A black bear at Golden Eagle Golf Club in Pitt Meadows grabbed a golfer’s bag of clubs from a parked cart and dragged it toward the trees while a second bear waited. The clip was shared on Reddit and later reported by UPI, CTV News and CP24 on July 13; no injuries were reported and it’s unknown whether the clubs were recovered. Bears have been seen on the course repeatedly, and golf rules address dangerous animals near a ball but offer little guidance when an animal takes an entire bag.
Black Bear Hauls Golfer’s Bag Off a Cart at Golden Eagle Golf Club — Video
Image Credit: Viral Hog/Reuters.
A surprising scene unfolded at Golden Eagle Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, when a black bear walked up to a parked golf cart, grabbed a bag of clubs from the back and dragged it toward the trees while players filmed. The clip, which began circulating on Reddit, was reported by UPI and later picked up by CTV News and CP24 on July 13. No one was injured in the encounter, and it remains unclear whether the clubs were recovered.
What Happened
Video shows one bear approaching the idle cart, taking the golf bag in its mouth and pulling it toward the tree line where a second bear was waiting. Golfers in the clip can be heard calling to the animals — "Those are my clubs, man" — and urging them to return the bag, but the pleas had no effect.
Course Context
Golden Eagle is a public course on the eastern edge of Metro Vancouver, where fairways border forest and farmland. Course staff say bears have been appearing on the grounds repeatedly in recent days; the club posted footage in June showing three bears on the property and has warned players that it is bear season. Because black bears commonly move along the forest edge in summer while foraging, a cart parked near the trees with a bag hanging off the back can sit squarely in their path.
How the Rules Apply
Golf’s rules address encounters with wildlife, though mainly in relation to a player’s ball. In the U.S., Rule 16.2 covers a "dangerous animal condition," and definitions used by the R&A explicitly list bears alongside other hazardous animals such as venomous snakes and alligators. If an animal near a player’s ball creates a risk of serious injury, the player is entitled to free relief: find the nearest point where the danger no longer exists (no closer to the hole) and drop within one club-length.
A separate provision, Rule 9.6, treats an animal that carries away a ball as an outside influence: the ball may be replaced on its original spot without penalty, and the spot can be estimated if it was not seen. These rules are written around the ball; they offer little direct guidance for a player whose entire bag of clubs has been taken by wildlife.
Practical Takeaways
While wild encounters like this can be startling and make for memorable footage, safety is paramount. Players should secure equipment, avoid approaching wildlife, and notify course staff if animals are observed near play areas.
Sources: Video posted on Reddit; coverage by UPI, CTV News and CP24; references to golf rules as reported by golf publications.
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