Theives

[Happinow]

As I sit on my lanai this Memorial Day in my P.J's, thinking of those who gave their lives so I could enjoy my life, I have been disheartened. I live on Fort Walton Golf course and rarely do I get a golf ball in my yard that was misdirected. However, a few days ago I did and decided to leave it there so if I wanted to practice putting I had a ball right there. It was misdirected on my putting green in my yard, which sits blow and about 20-25 feet from the course. As I sit here reading, I happened to look up to see a man walking from my putting green back onto the golf course.......he had the golf ball in his hand, approaching the ball washing machine. I was taken back as I never thought that someone would have the "balls" to come that far off the course and my property to take something that clearly wasn't theirs. Since I was sitting probably where he couldn't see me, apparently he thought it was OK to take that golf ball since nobody saw him. If I had been dressed I would have gotten up as asked him if it were his ball. Would have been fun to see him squirm and probably lie about it not being his ball. Even if it was his, he cannot go on private property to get it. Now I'm a very friendly golf course home owner and like to chat with golfers if they see me and want to chat, and generally I have no problem with a golfer getting a ball if it rolled down into the "gully" that separates our house and the course or even if it was on my property, but to come and take it from my putting green....well.....that's plain wrong. Happy Memorial Day and thank you to all veterans!!

[graciegirl]

My first reaction is that he thought it was his ball. He couldn't find where his ball landed. Obviously if the ball landed in your yard, it could be hit into your yard.

I am surprised that you are surprised. It didn't smack of thievery to me.

Yards ARE off limits. BUT...since he wasn't great at direction, he may not be playing with a certain type of ball all the time like some golfers whose shots aren't that errant. In other words he didn't recall what ball he hit.

Stroke and distance?

[Bonny]

My first reaction is that he thought it was his ball. He couldn't find where his ball landed. Obviously if the ball landed in your yard, it could be hit into your yard.

I am surprised that you are surprised. It didn't smack of thievery to me.

Yards ARE off limits. BUT...since he wasn't great at direction, he may not be playing with a certain type of ball all the time like some golfers whose shots aren't that errant. In other words he didn't recall what ball he hit.

Stroke and distance?
I was actually thinking the same. I don't always remember what ball I'm using. If his shot went that way, he may have thought it was his.

[Polar Bear]

Same thoughts as gg and Bonnie.

Even though it's technically wrong, it's certainly common practice to go a short ways onto private property to retrieve a clearly visible ball.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

The thief was walking towards a ball washing machine. These are always at tee boxes somewhat poo pooing, the theory that it was his wayward shot.

[Happinow]

My first reaction is that he thought it was his ball. He couldn't find where his ball landed. Obviously if the ball landed in your yard, it could be hit into your yard.

I am surprised that you are surprised. It didn't smack of thievery to me.

Yards ARE off limits. BUT...since he wasn't great at direction, he may not be playing with a certain type of ball all the time like some golfers whose shots aren't that errant. In other words he didn't recall what ball he hit.

Stroke and distance?

GG.....since they hadn't teed off yet and I live on the tee, I knew it wasn't his ball. I watched them tee off after this incident so I KNOW it wasn't his ball.

[Taltarzac725]

GG.....since they hadn't teed off yet and I live on the tee, I knew it wasn't his ball. I watched them tee off after this incident so I KNOW it wasn't his ball.

Probably thought he could save a $1 on a golf ball. I do not golf so do not know how much golf balls actually cost.

[Toymeister]

I am with the original poster - it was intentional thievery. I come to this based upon my experience renting my home in TV. There is a certain percentage of the population that will steal, often at petty amounts. It is a higher percentage than you think!

[rubicon]

Here is what I once explained to my golfing buddies about guys coming upon apparent errant golf ball.

Do you remember those days when it didn't take much for you to become both attracted and excited. and so the thrill of the race thus began

Well that is the same type of attraction and excitement for some old guys when they stumble upon a golf ball.

What the OP witnessed was one of those guys who had that same sort involuntary response. "Oh my God, he thought, a golf ball sitting all alone my heart be still

[kstew43]

happens to us all the time. When we find a ball close to the house I usually toss it close to the cart path behind our house.

By the end of the day, the ball is always gone. We think somebody can't find their and just thinks that one is thiers.

Go for it....It wasn't mine to start with....

[Allegiance]

If you get a newly hit stray ball on your property, and no one is looking, try to put it in the hole. Jk

[graciegirl]

The thief was walking towards a ball washing machine. These are always at tee boxes somewhat poo pooing, the theory that it was his wayward shot.

Rap. I have seen a couple of folks hit their shots sideways off the tee. In forty years I have seen someone hit their shot and it went backward. Granted they hit a tree. Lot of stuff happening on a golf course.

If we were all the same, they would only sell Vanilla Ice Cream.

Never once in my long life would I use the word thief in this situation. I could be wrong. I frequently am.

