OKATIE, S.C. — Birdies and eagles are coveted in golf. Gators are another matter.
A South Carolina man decided not to play his shot where it landed on Monday, since it came to rest on the back of a 7-foot alligator.
A photo taken by Ksieniewicz’s daughter, Kristine Robinson, shows the ball neatly on the gator’s back. Robinson posted her photo on Facebook, noting that “Dad is now famous ... for his unique golf swing and aim.”
David Ksieniewicz said his ball came to rest on the reptile while he was playing at Spring Island Club in Okatie on Monday, WCIV reported.
“We determined that my dad ... should probably consider this dangerously shanked shot unplayable and start over,” Robinson wrote.
Smart idea. And Ksieniewicz has the rules of golf on his side. According to the rules of the U.S. Golf Association, players may encounter “abnormal course conditions.” That allows players to take “relief” by moving their ball or dropping a new ball in a safe and reasonable location for their next shot without being penalized a stroke.
If ever a player needed relief, this was one of those times.
USGA Rule 16.2(a) specifies “dangerous animals” qualify for such relief if their presence near a ball “could cause serious physical injury to the player if he or she had to play the ball as it lies.”
Ksieniewicz was able to take a safe drop without bothering the alligator and was able to continue his game, WCIV reported.