A Little Golf, and Big Reptiles!
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118442)
Gainesville, Florida
May 25, 2020 7:18pm CST
I hope everyone in the US had a wonderful Memorial Day holiday today. This whole year has been weird with the pandemic going on, and it certainly made for a more subdued holiday today than what we're used to seeing.
Between tubing on the river, kayaking, and playing in a paintball tournament, my weekend has been filled with non-stop action and fun. So today my girlfriend and I decided to keep things low-key, and we decided to play a round of golf in the morning and then barbecue on the grill in the afternoon.
Our round of golf started out pretty uneventful until we got to the 7th hole. After teeing off, it appeared that my ball landed somewhere near a log laying out on the fairway. Except that as we got closer, that "log" turned out to be an alligator!
He was just laying there minding his own business, paying us no attention whatsoever, soaking up some sunshine and catching a nap. Or whatever it is that alligators do when they just lay there.
Fortunately, my ball was far enough away from the gator that I didn't have to worry about taking a penalty stroke and dropping the ball a safer distance away. I just played it as it was, although I hurried up much more than I wanted to. I shanked my next shot into the woods near the green (at least I can blame that bad shot on the gator, and not the fact that I suck at golf).
We went on our merry way and had no more excitement the rest of the round (well, unless you count the fact that I lost more than a dozen balls). And in case you're wondering, my girlfriend--who's a really good golfer--beat me by at least 20 strokes today. For fear of ridicule from you fine folks, I won't comment on what my final score was. Let's just say I won't be going the PGA tour anytime soon! lol
US friends, how was your Memorial Day? And rest of the world friends, how was your Monday?
23 people like this
20 responses
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
I'd be in big trouble if I lost those balls! haha I'd probably be looking for a new girlfriend.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
If a golf ball hit an alligator, all it would do is make the alligator angry. And we don't like angry alligators!
And Australia is full of dangerous animals! You have crocs, which are much more mean and aggressive than our alligators!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 May 20
@JudyEv Or you just haven't seen one on the golf course yet!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 May 20
@moffittjc I don't think one has ever appeared on a golf course! 
2 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
30 May 20
@moffittjc 
that's true! It just goes to show that alligators aren't normally aggressive if left alone...and they have a full belly
that's true! It just goes to show that alligators aren't normally aggressive if left alone...and they have a full belly 1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
5 Jun 20
@moffittjc That's true but movies always show them that way. It gives them a bad name.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 May 20
@simone10 I think the key is for them to have a fully belly! Luckily, they only eat what they need to eat, and nothing more. It's not like they swim around chomping on everything they can sink their teeth into!
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
26 May 20
Oh wow, that alligator is surely interesting. I guess it is not promoting a sports shirts, waheehee. Did I read right that you were beaten black and blue by 20 strokes in your game? Maybe you'd better just be the caddy for her, waheehee,
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
26 May 20
@moffittjc okay, update us on her career. I am sorry for not being interested in your golf career, waheehee, joke.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
Yes, Alex, you read that right. She beat me by 20 strokes. Maybe someday I can caddy for her when she is on the professional tour!
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
26 May 20
@moffittjc oh, I fully understand your situation in golf because you are into paintball so your concentration is there an not in golf. Now, I am giving you an alibi, waheehee.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
In my high school golfing days, our goal was to always try to break a hundred. Sometimes it took a lot of cheating (er, um...mulligans) in order to get our score down that low! haha
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
@just4him A mulligan is a "do-over" in golf. Not really an official part of the game. But something amateurs like to use to help make them think their game is better than it really is.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306216)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
26 May 20
@moffittjc Mulligans, you call that. Hmmm. I didn't do well in gym that semester as golf was the subject. Golf is not my game. Now mini golf is fun.
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
29 May 20
wouldn't the gator count as a moving hazard and therefore allow for a free drop?
inquiring minds need to know!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 May 20
That is a very good question. But no, you must play the ball as it lies! Didn't you ever watch Happy Gilmore? lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Jun 20
@DocAndersen Hmmm....maybe we should have the same rule apply here in the south for alligators!
