Guide for Beginning Golfers

I have been traveling to parts south in the United States to play golf now for about 20 years. Myrtle Beach and Florida around the Orlando area at Walt Disney World and Grand Cypress Resort are the golf vacation destinations I normally frequent when traveling on the east coast. I carry a ball retriever but do not use it unless I see my ball clearly. If I can retrieve the ball without any possible chance of encountering one of the many alligators or snakes who live in the ponds, lakes and manmade water features on the golf courses then I will do so.

The golf balls cost from $1 to $4 each as opposed to a body part which is irreplaceable. You may laugh or think I am being over cautious but there have been some real horror stories of Alligator attacks on golfers and even local residents on rare occasions in the south. So next time you are playing golf in a temperate climate, say southern Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, etc. and hit a ball in or near the edge of a pond, lake or any other water feature, just take a drop and play another ball. It is much more prudent to lose a ball than taking a chance on injuring yourself.

The photo was taken by me at Caledonia Golf Course, my favorite golf course on the south strand of Myrtle Beach near Pawleys Island. I have seen dozens of alligators in my 20 years of visiting and golfing the southern areas on the east coast. It has been my experience that the gators will not bother you unless you encroach on their territory, like reaching in a pond to retrieve a golf ball. In order to play safe and prevent unnecessary injury DO NOT RETRIEVE YOUR GOLF BALLS unless they are clear of any possible encounter with one of our many scaled friends in the south. Happy Golfing to All!

Tags: Golf Balls, Golf Tips for Beginners, Golf Travel, Myrtle Beach

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