[DonH57]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

2013 Players Championship -- Tiger Woods' drop at 14th deemed legit by PGA Tour - ESPN

Unless I am in some kind of tournament or match, I have no issue just dropping where it went out of bounds. The only thing I would possibly affect is my own handicap. Since I can only take double bogeys anyway (for handicap) that is likely what I will get after being OB, so no harm, no foul

My worst OB was in some tournament in MA at Foxborough CC. I do not know remember what the tournament was ... possibly trying to qualify for MA AM or something...

Third hole was a par 3 about 190 yards. There was a backup on the tee. When I finally hit, I hit a lousy block fade to the right of the bunker. My caddy said we can get up and down from there (he was a good friend and I accepted his lie, but would have been very pleased with 4. In short we got there, no ball to be found, we used the whole 5 minutes looking as it was a pretty open area....

I then took the longest walk in golf; back to the tee where two other groups already waiting. That walk took forever... I did make a good 5

PS. Being honest at the risk of starting a thread riot, I will retrieve my ball from someone's yard in TV. The way I handle it is I look for my ball from the course. I do not enter the yard unless I see my ball out in the open and would not do any damage retrieving it. If the person is out, I say hello, make a self deprecating joke about my game and ask if they mind me grabbing the ball. I have never run into a homeowner that is mad at me or denies me access.

I have been fortunate as a new golfer not to have one of my balls go in someone's yard. I've had them go everywhere else!. I too see nothing wrong with asking the homeowner if I may retrieve the ball.