Gladstone On Course Golf Shop

Happiest of birthdays to our gorgeous girl Sami. Thank you for all you do 😚

Taylormade Wedge Winner 🎉

🐍 GOLF COURSES—A WONDERFUL HOME FOR WILDLIFE

Golf courses are much more than places to play our great game. Their trees, waterways, native grasses and open spaces can also provide valuable habitat for many forms of wildlife.

The 11th hole at Gladstone Golf Club recently demonstrated this beautifully, with the appearance of a magnificent carpet python approximately 1.5 metres long. It looked very healthy, with beautiful markings and glossy skin, as it became active again following the cooler winter period.

Carpet pythons are non-venomous, but they are still wild animals and should never be approached or handled.

Whether we encounter a snake, kangaroo, goanna, bird or another animal, we must remember:

Wild animals are exactly that—wild. Treat them with respect and give them plenty of space.

If you encounter wildlife on the course:

⛳ Stop and remain calm.
⛳ Do not approach, touch, feed, chase or attempt to move the animal.
⛳ Slowly move back and give it a clear escape route.
⛳ Warn nearby golfers without surrounding or disturbing it.
⛳ Contact the clubhouse or course staff if it remains near a playing area.
⛳ Never place your hands into long grass, bushes, drains or other areas you cannot clearly see.
⛳ If the situation feels unsafe, leave the area immediately—no golf ball or score is worth risking an injury.

Queensland Government advice is to back away to a safe distance and allow a snake to move away. Snakes are protected wildlife, and people should never attempt to capture or kill one. Queensland Government snake advice⁠

THE RULES OF GOLF PROTECT YOU

Under Rule 16.2—Dangerous Animal Condition, a player is entitled to relief when a dangerous animal near the ball could cause serious physical injury if the player attempted to play the ball as it lies.

This can include dangerous snakes, stinging bees or other animals presenting a genuine risk.

If your ball is in the general area, bunker or on the putting green, you may normally take free relief without penalty, following the appropriate procedure for that part of the course.

If the ball is in a penalty area, you may take free relief within that same penalty area when possible, or take normal penalty relief outside it under Rule 17. The important point is that the Rules never require you to place yourself in danger to play a golf shot. Rule 16.2—Dangerous Animal Condition⁠

If uncertain, mark the ball’s location from a safe distance and ask a referee, committee member or club official for assistance. Do not walk towards a dangerous animal simply to retrieve or identify your ball.

IF SOMEONE IS BITTEN BY A SNAKE

Treat every suspected snakebite as an emergency:

☎️ Call Triple Zero—000.
☎️ Keep the person lying down, calm and completely still.
☎️ Apply a firm pressure-immobilisation bandage and splint when appropriate.
☎️ Do not allow the person to walk.
☎️ Do not attempt to catch or kill the snake.

Follow the directions of emergency services. Queensland Poisons Information Centre⁠

Golf gives us a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature at close quarters. Let us appreciate the wildlife sharing our course while protecting the animals, ourselves and our fellow golfers.

Enjoy the view, respect the wildlife and always place safety ahead of your score. 🦘🐍🦅⛳

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