[justjim]

Clearly a golfer should never go on private property to retrieve a golf ball. Three times we have owned golf course property but very rarely got a golf ball in our yard because of our location. I've seen some crazy errant golf shots too in my years of playing. Golf balls aren't that expensive and certainly not worth the hassle of retrieving one from a yard of a owner. Let a sleeping dog (home owner) lie!

[MrGolf]

Try putting a little grease on it and watch them complain as they stomp off your property. I don't buy the I don't know what ball I hit theory. It is on someone elses property, leave it, pull out another ball and move on. Well at least these folks will be moving to the Championship courses effective June 1st to make their mark there.

[Polar Bear]

...Never once in my long life would I use the word thief in this situation...
There ya go.

[Bogie Shooter]

Try putting a little grease on it and watch them complain as they stomp off your property. I don't buy the I don't know what ball I hit theory. It is on someone elses property, leave it, pull out another ball and move on. Well at least these folks will be moving to the Championship courses effective June 1st to make their mark there.

Ft Walton is a championship course.....................

[Aw Man]

Rap. I have seen a couple of folks hit their shots sideways off the tee. In forty years I have seen someone hit their shot and it went backward. Granted they hit a tree. Lot of stuff happening on a golf course.

If we were all the same, they would only sell Vanilla Ice Cream.

Never once in my long life would I use the word thief in this situation. I could be wrong. I frequently am.

I agree that "thief" is too strong but any one who leaves a golf course and enters private property to retrieve a golf ball, or anything else, proves himself to be self-centered and ill-mannered with a total lack of knowledge of golf course etiquette and with a total lack of respect and common courtesy toward the property owner.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Rap. I have seen a couple of folks hit their shots sideways off the tee. In forty years I have seen someone hit their shot and it went backward. Granted they hit a tree. Lot of stuff happening on a golf course.

If we were all the same, they would only sell Vanilla Ice Cream.

Never once in my long life would I use the word thief in this situation. I could be wrong. I frequently am.

I was playing in a tournament at Rheinblick Golf Club in Wiesbaden, Germany, and a guy in my foursome shanked his opening tee shot dead right and through the front door of the club storage building nearly hitting Stevie, who ran that function. The guy reteed and said, "Tough course."

[John_W]

If you had bought a dozen new titleist balls and put them on your putting green scattered about like on a pool table, and someone came and took one, that would be stealing. However, you said you found the ball in your yard after someone's apparent errant shot. You left it there to use to future practice. Used golf balls, I must have a couple of hundred in the garage, I see them and don't pick up probably five to ten in an average round of 18 holes. I don't sweat used golf balls. Move on and consider a lesson learned, if you want to keep a used ball, pick it up and put it away. Used golf balls come and go.

[Retiring]

This is why I love TOTV. People can vent here before it gets out of hand. Let’s say, for arguments sake, the guy who took the ball from your property is a thief in every sense of the word. In life we have to pick our battles and a golf ball, or stepping into your yard to retrieve said golf ball, does not warrant a “confrontation.” So often confrontations lead to police which lead to someone getting a ride in the back of a squad car. All for a golf ball??

I’m glad you were in your PJs and not willing to confront. Your situation is just one more thing we put up with living in close proximity to others of the human race.

I don’t golf but I am happy to buy you a dozen quality golf balls for your putting green. I’ll get them with your initials so no one can say it’s their ball from a bad swing. Let me know.

[Aw Man]

If you had bought a dozen new titleist balls and put them on your putting green scattered about like on a pool table, and someone came and took one, that would be stealing. However, you said you found the ball in your yard after someone's apparent errant shot. You left it there to use to future practice. Used golf balls, I must have a couple of hundred in the garage, I see them and don't pick up probably five to ten in an average round of 18 holes. I don't sweat used golf balls. Move on and consider a lesson learned, if you want to keep a used ball, pick it up and put it away. Used golf balls come and go.

I don't think the op's concern was the loss of a golf ball. The man, without the property owner's permission, walked 20-25 feet on to the op's property and on to a private putting green to take or retrieve a golf ball. That's trespassing. That's a violation of golf course etiquette in The Villages and elsewhere. At best it was a selfish and disrespectful act.

[Mleeja]

Two thoughts and comments. First, if I hit a ball into someone's yard and it can't be retrieved using a club, l will just leave where it is. The owner or the next person can pick it up. I play Bridgestones btw. Secondly, (and I am sure to get some "hate" replies), I find it ironic that we complain about people coming in to yards to pick up a ball, and complain even louder if someone does not come into a yard to pick up poo.... If the poo could look like golf balls, the world would be a better place!

[graciegirl]

Two thoughts and comments. First, if I hit a ball into someone's yard and it can't be retrieved using a club, l will just leave where it is. The owner or the next person can pick it up. I play Bridgestones btw. Secondly, (and I am sure to get some "hate" replies), I find it ironic that we complain about people coming in to yards to pick up a ball, and complain even louder if someone does not come into a yard to pick up poo.... If the poo could look like golf balls, the world would be a better place!

