Giant Alligator Spotted Strolling In Florida Golf Course

A gigantic alligator was spotted taking a stroll across the Valencia Golf & Country Club in Naples during Tropical Storm Eta on Wednesday. A video of the dinosaur-like reptile made the rounds on Twitter, drawing both fascination and questions over the animal’s authenticity.

The alligator in the clip had legs longer than a dog’s and a chunky torso. Its remarkably huge physique shocked web users and evoked memories of the primeval era, with many saying the creature looked like an ancient dinosaur walking the Earth.

Tyler Stolting, the first assistant golf professional at the golf club who captured the video, said he was shocked when he saw the alligator prowling the lawn. “I was a little shocked, obviously,” he said. “It was pretty big, biggest one I’ve ever seen!” he added.

Stolting’s co-worker and the club’s lead golf professional, Jeff Jones, confirmed the alligator in the video was real and said even their neighbors had seen the creature in the past. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen one that big, I was a little shocked,” he said.

“I’ve been here a long time and I’m not surprised to see it walking across the golf course, I am a little surprised at how big it was,” he added.

Meanwhile, some Twitter users pointed out that the presence of such alligators was one of the reasons it’s not safe to live in Florida. Over the years, the Sunshine State has been linked to deadly hurricanes, sharks, crocodiles, and alligators emerging from its murky canals.

“This is one reason I will not retire in Florida,” one Twitter user wrote. “Someone needs to capture and study this creature.”

Another user who had just moved to Florida also suggested wanting to move out of the state after seeing the beast-like alligator. “Just moved here yesterday,” tweeted Elizabeth Westhoff. “Pretty sure I can get my deposit back.”

Asked about the safety issues allegedly posed by the alligator for gofers and residents nearby, Jones said, “As long as nobody’s feeding him, they’ll be fine.”