Human residence not animal habitat.
 

You have correctly and succinctly made the point. This is a residential community, and having predator animals which are dangerous to humans or pets in the area is inappropriate.

One option available by the rules of golf when the ball is in a hazard is to play it as it lies, so the golfer had every right to hit the ball from within the red stakes. Respect the game.

I would like a nice pair of alligator boots.

Unless the red stakes have a green top. That indicates a preserve area where you may not enter under any circumstances.

Alligators in Florida Lakes – Alligator Attacks and Nuisance Gator Removal

I certainly shudder at the idea of an alligator eating any loved one of mine here in the Villages but these gators are part of the natural habitat of Florida. I know much of the Villages used to be pastures and such with little water around but we have created an environment here in the Villages which is a lot more attractive to gators than it was before the developments of man made lakes with fish dumped in them.

Every human habitat in the world was once exclusive animal habitat. The distinction with The Villages is that it metamorphosed recently.

Since most if not all the bodies of water in The Villages are man-made, it is actually the gator who intruded. I assume that every gator in The Villages either migrated from another body of water nearby or one of their ancestors did so.

At any rate, to me, the health and safety of humans takes precedence of that of any animal, especially dangerous ones. I reserve the right to change my mind if the human in the equation is a real jackass.

I admit bias, as I am a hunter, and have been fortunate enough to win two permits in the Mississippi gator lottery in the last ten years.

The activity of the golfer at the time of the attack has been corrected to addressing the ball. The commentary thereafter included several references to the rules of the game.

there are a number of holes in proximity of a large pond on Turtle Mound. On the par 3 5th hole I hit a drive it landed to the right of the green behind the red stakes (meaning i could hit it but could not ground the club) and some 10 feet from the water. In my concern for being too close to the water, which may have contained an alligator I hit my ball hurriedly shanking to the edge of the water. You guessed it to the right of the ball was a alligator.

Alligators, like squirrels and snakes are territorial and this is their territory like it or not

People who live in Florida must adjust to that fact and understand that these creatures are ingenious at staying hidden.

Most alligators are not dangerous except to ducks, loose pets, and other animals. They tend to leave people alone unless they become friendly with humans.

I remember walking in John Chestnut Park Pinellas County, Florida, Park & Conservation Resources - John Chesnut Sr. Park bordering Lake Tarpon in Palm Harbor. There are probably 10,000 alligators in Lake Tarpon. http://www.lakelubbers.com/lake-tarpon-1034/

I had my blind Cocker Spaniel Amber on a walk and we were approaching a bend in the shoreline of a pond in John Chestnut Park.

When we got close to the bend, I saw two men on top of a picnic table. I was very curious why they were up there.

So, I approached cautiously from way behind them because I had noticed the gator in the water in front of the picnic table. He was eyeing the men on top of the picnic table.

The men told me that the gator had come out of the water when they approached the picnic table because some of the many idiotic tourists fed it from the picnic table.

They probably had to kill that gator just because some jackass tourist gave it some meat while having a picnic.

The men were still on top of the picnic table when I drove out but it looked like a park employee had noticed and was heading towards them.


At least, this guy (11 ft. 700 lb. American Crocodile) had not found his way to Lake Tarpon yet. http://youtu.be/lcVPXqdtt_4

The Season isn't over.
 

It isn't too late to apply for a Phase III Florida alligator hunting license for this year. Licenses are issued by random drawing.

Statewide Alligator Hunt Permit

I think that it should be mentioned that the golfer has excellent concentration skills in keeping his head down and eyes on the ball.

I should say so.

This story reminds me of the guy GatorGus who jumped into the Villages area lake to save his Westie Bounce. He was on TOTV for a few posts but have not seen him back.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...36-post38.html

If people really can't deal with disrupting the natural habitat, they should recognize that's what any large scale development is going to do. In addition, if a gator lunges at a human we (so far) still place the human life above that of the alligator. That's where the "alligator killer" comes in to do this necessary job.

Perhaps one should relocate to an urban area if they can't deal with this reality or find it troublesome? Just saying ....

As of this afternoon, the gator had not been captured. We saw him yesterday swimming near the flower island and he looked quite huge. Maybe 6 or 7 ft.

Alligator
 

We actually kept on playing after the "alligator incident" and my husband got a par on the next hole! On a serious note...I have now lived here for 1 1/2 years and started playing golf shortly after we moved to The Villages. What we wanted to let people know by sharing this story was this: I play golf three days a week. I have watched people I play with from the beginning go near the water to hit the ball. I thought this was ok. I thought you would see the alligator and if you didn't it was ok. I was wrong. Very wrong. I will NEVER go near the water again. The attack was lighting fast. He was hidden under the water. He flew out of the water about 3 1/2 feet in the air and hit my husband at least 4 feet from the water. He grabbed his leg and knocked him on his back. He was completely out of the water. He stood on his legs and came a few steps forward with his mouth open. Then he stopped, lowered himself to the ground and slide backwards back into the water. Please, everyone, be safe and stay away from the water. My husband did not think he was in danger since he was at least 4' from the water. He did not think he was doing anything wrong. There were no green stakes with or without red tops by the water. I have hit my ball near where he hit his before. Please everyone, let that ball go. Do not go near the water. The debate of whether or not the alligators should be there is not relevant. They are there here and they are very good at what they do. Finding things to eat. Let's not be their dinner!

I thank you so much for your very sincere warning. I will be very careful from now on.