The man, the father of a Fripp Island property owner, was playing the 11th hole of the island’s Ocean Creek Golf Course when the attack occurred.

An elderly South Carolina golfer whose right arm was partially torn off by an alligator has filed a lawsuit against the golf course, according to a report by the Courthouse News Service.

James Wiencek, 76, argued in the filing that he would not have tried to play his ball from out of a water hazard if there had been warning signs about alligators in the area.

The incident occurred in October 2009 when Wiencek and his son were playing a round at Ocean Creek Golf Club at the Fripp Island (S.C.) Resort near Beaufort, reports FoxSports.com/NewsCore.

Wiencek hit his ball on the 11th hole near a large, deep pond that was surrounded by a steep embankment covered with tall grass. As he reached down for the ball, the alligator attacked, pulling him into the water.

The lawsuit also claims that residents near the hole in question had seen a large alligator acting aggressively and had alerted golf course attendants.

Wiencek is seeking actual and punitive damages for negligence, pain and suffering, mental anguish, discomfort and disability.