Over the years that I have been playing golf and having the pleasure of playing some incredible golf courses there have been a great number of occasions where I have had to duck on the golf course and not always because of stray golf balls.
While playing Barnham Broome in Norfolk UK I was having the round of my life and as we made our way around the course my Cousin and I remarked on a number of occasions about the height of the aircraft that were flying to and from the local Royal Air Force base a few miles away. It wasn’t until the 17th par 3 that we both hit the deck as one of the many fighter jets that had been buzzing around flew directly over our heads at a height that was somewhat lower than we were ready for! Needless to say we hit the deck!
Another occasion that springs to mind was playing another course in the UK, a fantastic little course called Brett Vale where when playing a round with an old friend we were in the process of teeing off on the 15th hole which is a downhill par 3 and involves threading the ball through some telephone cables that go over the fairway. However on this occasion it wasn’t the telephone cables that got in the way. Due to the amazing open countryside in this area there was a great deal of hot air balloons that used the area to take off and land. Well unfortunate for this poor chap he had chosen this particular green to set his balloon down! (green keeper was not impressed)
The reason for writing this is because today I have been hit by a golf ball! Two fairways running parallel and I was just about to hit my second shot into the green and a ball struck me on the elbow. The fairway itself is lined with trees and there is no way of really seeing through to the other side unless you look hard. The other party as apologetic as they were failed miserably in one of the main rules of golfing etiquette! FORE! No shout of Fore! No reason to move away from my shot, no warning just a ball pinging off the end of my elbow!
As much as I am laughing at the fact it has taken 19 years for me to get struck by a ball it hurts like hell and I don’t advise any of you try it! Look out for fighter jets, hot air balloons and low flying golf balls! The etiquette of the game was put there to protect us all, if your not sure then give a shout!
Listen to this post 
Ouch! I am sure the arm still stings and the worst bit is when someone apologises one doesn’t even know how to shout back and express anger . The low flying golf ball is a tragedy that is a continuous curse on any golf course and you are spot on when you say that you should have heard the shout of “fore”. Sometimes I wonder whether it is actually that much of a help or not, especially considering you were on a parallel fairway. What happens when you move just enough upon hearing the shout to be hit by the golf ball. Now that would be some darned luck!
I always thought standing on the tee the biggest threat that one could possibly face was blustery winds. Who would have thought one might have to add Air Force Jets to that category. I am guessing that would be terribly unnerving for a golfer to be faced with such a situation but then that might be lower down on the priority list. Ducking, I guess makes more sense ?
Certainly sounds like you have played golf in some fascinating places. I had never heard of anyone complaining to the greenkeeper about a stray hot air balloon on the green!!
Hi Andy
Yes the arm still stings somewhat! And the swelling has effected the ability to bend it comfortably! However I should be back out and swinging again tomorrow even if it is only on the range. Then I will use it as an excuse towards the end of the week to watch the Buick Invitational on TV.