Close Encounters

If you think golf course designers work in a risk-free environment, think again. From black mambas to bamboo vipers, architect Paul Jansen discusses his experiences of snakes on site

Jansen in India

Outside of South Africa I have probably seen more snakes on site in Vietnam than anywhere else. My very first day on the site of what would later become the Laguna Lang Co golf course I happened to be walking through some disused paddy fields with a colleague. I jumped a burn and missed standing on a six-foot cobra by inches. We stood still for a few minutes; both took a deep breath or two and then moved on. During construction I would get to see many snakes including the famous 1-2-3 snake, a name coined by the Americans during the Vietnam War. Word has it that this snake (which is actually a bamboo viper) can kill a human before you could count to three. Of course this is not quite true, but you’d doubtless get a bad headache and nasty gash if bitten and you’d be best advised seeking medical attention.

That reminds me of a great story. During my university days in South Africa I enjoyed playing golf with a close knit group of sporting friends. Every few weeks in the summer we would get together and head down to the local public course for a game. One of my friends - a funny chap who liked to exaggerate every story he told - happened to be playing his ball from the rough when we heard a yelp at which time he made a dash out of the bush. He came over to us and in typical fashion began telling us how he had just been bitten by a snake - mostly likely a mamba and the biggest snake he had ever seen. We all brushed it off as another one of his stories and played on. When we sat down at the halfway hut he pulled up his socks and there were two fang marks. He had a headache for a while and we were deprived of some of his “legendary” stories for a couple of days.

I have also visited places where dangerous snakes are not that common. In Italy I almost stood on a snake during a site visit there and in Turkey - during construction of a course I had designed - I saw many snakes including some big ones. In North America I have encountered a lot of snakes but nothing to get the heart beat going.

I suppose at the end of the day you need to be vigilant in places where it’s likely you will encounter a poisonous snake but also know that you going to be unlucky to get bit unless you happen to stand on one by mistake.

Let’s hope I never do.

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