[zonerboy]

They use a special type of golf ball at Sarasota. They float instead of sinking and can be retrieved at the water's edge. They must weigh less than standard golf balls.
When practicing, I don't like to hit balls into the water. I like to see how the ball bounces when it lands because this tells me what kind of spin it has. This helps me adjust my swing. Can't tell this when the ball lands in the water. There's just a splash.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I spent 35 years in the golf business. I have done business with ball divers and I have witness them doing their job.
They are more concerned poisonous snakes than they are gators. Gators are generally not aggressive and will usually run away from people in the water. Still, occasionally they will bite and many of these divers will proudly show you their gator bite scars. Like Gracie says, I would never do it, but there are thousands of people around the world that do.
As far as the managers being cheap, that is exactly why they would contract these people to do this. Most of the divers agree to clean out the ponds in return for a supply of free used golf balls to the pro shop. In some cases it is what keeps the pro shop in the black.

[ajbrown]

Played Palmer yesterday. Good shape as expected BTW.

The gators were pretty active. I suspect it is mating season? The most memorable of the day was in the pond between 3 and 7 on Laurel Valley. I had hit a horrible push cut on hole number 3 on Laurel Valley. As I walked along the shore wondering if pickle ball would be a better way to spend my time, I heard this low distinctive growl. If you have never heard a gator growl it is pretty unique and would likely scare the heck out of me if it was not 50 yards away. The gator was over by the 7th tee. Fat chance I would make my living in the water!

If you have never heard one, here is an example. They puff up and bellow to show off for a mate. Not the one I saw, but the one I saw also had his head up out of the water. I feel bad for gator in the video. He gets all worked up, just to find out his mate is a tease. At least it does not cost him a bottle of wine and dinner

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VDdUopyNOA&NR=1&feature=endscreen]Damon Bailey gets Big Al to bellow at Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas in June of 2009 - YouTube[/ame]

Here is the link 'quoted' for folks that cannot see it.

Damon Bailey gets Big Al to bellow at Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas in June of 2009 - YouTube

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

Played Palmer yesterday. Good shape as expected BTW.

The gators were pretty active. I suspect it is mating season? The most memorable of the day was in the pond between 3 and 7 on Laurel Valley. I had hit a horrible push cut on hole number 3 on Laurel Valley. As I walked along the shore wondering if pickle ball would be a better way to spend my time, I heard this low distinctive growl. If you have never heard a gator growl it is pretty unique and would likely scare the heck out of me if it was not 50 yards away. The gator was over by the 7th tee. Fat chance I would make my living in the water!

If you have never heard one, here is an example. Not the one I saw, but the one I saw also had his head up out of the water. I feel bad for gator in the video. He gets all worked up, just to find out his mate is a tease. At least it does not cost him a bottle of wine and dinner


Damon Bailey gets Big Al to bellow at Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas in June of 2009 - YouTube

Here is the link 'quoted' for folks that cannot see it.

I agree, they are very scary. But the reason that they growl is that they are trying to scare you away. They don't want to attack you. They'd rather you run away. Most gator bite occur when someone accidentally steps on one or threatens it's nest.
Ball divers live in fear that they will accidentally get near a nest. That's when they get bit.
And I agree with you. I wouldn't go into that water but a lot of people do. many kids that grow up in Florida are very used to swimming with gators in the vicinity. Of course many of us grow up swimming the ocean as well. Some people from the midwest refuse to go into the ocean for fear of getting bitten by a shark.

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I agree, they are very scary. But the reason that they growl is that they are trying to scare you away. They don't want to attack you. They'd rather you run away. Most gator bite occur when someone accidentally steps on one or threatens it's nest.
Ball divers live in fear that they will accidentally get near a nest. That's when they get bit.
And I agree with you. I wouldn't go into that water but a lot of people do. many kids that grow up in Florida are very used to swimming with gators in the vicinity. Of course many of us grow up swimming the ocean as well. Some people from the midwest refuse to go into the ocean for fear of getting bitten by a shark.

Actually from what I read they HISS as a warning, and what I called a growl is to show off for a mate. My attempt at humor in an earlier post fails if the gator is not growling for a mate. A better term I have read is the BELLOW, instead of growl. Either way I never get close enough to bother them!

I grew up in the Oceans of Cape Cod and I still prefer a pool. The heck with sharks, how about crabs and jelly fish... The older I get the whimpier....

[batman911]

When you enter water in a lake or ocean you become part of the food chain. Lots of bad stories that prove that saying.