Taking golf way too seriously

[Louie]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

This type of thing is a common occurance at our home course. For two years in a row during our club championship a friend of mine hit his tee shot on a par 5 in the other fairway and greenfeer's picked it up.(He does mark his ball) If it's in the middle of the fairway leave it alone especially if you know it's not yours. I seen a couple of good quality balls this weekend (being our club c) and didn't see whose ball that it could possibly be and chose to leave them there just in case. I'm sure someone else has them now.
It also could be (not that I'm defending the guy) that this happens to him alot as well and misunderstood what you we're doing. I too get quite upset when someone picks up my ball cause I'm thinking he's going to pocket it, only because Pro V1's are expensive.

[guitarman]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

I hate fluffers. You know, those guys that improve their lie EVERY time.

I play with a guy that will roll his ball into a better lie no matter where it is, fairway or rough. He always makes clean contact. I hate that! Play the damn ball as it lies.

Another guy that I played with in a 4-some this year missed the green on a par 4, and his ball was sitting down in the rough. Downhill lie, it looked like a pretty tough chip shot. But then he took a putter and it looked really tough... until he curled it in the putter and gently eased it up so it was sitting up in the grass.
Next thing he did was stroke it clean and it fed right to the hole and dropped for a "birdie".
I can't stand that ****... then he walked around the green high-fiving his buddys. But not me. I walked away disgusted.

I could care less what others in my group are doing. But don't improve your lies and kick your ball out to the fairway and then brag about how you beat me in golf. That annoys me. I have a friend that will throw his ball out from the trees and fluffs his ball up with his irons and doesn't count lost balls. He then begins to mock me about how I've spent so much money on lessons and equipment and he still beats me. He usually beats me by about 3 or 4 strokes but has about 5 to 10 strokes per game that he doesn't count.

[scan]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

were you using a Titleist Pro V 1 #1 or just some random Titleist #1?

Also, I dont see why a ball should "never" be picked up. Not all people are looking to play golf to follow every single rule in the book. Many golfers are just recreational golfers and in that case, picking up a ball to identitfy it when you have a strong suspicion it is yours isn't a problem.

I agree people get too bent out of shape.

My ball was a Titlelist pro v1 #1, which is why I picked up the ball. Also, to add to the story, I never did find my ball.

That's why players are recommended to mark their balls - your ball should be uniquely identifiable.

If you were both in a competition it would have been two lost balls and back to the tee, as neither one of you could (honestly) identify your ball (happened in a US Amateur qualifier once, IIRC).

Alan

I hear what you're saying but I just play golf recreationally. I love the game but I also love the company. That's why I play.

This type of thing is a common occurance at our home course. For two years in a row during our club championship a friend of mine hit his tee shot on a par 5 in the other fairway and greenfeer's picked it up.(He does mark his ball) If it's in the middle of the fairway leave it alone especially if you know it's not yours. I seen a couple of good quality balls this weekend (being our club c) and didn't see whose ball that it could possibly be and chose to leave them there just in case. I'm sure someone else has them now.
It also could be (not that I'm defending the guy) that this happens to him alot as well and misunderstood what you we're doing. I too get quite upset when someone picks up my ball cause I'm thinking he's going to pocket it, only because Pro V1's are expensive.

I did take that into consideration (about the guy having his ball stolen many other times before), but what really peeved me was how he didn't say anything as he watched me approached the ball and then his comments to his wife. I already apologized (which was sincere) and explained to him I was playing a Titlelist #1 too.

[nearace]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

I could care less what others in my group are doing. But don't improve your lies and kick your ball out to the fairway and then brag about how you beat me in golf. That annoys me. I have a friend that will throw his ball out from the trees and fluffs his ball up with his irons and doesn't count lost balls. He then begins to mock me about how I've spent so much money on lessons and equipment and he still beats me. He usually beats me by about 3 or 4 strokes but has about 5 to 10 strokes per game that he doesn't count.

that sounds like the guys I play with every sunday

[scan]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

I could care less what others in my group are doing. But don't improve your lies and kick your ball out to the fairway and then brag about how you beat me in golf. That annoys me. I have a friend that will throw his ball out from the trees and fluffs his ball up with his irons and doesn't count lost balls. He then begins to mock me about how I've spent so much money on lessons and equipment and he still beats me. He usually beats me by about 3 or 4 strokes but has about 5 to 10 strokes per game that he doesn't count.

