An alligator, estimated to be 15 to 16 feet long, worked its way through Buffalo Creek Golf Course in Florida on Monday.
Pictures and videos from two stunned golfers made their way through the internet. While many were shocked, employees of the golf course said this massive creature makes frequent appearances.
Yes, this giant gator is real, and it could fit in at Jurassic Park. See the outrageous video tonight at 11 @News3LV pic.twitter.com/xemSardn7C
— Ryan Goodman (@RyanGTVProd) May 26, 2016
“He has been here for a very, very long time, he’s not new at all. There have been guesses that he’s 15 to 16 feet long,” Wendy Schofield, a five-year employee told News 3 in Las Vegas. “The word has spread that this is a great place to come and play. He is the highlight, but we are worth the price too.”
Schofield also said that spectators will come just to see the alligator work its way around the course.
Charles Helms and David Matos were both on the course, and captured the now-infamous footage of the alligator. Helms told Golf.com that he and his partner kept themselves about 100 feet away from the alligator to protect themselves:
“(Matos) was at a pretty safe distance,” Helms said. “This alligator was so large he would only move slowly about 100 feet at a time before having to lie down and rest so he probably wasn’t in as much danger as it may have appeared. An alligator expert may refute that; I’m just going on what I have been told.”
Other courses have also been in a similar predicament. Myakka Golf Course in Englewood, Florida, has a 12 to 13 foot alligator that frequents its course. It has been named “Goliath.”
Here is the footage shot of the gator at Buffalo Creek from Monday:
Looking at the gator, it can look almost fake at times. Well, it’s real, but will not attack you unless provoked, according to Helms.
Advice: Don’t provoke it.
