Meet the Real Life Chubbs Peterson

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 13, 2009 12:26 AM EDT

Chubbs Peterson: "They wouldn't let me play on the Pro Tour anymore."
Happy Gilmore: "Ah, I'm sorry. Because you're black?"
Chubbs Peterson: "Hell no! Damned alligator BIT my hand off!"
Happy Gilmore: "OH MY GOD!"
Chubbs Peterson: "Yeah. tournament down in Florida. I hooked my ball in the rough down by the lake. Damned alligator just POPPED up, cut me down on my prime. He got me, but I tore one of that bastard's eyes out though. Look at that."

That last part actually happened this past Thursday in South Carolina.

Authorities in South Carolina say James Wiencek, 77, is recovering after he lost his arm below the elbow on Thursday. Wiencek was attacked by an alligator while playing golf on Fripp Island.

Investigators say Wiencek was playing the 11th hole of the island's Ocean Creek Golf Course and leaned down to pick up his ball when a 10-foot long alligator grabbed his arm.

The man's son and fellow golfers were able to free him from the alligator's grasp and called 911. Corneliussen was able to get the arm back and keep it on ice after the victim was rushed to the hospital.

The alligator did not survive and the condition of the victim is unknown. Hospital officials won't say if a reattachment surgery was successful.

So, even in the end, life imitates art.

This is obviously really unfortunate for this man. Hopefully it turns out ok for him and his arm is successfully reattached.

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serves him right…when the alligator asks you “is that MY ball ?” – you say YES !

And what was in that guy’s arm that the gator didn’t survive ?

Don’t you just “love” people like this Katie Hines from the Property Owners Association, who said, “You know, the alligators were here long before us and everybody knows you’ve got to be careful. But, if they’re fed and provoked in anyway they’re gonna do what comes naturally.” You just want to smack them for these snide comments…“they were here long before us.” Geez.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 13, 2009 9:28 AM EDT reply actions

You can remove a gator from a given place and another will find it. It’s just the way of the gator.

The POA prez is correct in saying that you have to be careful around them, and that gators will react instinctively. They have, after all, a reptilian brain and are a slave to their instincts.

Anyone who lives around them for long knows that. Those that don’t sometimes don’t live long.

by Charles Boyer on Oct 13, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Those thoughts are exactly why The Darwin Awards were started. What kind of halfway intelligent person needs to be told that playing around alligators is NOT a good idea ? :-)

This news story wasn’t written very well. They didn’t do much reporting on what happened. They said he was reaching down for his ball…but where was it ? In the fairway and he turned his back on the gator ? Was it by a water hazard ?

Being a 77 year old man, I can understand him getting caught off guard and having no chance to get away.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 13, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Good points. You just never, and I mean NEVER, fool with a gator. Nothing good can come from it.

Decision 1-4/10 in the Rules states that if a ball comes to rest in a situation dangerous to a player, such as near a rattlesnake or a nest of bees, a player is entitled to relief without penalty.

On the other hand, a 77 year old fellow may not want to give up a golf ball very easily, considering that they are not exactly cheap. As it is with most people, he probably minimized the danger in his mind. That was not a good idea.

by Charles Boyer on Oct 13, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions