74-year-old golfer drowns in pond while searching for ball at Florida country club

A 74-year-old golfer drowned in a pond at a Florida country club over the weekend while trying to retrieve his missing ball.

Hermilo Jazmines was found submerged in a water hazard on Sunday morning at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club in the small town of Oldsmar, located around 16 miles from Tampa.

Mr Jazmines, who had teed off from the third at around 7.37am, was last seen searching for his ball at that hole’s green a few minutes later, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

After the 74-year-old was reported missing later that morning, officers responded to the scene, finding his golf cart parked on the path and his putter left by the water.

Law enforcement officials alongside emergency personnel conducted a search of the course and the wooded area by the hole, but were unable to find Mr Jazmines.

Deputy divers then searched in the water hazard, finding him submerged in the pond near to where his putter was placed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement on Monday morning, the authorities said that “the evidence suggests Jazmines may have fallen into the water and drowned.”

The sheriff’s office added: “Deputies spoke with friends of Jazmines who say he likes to search the course for lost golf balls.”

The authorities confirmed that the incident is not being treated as “suspicious” at this time, and revealed that an autopsy will be carried out to discover the cause of his death.

Mr Jazmine’s next of kin has been notified of his death and the sheriff’s office is continuing with its investigation.

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