Big cat gets big attention at Florida course

The next time you start complaining about pests on your golf course, think about Carlos Burguillo.

Burguillo, the superintendent at the Golf Club of the Everglades in Naples, Fla., and a three-year GCSAA member, sent me these eye-opening photos earlier in the week of Catalina, a wild Florida panther that has decided to make the golf course her home. But to call Catalina (a name bestowed upon the panther by Burguillo and his crew) a pest would be a little harsh; maybe more like a club mascot. So far, her appearances have done little more than slow play and required a little extra bunker raking (see right).

Burguillo estimates Catalina checks in at about 150 pounds and stands more than 3 feet tall — certainly not your ordinary house cat. And they're also just guessing that Catalina is indeed a female panther. With good reason, they've decided against attempting to make a closer examination.