Golf ball diver discovers hidden treasures

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL

Spahn has a different outlook than most who come to the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass.

"The best hole out there is No. 17," he said sadistically. "The more water the better."

No one knows more about golf course hazards than Spahn. During the last 11 years he's survived an alligator attack and three water moccasin bites. He's also been pinched countless times by crabs, and he has been on the wrong end of catfish barbs more often than he cares to remember.

"I've been bitten by about everything you can find in these waters here," said Spahn, who also lost a chunk of his hand to a snapping turtle. "It's an occupational hazard."

No, he's not the world's unluckiest golfer. He just makes his living off the misfortunes of others. As a golf ball diver Spahn has spent more than a decade traveling the Southeast gathering unanswered prayers and overblown egos from the bottom of lakes and ponds.

"The best day I ever had was 15,000 golf balls," Spahn said. "I probably could have gotten a lot more but I wasn't prepared for that many."

On average Spahn is in the water four hours a day and harvests 5,000 balls. While he says he has seen too many courses to name the one that yields the most, he certainly knows where to search at the Stadium Course, host to THE PLAYERS Championship this week.

"I do see a lot of balls go in the water at Sawgrass because it's a difficult layout," Spahn said. "[No.] 17 is the best."

Spahn's worst experience came at nearby Sawgrass Country Club. While feeling along the bottom of a lake for golf balls -- visibility is almost nonexistent because of the silt that gets stirred up -- he encroached on an alligator.

The 7-foot reptile responded by taking a bite out of his arm.

"He just grabbed me and let me go," said Spahn, a Northern Shaolin Kung Fu instructor who has been practicing the art for 35 years. "Normally they grab and start spinning and try to drown you or twist your arm off. I have a few scars on my arm, but that's about it.

"I was lucky he was small."

Small, though, is a relative term for Spahn, who said he missed by inches being snapped up by a 13-footer in South Carolina.

"I was real lucky then," he said.

He's been nearly as fortunate in his underwater treasure hunt. Aside from the fact he said a good golf ball diver can make "a lot of money," Spahn has stumbled upon some rather unique finds.

For starters he's got a collection of about 500 golf clubs he's pulled from watery graves, presumably tossed by their frustrated owners.

"About a year ago I found a whole set of graphite-shafted Pings complete with two wedges, a putter and two metalwoods, all in one spot," Spahn said. "Apparently the guy liked the bag, though, because I didn't find that."

Eight years ago Spahn discovered what he believes to be one of former President George Bush's golf balls. Spahn said Bush played a round at Marsh Landing in Ponte Vedra Beach a short time after losing the election to Bill Clinton.

"It's a Titleist and it has the presidential logo on it and his [George Bush] signature imprinted on the ball," he said.

One of Spahn's more outlandish recoveries include an aerial bomb, which he came across while diving at a course that was built near an old bombing range. He's also found an entire telephone booth, a bowling ball and a discus.

He also seems to latch onto every fishing lure lost by thrill-seeking golfers who presumably have found birdies scarce.

"I usually find those the hard way," Spahn said.

Spahn might get hooked on the job quite often, but he's equally hooked to his job.

"I like my office," Spahn said. "There are a lot worse places to spend your days than on a golf course -- even if you are working."