacked him in the head, knocked his hat off and started trying to drill a hole in the top of his skull. After the golfer escaped he took a drop. 

Postscript: Once the breeding season ended they took the tree out and replanted it elsewhere.

[Kalnoky]

10 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

One year complaints of a “crazy bird” started to be received at the clubhouse of our local muni. Players who hooked their tee shots on #11 reported being dive-bombed and harassed by a small bird. Eventually the course superintendant identified the problem. An Eastern Kingbird had nested in a small tree to the left of the 11th fairway. This particularly species has a well-deserved reputation for aggressively defending its nesting area. When a golfer would come too close to the tree, the Kingbird would go to war.

This is hilarious

Last summer there was large bee hive in a tree behind the 10th green. Not cool at all. Definitely did not want to skull any chip shots going in.

[Buckeyebowman]

I used to play league at a course where, at the 14th green, a mama fox and her kits would run out and steal our golf balls! The course actually had to come up with a local rule for "Balls stolen by foxes!" They were there for a couple of years and then they moved on.