While he was at college , Graham would often take a canoe to a little island in the river . On that island he would preach to the birds , alligators , and cypress stumps . Reverend Billy Graham Memorial Park is today located on the Hillsborough River directly east of the 18th green and across from where Graham often paddled a canoe to a small island in the river , where he would preach to the birds , alligators , and cypress stumps .