Don’t Stick Your Ball Retriever in That Pond


Golf course superintendents are no strangers to dealing with wildlife on their courses, after all, most golf courses are oases of green in the middle of civilization. In the U.S., it's not at all uncommon to see snakes and alligators on the course, depending on the region.

But Henry Martin, greenkeeper at Carbrook Golf Club near Brisbane, Australia, can boast of something a little more exotic than that; the lake on his course features sharks. That's right, sharks!

In fact, golfers at the club have reported seeing sharks grabbing pelicans and jumping out of the water. The birds on the course generally steer clear of the water, leading golfers to call it Shark Lake.

Martin has seen at least one bull shark in the lake, which are regarded as one of the most dangerous and aggressive species. Their wide mouth helps in tearing off flesh and they can grow up to 10 to 12 feet long. They can swim many miles up estuaries, even into fresh water.

The obvious danger has prevented ball hunters from swimming in the lake, and the course estimates that it might contain up to 20,000 golf balls. For the complete story, visit The Sunday Mail online.

The above story appeared in the July 22nd issue of the GCSAA’s Divot Mix e-newsletter.