'Birdie' drops live shark on California golf course

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, California (AFP) - Things don't always land where they're supposed to on a fairway, but the shark that mysteriously appeared near the 12th tee of a California golf club seems to have been the result of a birdie.

The 60-cm leopard shark is thought to have been picked up by an osprey off the nearby Pacific coast and dropped as the bird flew over the San Juan Hills Golf Club south of Los Angeles, club officials said on Thursday.

"One of our on-duty marshals was making his rounds and noticed something wriggling in the grass on our No. 12 tee," Director of Club Operations Melissa McCormack told AFP, recounting Monday's incident.

"After going over to investigate, he realised it was a small shark. He promptly placed it in the back of his golf cart and brought it to the clubhouse."