You’ve seen the footage. It’s grainy, shaky, and looks like something straight out of a low-budget monster flick from the 90s. A massive, prehistoric-looking creature slowly saunters across a manicured green, completely indifferent to the terrified golfers frozen just yards away. Honestly, the first time I saw the large alligator golf course clip from Buffalo Creek, I thought it was CGI. It wasn't.
Florida is weird. We know this. But there is a specific brand of "weird" that happens when a 15-foot apex predator decides the 14th hole is the perfect spot for a nap. These sightings aren't just one-off internet anomalies; they are a bizarre intersection of suburban leisure and ancient biology that tells us a lot about how we’ve paved over the wild.
The Legends of Myakka and Buffalo Creek
When people talk about a large alligator golf course encounter, they are usually referring to "Goliath" or "Chubbs." Chubbs became a global sensation back in 2016 at the Buffalo Creek Golf Course in Palmetto, Florida. He was estimated to be nearly 15 feet long. To put that in perspective, that’s longer than a mid-sized sedan.
Imagine you’re lining up a birdie putt. The sun is out, the grass is perfect, and then a literal dinosaur walks by.
The viral video, captured by golfer Charles Helms, shows the beast moving with a heavy, rhythmic gait that experts call a "high walk." It’s a terrifyingly efficient way for an alligator to move when it isn't in a hurry. Most gators you see in ponds are six or seven feet long. They’re skittish. They splash away when you get close. A gator like Chubbs? He doesn't move for anyone. He’s the boss of the back nine.
Then there’s the Myakka Pines Golf Club in Englewood. They had a resident giant they nicknamed "Big Al." The photos of Big Al devouring a smaller alligator right next to a sand trap went viral because they looked fake. People accused the club of Photoshopping the images to get tourists. The club’s response was basically: "Nope, he’s just that big."
Why Golf Courses Are Basically Gator Resorts
It’s not an accident. We built these courses right on top of their front yards.
Florida’s geography is a massive sponge. When developers build a golf course, they dig out dirt to create "elevation" (which is rare in Florida) and use that dirt to build up the fairways. The holes they leave behind become those iconic water hazards.
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To an alligator, a golf course is a five-star resort. You have deep, permanent water sources that don't dry up in the winter. You have perfectly cleared "basking" areas where they can soak up the sun to regulate their body temperature. And perhaps most importantly, you have an endless buffet of turtles, fish, and the occasional unlucky raccoon that thinks the manicured grass is a safe place to hang out.
The Biology of a 14-Foot Giant
How does an alligator even get that big? It takes time. A lot of it.
Alligators grow about a foot a year for the first few years of their lives, but then the growth rate slows down significantly. For a large alligator golf course resident to reach 13 or 14 feet, it likely has to be at least 40 to 50 years old. These animals have survived decades of hunting seasons, habitat loss, and territorial fights.
When they get to that size, their caloric needs change. They aren't chasing down dragonflies anymore. They are looking for high-protein meals that sustain their massive frames. Interestingly, once an alligator hits a certain size, it loses its natural predators. Nothing in the Florida wilderness—except perhaps a very large Burmese python—is going to mess with a 1,000-pound alligator.
They become incredibly efficient. They move slow. They sleep a lot. They wait.
The "Florida Man" Approach to Safety
If you grew up in the South, you were taught the "alligator rules" before you were taught to tie your shoes.
- Never feed them. Ever.
- Stay at least 60 feet away.
- If one hisses, you’re too close.
- Run in a straight line (the zig-zag thing is mostly a myth; just get away).
On a large alligator golf course, these rules are tested constantly. There is a weird psychological phenomenon where the presence of a golf cart makes people feel invincible. It doesn't. A large alligator can lung at speeds up to 30 miles per hour over short distances. That’s faster than you can jump back into your cart and hit the accelerator.
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP). Generally, they only remove gators if they are over four feet long and pose a threat to people or property. But many golf courses prefer to keep their giants. Why? Because a 14-foot gator is a territorial king. He will keep smaller, more aggressive "teenage" gators out of his pond. A giant gator that has lived on a course for 20 years is usually habituated to humans and, ironically, less likely to cause trouble than a smaller, "spicier" six-footer.
