In the realm of golf, achieving a hole-in-one is every player's dream. However, at a golf course in Naples this week, the spotlight was taken by an unexpected "gator-in-one." Golfer Greg Irving experienced an unusual event when his shot landed perfectly on the back of an alligator this past Wednesday. While playing at the TwinEagles golf community with his friend Joe Pack, Irving encountered this unique occurrence.
“At first, we didn’t understand the shouting because I knew the ball had landed in the hazard area,” Irving recounted to 7 News Miami. “But as we got closer, we saw it was right in the middle of its back. I couldn’t have placed it better even if I tried.” The scene caused laughter among those present. “It’s something you never expect to see,” remarked Pack with a chuckle. Fortunately, the alligator remained calm and unbothered, though both golfers joked about the potential danger of the situation. “That place is already hazardous because of the water, but with an alligator, it becomes doubly dangerous,” Irving added.
The golfer chose not to retrieve his ball, leaving it with the alligator. Surprisingly, Irving returned to the same spot the next day for another round of golf, once again encountering the reptile, now leisurely moving in the nearby water. The quirky moment has since gone viral, with many suggesting Irving should have played the ball as it lay. “I’ve received a lot of comments and jokes, but maybe it’s good luck because the next two holes I played in par,” Irving shared.
Wild Encounters on the Golf Course
Visitors to the TwinEagles course often spot alligators, adding a wild twist to their golfing experience. In Florida, alligator sightings in unusual locations like streets and backyard pools are common. However, it’s rare to capture them in the act of feeding. A recent viral video showed a golfer at The Quarry Golf Club in Naples, Collier County, witnessing an alligator devouring a rabbit almost without chewing.
“Driving to the next hole... and this happens,” wrote the onlooker on Instagram, sharing the surprising scene he encountered.