Viral video: Florida man casually plays golf as alligator approaches from behind

With over one million of these large reptiles in the state, alligators are a fairly common sight in Florida and some can be found wandering in public places. A viral video shows a golfer taking his shot at a golf course in Naples, Florida, even as an alligator approached him from the rear.
Florida golfer takes shot while ignoring the alligator approaching him from behind | Picture courtesy: Facebook/Alligators of Florida

Florida golfer takes shot while ignoring the alligator approaching him from behind | Picture courtesy: Facebook/Alligators of Florida

Photo : YouTube
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Michael West was taking his stance for an approach shot at a golf course.
  • The Florida man noticed an alligator approaching but continued with his game anyway.
  • The gator got within 15 feet of the golfer.
One of the greatest examples of species coexistence in nature has to be Florida man and alligator. Some men in the US’ Sunshine State can be seen driving around casually with smuggled gators in their pickup trucks. One guy even wheeled one of them down to the lake in a dustbin.
With well over one million of these large reptiles in the state, alligators are a fairly common sight in Florida. Some like their early morning strolls on Easter Sunday through neighbourhoods while many others are seen wandering across a golf course.
Case in point, a Florida man ignoring an alligator breathing down his neck because he was too busy to playing golf.
A viral video shows the golfer taking his shot at the Heritage Landing Golf & Country Club in Naples, Florida, even as an alligator approached him from the rear.
"I was lining up my approach shot from about 125 [yards] out. I knew he was coming up diagonally behind me," Michael West told McClatchy News.
His friends can be heard joking about how he was “trying to concentrate” in the video uploaded on Facebook by wife Melissa Walsh.
"Hey man, we got a foursome. We're full. We're good," one of the players says in the clip. “This guy decided he wants to join."
As soon as the golfer hit the ball towards the green, the alligator that apparently got within 15 feet of him, appeared to plop down and enjoy watching it go as if he was into golf.
An unsuspecting West said the gator was probably just curious while taking a walk.
"He was very likely headed to the bigger lake across the fairway," he said. "He was just going about his business. It was great. I get to have a dinosaur watch me play."
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