More Than Just a Meme
We see these videos on TikTok and Instagram and laugh about "Florida being Florida." But there’s a deeper reality here.
The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) was on the endangered species list until 1987. Their comeback is one of the greatest conservation success stories in American history. When you see a large alligator golf course resident, you’re looking at a species that nearly blinked out of existence because we wanted their skins for boots and bags.
Now, they are thriving. But they are thriving in a world that is increasingly paved.
The tension between human recreation and wildlife survival is on full display every time a tournament is paused because a reptile the size of a dinosaur is crossing the fairway. It’s a reminder that we are guests in their ecosystem, even if we paid a greens fee to be there.
The Reality of "Gator Watching" on the Green
Is it dangerous? Sorta. Is it avoidable? Mostly.
Most injuries involving alligators on golf courses happen when people try to retrieve a ball from the water’s edge. Don't do that. Honestly, if your Titleist goes into a pond in Florida, it belongs to the swamp now. Let it go. The murky water at the edge of a pond is the "strike zone." An alligator sits just below the surface, eyes and nostrils exposed, waiting for a vibration. Your hand reaching for a ball looks exactly like a bird or a small mammal.
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The pros know this. If you watch the PGA Tour's Florida Swing—tournaments like the Arnold Palmer Invitational or the Players Championship—you’ll see the pros give the water a wide berth. They know the large alligator golf course reputation is built on actual, physical risks.
Practical Tips for Golfing in Gator Country
If you’re planning a trip to play at places like Buffalo Creek, Myakka Pines, or even the famous TPC Sawgrass, you need to change your mindset. You aren't just playing golf; you're on a mini-safari.
- Keep Your Distance: If you see a gator basking, don't try to get a selfie. Use the zoom on your phone. If the gator opens its mouth, it’s not smiling; it’s cooling off, but it’s also a warning sign that you are entering its personal space.
- Watch the Banks: Gators love the transition zone between grass and water. Be especially careful on overcast days or early mornings when they are most active.
- Pets Stay Home: This should go without saying, but never bring a small dog onto a Florida golf course. To a large alligator, a small dog is a snack-sized protein bar.
- Respect the "Nuisance" Labels: If a course has posted signs about a specific gator, listen to them. These animals have personalities. Some are "grumpy," and the marshals know which ones to avoid.
The Future of Coexistence
As Florida’s population continues to explode, the encounters with the large alligator golf course giants will only increase. We are building more homes and more courses in the Everglades and the surrounding wetlands.
What’s fascinating is how the golfing community has largely embraced these creatures. They’ve become unofficial mascots. They give the courses character. In a world where everything is becoming sanitized and predictable, there is something thrilling about knowing that a 15-foot predator might be watching your backswing.
It keeps us humble. It reminds us that despite our manicured lawns, high-tech clubs, and GPS-enabled carts, nature still holds the ultimate power.
If you ever find yourself at Buffalo Creek and you see a shadow moving toward the pond, don't panic. Just stop. Watch. Appreciate the fact that you are witnessing a creature that has remained virtually unchanged for 80 million years. Then, maybe take a mulligan and move on to the next hole.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Round
- Check the Local "Gator Report": Many Florida clubhouses keep a log or have "regular" sightings they can tell you about. Ask the starter where the big ones usually hang out so you aren't surprised.
- Equip for Sightseeing: Bring a pair of compact binoculars in your golf bag. It allows you to appreciate the scale of a large alligator golf course resident without getting within the "danger zone."
- Focus on Environmental Awareness: Use these encounters as a teaching moment for younger golfers about conservation and the importance of apex predators in keeping the ecosystem balanced.
- Report Aggressive Behavior: If you see a gator that is actively approaching people or carts, inform the clubhouse immediately. This usually means someone has been feeding it, and it has lost its natural fear of humans, which is a death sentence for the gator and a danger to you.
The presence of these giants is a privilege, not just a viral moment. Treat them with the respect a 50-year-old apex predator deserves, and you'll have a story to tell that's much better than your scorecard.