One of the many great pleasures of playing golf is being able to communicate with nature. Unfortunately, sometimes that also presents unexpected dangers. In Australia, golfers at certain times of the year have to be especially vigilant when near nesting magpies. In Florida, alligators can give you a big scare during a round. Pablo Larrazábal even had to dive into a lake when he was attacked by a swarm of wasps during the 2014 Malaysian Open.
The latest incident involves an animal that does not normally disturb a round of golf.
According to a police report, an unidentified golfer was playing the second hole of the Shore Road course at Winnapaug Country Club, in Rhode Island, United States, when a fox came out of the woods surrounding the course, attacked him and bit him on the leg. Several witnesses reported that the golfer used a club to repel the animal, but the fox responded more aggressively and attacked him a second time. He again used a club to free himself from the animal, this time hitting it in the legs.
However, instead of retreating, the fox attacked a third time and it was then that the golfer hit the fox in the head with his club, which caused the animal’s death.
Westerly Police Captain Shawn Lacey said the attack led police and Department of Environmental Management officials to determine that it was likely related to the presence of the rabies virus. The animal’s body was tested and the results verified that the animal had the rabies.
“There were clear indications that made suspect he had the virus, including the timing of the attack and the way the animal kept charging, but there are protocols in place that we have to follow,” Lacey said.
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