Alligators are Popping Up on Golf Courses in Large Numbers this Season

As the weather warms up, golfers are beginning to hit the links in bigger and bigger numbers.  While players are heading to the course, they don’t seem to be the only ones taking to the fairways.

In recent weeks, there has been a huge increase in the number of alligators that have been interrupting rounds in the southern parts of the country.  And while it is not unlikely to find gators coming out of lakes during a typical player’s round, they’re now coming into contact with PGA TOUR players and on marquee PGA courses.

The first notable sighting of a gator came a few weeks ago at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.  In the middle of his round, PGA TOUR rookie Cody Gribble walked past a gator that was sunbathing at the water’s edge near the fairway.  Rather than just letting it stay and possibly interrupt other players, Gribble went up behind the gator and tapped it on the tail, scaring it into the water.

Don’t try this at home.

😳🐊 pic.twitter.com/BUumzwPH21

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 16, 2017

While the gator that Gribble tapped was only 8-feet long and relatively calm in nature, other gators can be larger and dangerous.  For example, in Florida last week, a threesome of golfers hit an errant tee shot towards a gator on the third hole of their round.  When they went to retrieve the ball, the gator snapped violently at the ball, taking it into the lake with him.

A post shared by Golficity (@golficity) on Mar 28, 2017 at 4:55pm PDT

As for the size of some gators, they can get much bigger than these two.  The most recent gator sighting happened only days ago at Osprey Point, one of the PGA’s most beautiful courses at Kiawah Island, South Carolina.  This course was home to the 1991 Ryder Cup as well as the 2012 PGA Championship and is set to host the 2021 PGA Championship.  On this day, however, a gator was spotted roaming the course that looks well over 10 feet long.

A post shared by mayorjuan (@mayorjuan) on Mar 27, 2017 at 3:21pm PDT

With all of these gators roaming the top courses in the country, it is important to remain safe this golf season.  So if you are looking to hit the courses soon, make sure you are aware of what could be lurking in the lakes nearby.

Cover Image via Instagram