ENGLEWOOD, Fla. — Seeing an alligator in Florida is fairly common, but photos of an alligator spotted on the green at Myakka Pines Golf Club in Englewood are getting national attention. But after people saw the images on Facebook, they questioned if the reptile was real or photoshopped.
Golfer Richard Huber, one of the men responsible for the pictures taken near hole number seven, stands by the authenticity of all his gator images on the golf club’s Facebook page, WBBH reports.
“They are real… If you would like to take your own pictures come out to Myakka Pines, play golf and take your own pictures,” Huber said.
Wildlife is part of the experience out on the course, according to Club GM Mickie Zada. She said no one harms or feeds the gators on her watch.
“They are wild animals they don’t want to be around us any more than we want to be around them. Our rules are you cannot harass the gators you cannot feed the gators and actually we’ll remove you from the golf course if you do,” Zada said.
Those who are fortunate enough to get a close look at one are encouraged to take nothing more than a picture.
Huber golfs at the club five days a week and said he sees gators almost every time. This time he says he had his smart phone ready.
“I took a little chance to take a good picture and I was lucky enough it didn’t move but usually if you get that clsoe they’ll run away from you most of the time – you can’t trust them,” Huber said.
Additionally, in the 37 years the club has been open Zada said no one has ever been injured in an incident involving a gator.
