Crocodile Kills Man Over Balls

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There are times when I wonder what people are thinking when they are looking for a good time or for recreation. Me? I do enjoy playing golf occasionally. I am not very good at it and I have donated many, many golf balls to the woods and trees and the various ponds and lakes located on any number of golf courses. There is a course in Panama City, Florida, called The Legends where the 18th hole alone gobbled up six balls before I gave up and took a drop on the other side of the swamp.

Crocodile sunbathes at Blackmoor golf course.  Pic courtesy of www.sodahead.com.
Crocodile sunbathes at Blackmoor golf course. Pic courtesy of www.sodahead.com.

The one thing I have had the sense not to do is go rambling through the woods and thick bushes, or go wading into the ponds and lakes looking for the the little white errant balls. Why, you might ask, since the little devils are quite expensive?  Well, there is a very good reason as 29-year-old South African, Jacques van der Sandt found out. The Associated Press reports the following story,

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African officials say a crocodile killed a man while he was retrieving golf balls from a dam called Lake Panic at the country’s flagship wildlife reserve.

Officials at Kruger National Park said Thursday that the crocodile grabbed 29-year-old Jacques van der Sandt in its jaws and disappeared under the water at a golf course next to a staff residential area within the park boundaries.

The park says rangers killed the crocodile after a two-hour search following the Wednesday night attack. The body of Van der Sandt, the son of a park employee, was recovered.

Oubaas Coetzer, a police officer, said the crocodile attacked van der Sandt while he and a friend were playing a game to see who could retrieve the most golf balls from the dam.

So, you see, I know about the critters that hang out around golf courses. Here in the South we have alligators and snakes. They sort of think that once the ball is out of play and into their area, it is theirs. Leave it be, don’t screw around with their balls. Very sensitive about their balls they are.

About Post Author

Bill Formby

Bill Formby, aka William A. Formby, PhD, aka Lazersedge is a former Marine and a former police officer. He is a retired University Educator who considers himself a moderate pragmatic progressive liberal, meaning that he thinks practically liberal, acts practically liberal, and he is not going to change in the near future. But, if he does he will be sure to let you know.
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9 years ago

Let’s remember, despite his bad behavior, the best doubles team anywhere in the world was John McEnroe and anyone else.

I also doubt he drank beer while playing, either.

Pool also requires concentration and practice to become good. It’s still a game, though.

Of course, only having played twice, I am not really a golf expert.
Ask me abut something else and I might have a worthwhile opinion – maybe. 😉

Reply to  James Smith
9 years ago

I have never once played golf, although I’ve wanted to learn. Then again, after reading about how much money people spend perhaps it’s better I don’t learn after all.

Reply to  Professor Mike
9 years ago

You can get much the same effect by taking a walk through one of the more affluent neighborhoods in your area and periodically dropping a $10 bill behind you.

If it’s really a nice neighborhood, make that a $20 bill.

At the end of your walk, go into an overpriced local lounge and buy a couple of drinks of cheap whiskey that has been watered down a lot, too.

Bill Formby
9 years ago

James, I would hardly qualify John McEnroe as an expert on defining sport. He spends as much time, or used to cussing the referees as he does running about the court. Golf is a sport in the sense that the amount of work and practice it takes to become good enough to hit a little white ball two hundred yards and have it land within six feet of a three inch hole in three ground. As ked any who has ever played the game. That is really, really tough.

jess
9 years ago

Golf is like watching paint dry or grass grow, a very boring endeavor if you ask me.

Bill Formby
Reply to  jess
9 years ago

Jess, what other sport allows to to drink beer while you play and watch women wiggle their butts as they get ready to hit the ball?

Reply to  Bill Formby
9 years ago

“Sport?” It’s a game. As John McEnroe said, “In a sport , you’re supposed to run once in a while.”

Of course, there are those ‘gators, that might inspire running. As long as you’re careful not to spill your beer, that is.

9 years ago

I lived in Panama City for several years, but never played that course. Then I’ve only played golf twice at a course in Cincinnati.

When giving sailing lessons in PC, I have seen alligators in brackish water in the bays where the beginners were learning. I reminded that that the first safety rule of sailing is “Stay on the boat.”

Bill Formby
Reply to  James Smith
9 years ago

James, this course is out at the Bay point Yacht Club. It is a fun course to play but you needs plenty of balls (golf balls I mean) to play it.

Reply to  Bill Formby
9 years ago

I’m familiar with the Bay Point Y.C. but not the golf course. I kept my boats in Watson Bayou Marina.

Didn’t need many balls to stay there. I even spent a night on a boat there during a hurricane.

Joe Hagstrom
9 years ago

I stopped using $4 Titleists and now use a $1 Precept Laddie for this very reason.

Bill Formby
Reply to  Joe Hagstrom
9 years ago

I get the used ones Joe for about 75 cents and even then it costs me a fortune. 🙂

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