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
31 May 20
@moffittjc Up in the 'nort animal hazards are considered free moves. For example, if there is a moose in the way, you can move your ball no stroke penalty.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111171)
• El Paso, Texas
27 May 20
Not around here @moffittjc too many younger folks think this whole pandemic is a joke
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 May 20
@rebelann That's why I said don't trust them! lol
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
26 May 20
Those big reptiles love the golf courses. The one I met was not on the lawn, it was hiding in the pond where my ball ended all the time when I played. I am glad that someone told me never to put my hand in the water, but to use the net... I did not even use the net, I played a new ball.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
When I was a kid, I used to go diving in those little ponds and retrieve all the golf balls for the course owner. He would pay me for all the balls I retrieved, plus let me play golf for free. Funny how he never mentioned the possibility of alligators being present...
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
26 May 20
@moffittjc One of the gardener told me that there are alligators in most of the ponds inside the golf courses, they move during the night and stay inside the water during the hottest hours.
One of the gardener told me that there are alligators in most of the ponds inside the golf courses, they move during the night and stay inside the water during the hottest hours.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
@LadyDuck Yes, that is true. When it's hot out, they cool themselves off by staying submerged in the water.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95178)
• Marion, Ohio
26 May 20
Good day here. I would have left when I seen the alligator.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
@wolfgirl569 Luck? I don’t need no luck! I just need stitches and a few gauze pads!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
You would have left. I would have tried to jump on it and ride it like a cowboy riding a horse!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 May 20
With the virus, subdued celebrations, and the rainy weather, it seemed like just another mundane day for many people across the country. I know we were lucky to get in a round of golf before the rains came. And it was pretty cool to see the gator on the course!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 May 20
@sallypup Haha that's a new term I haven't heard before! "Car wash rain gusts!" I love it!
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57869)
• Centralia, Washington
27 May 20
@moffittjc We experienced those car wash rain gusts when we visited Charleston.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18923)
• United States
26 May 20
My Monday was a terrible Monday. We don't celebrate Memorial Day. I had computer issues (DNS errors), my mother wanted to go to the bank (ATM), and I messed up Lily's (my cat) food.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
How come you don’t celebrate Memorial Day?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Jun 20
@JESSY3236 I always remember celebrating Memorial Day as a kid, but I think it had more to do with the fact that it was usually around the same time as my birthday than for any other reason. We have a lot of veterans in my family, but none were ever killed in service, so Veterans Day was a bigger deal than Memorial Day in my family.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18923)
• United States
1 Jun 20
@moffittjc I don't know why we never have. We do celebrate 4th of July and we used to celebrate Labor Day weekend.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
Hi Ruby!!!!! I haven’t seen or heard from you in so long! How are you?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 May 20
@RubyHawk Sorry to hear about Leo's cancer surgery, but glad to hear he's doing fine now. And I totally understand putting the non-necessities aside during that time to focus on what was most important! But I'm really glad to see you are back!
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
28 May 20
@moffittjc Doing well, Leo had cancer surgery and was in Signature for physical therapy for weeks. I was too worn out to do anything I didn't have to. He's doing fine now though. it just took him awhile. i hope you and yours are okay.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
26 May 20
How cool! An alligator on the links! I'm glad he minded his own business. Our Memorial Day was very quiet. I had a hot dog and an ear of corn.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
I had a hot dog for lunch today, and an ear of corn tonight at dinner! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 May 20
@LindaOHio I must have. I was craving both of those foods!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
27 May 20
@moffittjc You must have received my food vibes.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
It rained all day here. Looks like it's going to be that way for the entire week. Which totally sucks, because I had planned on kayaking and tubing several days this week.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 May 20
@CarolDM I'm really bummed because my birthday is coming up this weekend. Now I need to probably make alternative arrangements.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
They're usually only aggressive toward people when they are mating, or when they feel threatened. Otherwise, you leave them alone, they leave you alone! This one must have been around five feet long.
@RasmaSandra (73434)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 May 20
Oh, my what a handsome fellow. Perhaps he wanted to get in on the golf game too. I just finished a project reviewing golf hitting nets.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
I offered him a ride in my golf cart, but he wasn’t too interested.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
You're not kidding. Quite an interesting log, that's for sure!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 May 20
That's what sucks about golf, is how expensive it is to play. I would definitely spend more time on the links if it didn't cost so much money to play.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (94528)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
26 May 20
Memorial Day was calm with showers coming in the morning and early afternoon.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
Our rain showers didn't hit until the late afternoon. Thankfully, I had just finished barbecuing on the grill when it started storming.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (94528)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
26 May 20
@moffittjc That is good to know.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171936)
• Agra, India
26 May 20
I'm glad you spent your day with a wonderful game
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 May 20
I spent my day with a wonderful girl. I spent my day with a mediocre game.
1 person likes this