I'm pretty much the same way. I don't care what others are doing. The only person I compete against is myself. I don't care if my friends miss a putt and then pick it up and count it anyways.

[Steve_Swingman]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

This type of stuff happens all the time to ameteur golfers.
Especially when Fairways are side by each.

If you are not sure, then dont pick it up (ie. if people are walking down the oppisite fairway, or you are near a landing area for errent shots while people are on the tee. If you play golf and look around you can usually tell.) If no one is around - free ball

Story the Question:
I was playing a two man net best ball (aka better ball) and the group in front took my playing partners ball (pro V1) my partner drove all the way to the green (par 5) and asked if anyone took it. The guy said yes and gave it back. My friend wasnt upset and the guy was appoligetic. The other two that we were playing against were kind enough to let him replace it without penalty.

Is there a penalty for that? If someone else picks up your ball and takes it?

You know who else takes my ball some times DEEP ROUGH.
Where you hit it in play and cant find it.
Also something that doesnt happen to the pro's.

Most people are not looking to steal your ball they are just picking it up cause they found it. A simple "thats my ball" is fine, they will get the idea.

To the original comment - Who is to say that that wasnt your pro v1. did you have a good line on it?

Steve

[scan]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

To the original comment - Who is to say that that wasnt your pro v1. did you have a good line on it?

Steve

That guy who yelled at me is to say. He seemed certain that it was his. I'm not the type of guy who would make a confrontation if I don't have to.

[goshawk]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

That guy who yelled at me is to say. He seemed certain that it was his. I'm not the type of guy who would make a confrontation if I don't have to.

Good plan Scan. Confrontations over a golf ball is not worth a possible trip to the emergency room because someone decided to get physical. I think you handled the situation properly.

[Steve_Swingman]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

Good plan Scan. Confrontations over a golf ball is not worth a possible trip to the emergency room because someone decided to get physical. I think you handled the situation properly.

I agree.

I am not saying to fight over the ball, just wondering what made it his ball if they were playing the same ball and it landed in the same area.

I guess the answer is whoever is more aggressive?

Cheers,

Steve

[hoganapexplus]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

That's not taking golf too seriously. That is being a ****. Lots of times you, me, whoever, can make an honest mistake, that guy totally overreacted. Maybe if he would have piped up that he was looking for a Pro V as well or god forbid ask what you were playing it could have been avoided.
I wouldn't take it personally, just chalk it up to a (hopefully) one time ocurence.

[coe14]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

Well we've got one side of the story only.

So many times I've piped a drive down the middle and watched some dork pick up my ball and look at it - why do you need to pick up a ball on another fairway to see if its yours or not?

One occasion comes to mind where our group has 4 balls fairly close together in the fairway, and some moron from another hole drives up to the balls (as we are walking up the fairway) and picks up one after the other, looks at each and puts them back down. I'm about 50 yards away and call up to him "What kind of ball are you playing?". His answer: "I forget".

[Bellyhungry]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

Perhaps most golf courses should have a local rule stating 'if you hit your ball to any other fairways but not yours, you may get a free drop no closer to the hole on your current fairway without penalty. However, if you insist on hitting the ball from fairways other than the one you currently on, you must assess a two-stroke penalty. You may not approach or ID your balls if the other fairway is in play'.

With this rule, there will be no figthing over balls on fairways.

[goshawk]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

Perhaps most golf courses should have a local rule stating 'if you hit your ball to any other fairways but not yours, you may get a free drop no closer to the hole on your current fairway without penalty. However, if you insist on hitting the ball from fairways other than the one you currently on, you must assess a two-stroke penalty. You may not approach or ID your balls if the other fairway is in play'.

With this rule, there will be no figthing over balls on fairways.

Wouldn't a better rule be "put an identifying mark on the ball you're playing. If you see another ball without this identifying mark, LEAVE IT ALONE!

[guitarman]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

Wouldn't a better rule be "put an identifying mark on the ball you're playing. If you see another ball without this identifying mark, LEAVE IT ALONE!

Yeah I've said this a couple of times. I can't understand why it wouldn't be the ultimate answer in cases like these.

[coe14]

Re: Taking golf way too seriously

One never needs to pick up a ball to identify it. It's the picking up the ball that bothers me - I don't care if you look at my ball, or even turn it slightly in place if you can't see enough of it to identify it. I've played from other fairways - it happens to everyone.