You are good and you are smart and you are funny.

[Mrs. Robinson]

As I sit on my lanai this Memorial Day in my P.J's, thinking of those who gave their lives so I could enjoy my life, I have been disheartened. I live on Fort Walton Golf course and rarely do I get a golf ball in my yard that was misdirected. However, a few days ago I did and decided to leave it there so if I wanted to practice putting I had a ball right there. It was misdirected on my putting green in my yard, which sits blow and about 20-25 feet from the course. As I sit here reading, I happened to look up to see a man walking from my putting green back onto the golf course.......he had the golf ball in his hand, approaching the ball washing machine. I was taken back as I never thought that someone would have the "balls" to come that far off the course and my property to take something that clearly wasn't theirs. Since I was sitting probably where he couldn't see me, apparently he thought it was OK to take that golf ball since nobody saw him. If I had been dressed I would have gotten up as asked him if it were his ball. Would have been fun to see him squirm and probably lie about it not being his ball. Even if it was his, he cannot go on private property to get it. Now I'm a very friendly golf course home owner and like to chat with golfers if they see me and want to chat, and generally I have no problem with a golfer getting a ball if it rolled down into the "gully" that separates our house and the course or even if it was on my property, but to come and take it from my putting green....well.....that's plain wrong. Happy Memorial Day and thank you to all veterans!!

You should have approached him in that condition!

Then, he probably would have dropped it and taken off and you could add it to your collection of "balls."

Why, that's a win-win situation for everyone! Ahem.

[CFrance]

You should have approached him in that condition!

Then, he probably would have dropped it and taken off and you could add it to your collection of "balls."

Why, that's a win-win situation for everyone! Ahem.
I like this! And I could see you doing it, Mrs. R!!:evil6:

[golfing eagles]

I'm with the OP as well, although I think the term "thief" is a bit harsh. If this is the house I think it is (left of #8 tee Fort Walton with the cute little astroturf green), there is no way to hit a ball there, short of a weird ricochet. So it would appear to be a case of over-exuberant ball hawking.

If I hit one into a yard, I leave it unless I can reach it with a ball retriever while standing outside the property line. On the other hand, on the rare occasion someone hits it into my yard, they can feel free to walk in an get it. Most golfers are very respectful of private property and I've even had to convince one it was OK to walk into my yard to get it.

[graciegirl]

I like this! And I could see you doing it, Mrs. R!!:evil6:

I thought it was her.

[Taltarzac725]

If a $20 bill blows on your yard, whose is it? I found a $1 a few weeks ago at a dog park near a fence bordering Fox Run Golf Course and decided to keep it. The park is privately owned but the wind is not. I was thinking about hypothetical situations. What if this were a winning lottery ticket that blew in on the wind? $100 bill rather than a $1 bill? A valid ticket to some sold out performance at the Sharon? The Sharon | The Villages Sharon L. Morse - Performing Arts Center - Tickets and Upcoming Performances (http://www.thesharon.com/)

I have probably already spent this $1 as part of a tip to Paige at one of the Beef O'Bradys.

[ColdNoMore]

As I sit on my lanai this Memorial Day in my P.J's, thinking of those who gave their lives so I could enjoy my life, I have been disheartened. I live on Fort Walton Golf course and rarely do I get a golf ball in my yard that was misdirected. However, a few days ago I did and decided to leave it there so if I wanted to practice putting I had a ball right there. It was misdirected on my putting green in my yard, which sits blow and about 20-25 feet from the course. As I sit here reading, I happened to look up to see a man walking from my putting green back onto the golf course.......he had the golf ball in his hand, approaching the ball washing machine. I was taken back as I never thought that someone would have the "balls" to come that far off the course and my property to take something that clearly wasn't theirs. Since I was sitting probably where he couldn't see me, apparently he thought it was OK to take that golf ball since nobody saw him. If I had been dressed I would have gotten up as asked him if it were his ball. Would have been fun to see him squirm and probably lie about it not being his ball. Even if it was his, he cannot go on private property to get it. Now I'm a very friendly golf course home owner and like to chat with golfers if they see me and want to chat, and generally I have no problem with a golfer getting a ball if it rolled down into the "gully" that separates our house and the course or even if it was on my property, but to come and take it from my putting green....well.....that's plain wrong. Happy Memorial Day and thank you to all veterans!!

That person was definitely a 'thief.' :cus:

Given that you live next to the tee box AND it was on your own putting green...I posit he has earned an even stronger term.

You are to be commended for not asking him in a loud voice what the heck he was doing, but anyone this brazen would not take the hint...and is most likely used to doing a lot of similar lowlife actions. :ohdear:

And the excuse of "I thought it was my ball" is the reason that the rules of golf require an identification mark on the ball you're playing...so this excuse can't be used.