Kirk Jones is living proof that nothing keeps a good man down for long.

“I’ve had my share of disappointments, almost lost my life in a battle with an alligator once when I was a kid, but I’ve never given up. I’ve always tried to reach goals, and even though I might have missed a lot, the challenge is always there,” Jones said.

So is the will to succeed.

After a three-year layoff from golf in which he overcame disgust with nagging injuries and inconsistent play, Jones, 27, of west Hollywood, is back swinging his clubs.

He is taking lessons, playing daily and sacrificing the luxuries of life for a grinding schedule that includes numerous trips throughout the state to compete in the PGA’s Space Coast Mini-Tour.

“It’s a grind, but if I want to reach my goal of playing on the PGA Tour one day, I’ve got to keep it up,” Jones said. “The mini-tour is the steppingstone to the PGA Tour. It’s like the minor leagues.”

But it’s no bush league.

Jones took up golf his sophomore year at Cooper City High School. The Cowboys won District 14 his senior year and Jones placed fifth individually at the state tournament.

Jones impressed former Broward Community College golf coach Bud Marcee, now coaching at Auburn University, and received a scholarship. During his freshman year, Jones and three other area golfers of note — Turnberry Isle apprentice pro Paul Perini, Pompano Beach apprentice pro John Keller and Turnberry Isle pro Gary Boros — led BCC to a National Junior College Athletic Association championship.

Back then, consistency was no problem for Jones.

“Kirk was consistent from tee to green all year,” Marcee said in retrospect. “It was an excellent team.”

Jones finished second in the nation as an individual, one stroke behind Perini, who chipped in on the final hole to win the championship. Both were named to the All-American team.

“Kirk was a consistent player,” Perini said. “I was lucky to beat him.”

As a sophomore, Jones was BCC’s top golfer and often went head-to-head against current PGA touring pros like Paul Azinger, who was an All-American at Brevard Community College.

“I was very consistent back then,” Jones said. “Even (Azinger) couldn’t beat me.”

Jones went to Centenary College in Shreveport, La., on scholarship. In his senior year, he made the NCAA All-Star team along with Keith Clearwater, Rick Fehr, Tony Grimes, John Slaughter and Mike Putnam, all of whom went on to become PGA pros.

“I really thought I could go straight out on tour,” he said. “I didn’t think graduating was necessary. I was relying on ability then, but didn’t have any faith behind it.”

Then it happened. Injury.

During an intramural softball game at college, Jones hurt his left wrist, which affected his golf swing. It dashed his confidence.

“I had just received an invitation to play as an individual in the NCAA nationals,” Jones said. “I showed up, but played terrible.”

The wrist injury lasted a year and a half. Jones turned professional after his senior year and competed on several golf mini-tours.

He continued to learn valuable lessons, such as how to battle back from a career-threatening injury, what to do when your clubs are stolen and how to cope with depression.

“I quit,” he said. “I had it. I wasn’t playing well, the injury was nagging me to death and I was frustrated. I went out and tended bar and worked in a (golf) bag room.”

But something inside wouldn’t allow Jones to quit the game.

At 13, swimming in a Davie canal, Jones was attacked by a 10-foot alligator, which held him tight around the rib cage under water for almost 10 minutes. He escaped, and born that day was a never-say-quit will.

“(The alligator) released me for a second to clamp down again, but when he let go I kicked and pushed and swam as fast as I could for the shore,” he said. “I was lucky — only had a few cuts.”

Tempered by maturity, Jones is making a comeback. His game, too, is only slightly injured.

In the past 12 months, Jones has befriended Grenelefe Country Club teaching pro David Ledbetter, who has helped him improve his game. Jones has fared well on the Space Coast Mini-Tour, placing in the money six straight times during one stretch.

More importantly, Jones is confident again.

“This is a step in the right direction,” Jones said. “Look at what happened to Azinger and Bob Tway. They both played on (the mini) before they got their cards.”

Unemployed because he is working daily on his game, Jones has been borrowing his parents’ car to travel to weekend tournaments. Money is tight, and Jones is looking for sponsors.

Nothing is dampening his spirits, though.

“There’s a lot of pressure the better you get, especially when money is a big concern,” he said. “But I think I can make it. Somebody down the road will help me out financially and things will fall into place.”