The woods close-by a golfing course
was scene from most uncommon source.
A fox family was living nearby:
Fiona, Reynard, and youngster Todd,
made golfers angry, mixed up, odd.
Well, mostly it was by the little guy. 

From under roots of oaken tree,
in cave that’s hidden secretly,
fox clan of three has lived there, we are told,
where mom and dad in quiet had
a kit named Todd, a frisky lad,
who was rambunctious, cocky, and was bold.

Unbeknownst to local golfers


Away his first day from his den,
got startled at pond drinking, when
a golf ball flew in with a huge kerplop,
just inches from his furry head
where deep in mud it did embed.
He snatched it out, and then ran home nonstop.

“Oh mother, mother, come and see!
Just what might this strange white thing be?”
“My son, this ball you found around out there
is something often found at pond.
These humans surely can’t be fond
of things they hit and leave them everywhere.”

An animal’s view of golfers


Just then Reynard returned with mice.
He’d hunted dinner to suffice
enough to last the clan for many days,
when Todd showed him the dimpled ball.
“Let’s mount it on your bedroom wall,
a keepsake from your neighborhood forays.”

He loved it in his room, for sure,
And soon collected many more.
Sometimes he’d snatch a ball that’s still in play.
Which made the golfers very mad,
when they were sure the shots they’d had
were clearly seen, and in the fairway lay.

Perplexed were many golfers.


Now Tom and Gordy, Ben and Joe
were on the tee, but didn’t know 
that Todd was hiding in the woods nearby.
On dog-leg with a sharp turn right,
where fox was unseen, out of sight,
Joe cut the corner, really let one fly.

It landed middle fairway, perfect spot
to reach the green on his next shot.
So Joe was cheering, taking many bows.
Then out came Todd from secret bush
and grabbed it in a streaking rush,
to disappear again behind the boughs. 

Beyond the sight of coming golfers


When they arrived to play the ball,
‘twas nowhere to be seen at all. 
The foursome searched and searched for quite a while.
Lost ball seemed so beyond belief.
Joe’s tantrum offered no relief.
Eventually the hunt for it became a trial. 

Then Joe accepted penalty.
Although it was reluctantly.
The angry group did finally move on.
Then at the pro-shop, after play
had finished for that sporting day.
Complaints were lodged ‘bout strangest goings on. 

And weren’t the only angry Golfers.


An outcry went across the course.
Confusion reigned about the source
of all mysteriously missing balls.
Too many seemed to disappear!
Oh what the heck has happened here,
to drive so many golfers up the wall.

And in his den around young Todd,
Fiona and Reynard were awed
by mounds of balls just filling up the space.
Balls under bed, and overhead,
most everywhere a ball could spread.
No room to move about, to his disgrace. 

Angry foxes, much like the golfers.


As time went by, the puzzle grew,
but players kept on playing through.
So, one fine day a tournament was held,
with Tom and Gordy, Ben and Joe
at starting tee, ready to go.
Soon golf balls flew where driving clubs propelled.

Meanwhile, young Todd had run away,
embarrassed by his room display,
where drawn by warmth of third hole’s huge sand trap,
Todd laid down in the heated sand.
A quiet, comfort nap was planned,
where Fiona finally found our chap.

On second hole were golfers


The foursome playing under par
had reached the third tee now, so far.
Their play had been as good as golfers dream,
with tee shots, everyone’s was grand!
Until Tom hit his second in the sand.
Which woke up Todd, and made Fiona scream.

Nobody knew just what to do,
confronted by the angry two.
A mother with her young is perilous.
Just how could Tom retrieve his ball,
with foxes braced and standing tall.
The situation seemed ridiculous.

To four perplexed golfers. 


Now Gordy swiftly grabbed a rake,
which he began to point and shake,
soliciting Fiona’s angry growl.
The men approached them nice and slow,
in hopes she’d take her son and go.
Instead the two began the loudest howl.

Within the woods Reynard could hear
the calls, intense and full of fear.
The fox began to run at fastest speed.
The other two backed off a bit.
So Tom thought possibly he’d hit.
With wedge in hand, he entered to proceed.

Not the smartest golfer.


Within the trap, he took his stance,
believing that there was a chance
to hit the ball real quick up to the green.
But from the woods a blur of fur
came shooting out. It did occur
to Tom, that exit was the best routine.

He dropped his club, and left the ball
before Reynard could reach them all.
The golfers ran, to distance that was safe.
The foxes gathered in a group.
Then Todd fast lowered head to scoop
the ball, as they all raced back to the woods

Realization dawned on golfers.


The mystery had been resolved!
The disappearing ball was solved,
and even Tom went back, retrieved his wedge.
The penalty had cost the team,
since lost ball killed their trophy dream.
Although, there’s really more than they allege.


The foxes were not seen again.
Reynard had found another den
away from trouble, any golfing course.
No ball fiasco for son Todd.
For that the couple prayed to God,
Who is all creature’s true creation source.

And once again, Peace for golfers.