Adventures in Golfing with a Bull Elk in Estes Park

Golfing in Estes Park, Colorado, is quite the experience, and not just because of the beautiful scenery. Picture this: you’re trying to focus on your shot when a bull elk named Smash decides to make things a bit more exciting. He’s infamous for chasing after trucks and golf carts that stray too close. If you happen to hit your ball in his direction, well, you might want to just accept the penalty and grab a new ball.

One golfer found this out the hard way. After taking a quick glance down the fairway, she lined up her shot and, um, sent the ball right towards Smash. With her club still in hand, she wisely opted to get a new tee instead of risking a confrontation with the formidable elk.

Trying to play the ball where it lies? Not an option. Her second shot was reportedly much more successful. Good Bull Outdoors commented on the moment: “Golfers trying to get back (unintentionally) at Smash for all his antics this year! She had to abandon her original drive because it landed right next to Smash but her second shot looked good!”

The golfer later admitted that her first shot wasn’t entirely her fault. Someone claiming to be her responded with, “That was me! Lol I might have been a bit distracted; everyone likes a nice rack.” It’s a sentiment that, well, I think many can relate to. Certainly, it’s easy to get a little off-course when such a striking creature is nearby.

Good Bull Outdoors reiterated that she had redeemed herself with that follow-up shot. “Smash is definitely distracting,” they said, “but that second shot looked pretty good!”

If you find yourself on a golf course alongside bull elk, remember: it’s wise to know when to play it safe and always have a backup ball ready. And perhaps, try not to get too distracted by a nice rack—both on the course and in the wild.