Stolen golf bag outside Palmer’s Pro Shop between 9:30 and 10 am.
 

After hitting a couple buckets of balls at driving range, I went inside pro shop to buy a visor. My clubs were securely fastened to my golf cart. I believe they were stolen while I went inside. The golf bag is quite unique with turquoise background with yellow banana pattern and a large B monogram and small plastic bananas on zippers. The clubs were Taylor Made and fairly new. The clubs did not fall off my cart! Reward 317-374-6446 or please call Sumter County Sheriff at 352-569-1600.

Define "Securely Fastened".

Define " I believe they were stolen"

I guess it depends on where you parked? Not that it can't happen, but it is highly unlikely at that location a theft occurred from the golf cart parking area by the range. Many bags have fallen off of carts and the drivers never knew it. I hope this is the case and if so, you stand a chance of getting it back. If dropped not too far away, a person who finds a bag would probably tell Palmers or the nearest range or course where the bag was found. Sounds like an awesome bag, good luck.

So they cut through the Kevlar material, or the cable attached?

If they were indeed stolen, they weren't taken for the bag ... that bag would stand out.

You do not have an air tag hidden in the bag?

Good luck getting your bag back .

That absolutely sucks, I’m very sorry to hear that! I have always assumed our clubs were safe if the cart was not parked in the parking lot commingled with automobiles in front of the clubhouse. I typically leave the keys in the ignition and my cell phone in the holder in the dash when going into the pro shop. It’s very sad if you can’t trust folks at a golf course (a gentleman’s game of honor) when your cart is parked at a spot only accessible by golf carts or walkers. I sincerely hope whoever stole your sticks is caught and brought to painful justice.

Thieves are on to those.

So sorry to hear that your 1st Post has to be of a crime against you, as a new villager. How long were you in the pro shop. Just curious.

Oh, excuse me, I did see, a half an hour... in the shop

Just spitballing here but did you take your golf bag off the cart to your position on the driving range? If so, perhaps you strapped it securely to the wrong golf cart before you went inside the golf shop.

I wonder if there's video cameras on the outside of the clubhouse? I think all parking lots in The Villages need them.

I don’t see this theft on the Sumter county crime map. Hmmm.

People are no damn good!

In essence, our courses are akin to public courses at which you learn that thievery is all too common. The only reason it is not common at private clubs is that a cart boy or other member of the golf staff would be likely to notice the "addition" of a new club to the thief's bag. Certainly, your unique bag would be noticed.

A sad joke is that you should wait until Tuesday or Wednesday (assuming the bag was stolen over the weekend) to check at Play It Again Sports and the pawn shops, as it takes them a day or two to clean the clubs, decide on a price, and attach a price tag.

The first month after we moved to The Villages, a member of my foursome left a club on the course. His ball was some distance from the green and he walked from our cart to the ball carrying two clubs. He forgot to pick up the club he did not use. Unfortunately, he didn't need that club until he had played another 9 or 10 holes. When he retraced his steps, the club was gone and every group that was following ours denied knowing anything about the club.

In our years of living in TV, there have been several thefts of golf carts and/or clubs. Each time this was reported, I noted that the cart was parked in front of the pro shop/clubhouse; in one of the parking lots behind the buildings at a square; or in a parking lot at one of our strip malls. I took this to heart and, at the course, always park on the side of the pro shop/clubhouse facing the golf course. If I have to park behind the buildings at one of the squares or, heaven forbid, at Walmart (or, in 2 months, at Costco), I installed both an ignition cut-out switch with a dedicated key and a brake lock that uses a strong Master padlock to secure the footbrake in the down/locked position.

The handful of times I have parked my cart with the clubs on the back at one of the squares, it is in a space on the square and in front of a restaurant or store. Even so, having read your tale of woe, I'm going to buy a cable lock to secure the bag to the frame of the canopy or the basket. With a visible lock on the bag and on the brake, I hope a thief would pass by my cart for easier pickings.

You are the victim and it's not your fault. In addition to your clubs and bag, I expect you've lost other items like a rangefinder; prescription sun glasses; and, perhaps, medicines (I hope that you didn't have a Rolex in a pocket of the bag)

A lot of your loss should be covered by both your cart insurance and homeowners insurance. Often, the policies will limit coverage for sporting goods and jewelry to a set amount, often $1K.

Your post is……….

Don't know why people criticize authors on these posts in supposedly "Florida's Friendliest Hometown". Hope you get your clubs and bag back. It's unfortunate that one needs to steal although there are so many in need these days. Does Palmer have video cameras on the premises?

Did The sheriff department check for video camera in the area? If not they need to install one

WOW! You are very lucky then. Would NEVER leave cell phone or keys. Nope/Nada/NOWAY!

Who is going to pay for that? Asking for a friend.

cameras
 

i doubt that anything was stolen BUT i would check with the "office" and see if there are any cameras outside...

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This is very disheartening to hear about.

In the many years I've been playing golf I have never had anything stolen and I have left things all over the place. I've probably left expensive wedges or putters on greens 50 times and never failed to get one back. I have found and returned an equal number. I've left golf bags overnight at the practice facility or bag drop (went to the clubhouse for food and drinks, forgot, went home). Got them back.

But here at the villages, Americas friendliest hometown, I hear about theft at the golf course. Kind of sad.

I've lived here for 17 years. This is not as uncommon as you might like to think. I ha e personal friends who have lost whole bags, three irons, drivers and putters over the years.
Go to Walmart and get a 6 foot cable and 4 locks key to like. Locking hoods are available in the pro shops and Golf Central. Never leave anything visible in your cart that you would upset if it were taken. Latest driver...put an old cover on it. Scott Cameron putter, get an old sock. Never leave a wallet, cell phone or range finder on the front shelf. It's unfortunate but I've all of these taken at one time or another.

To the OP, I hope you get your Clubs back.

I don’t put anything with banana sticker/picture on anything, these Savannah Bananas fans are crazier than soccer or pro darts fans.:shrug:

Sorry, for you’re lost, does palmers have cameras?

Would you like to put link to crime Map so some of use can see it?

Maybe it has not been reported to the police department.


Most people IMHO are good at heart. There are some truly evil ones though but many in between . Same applies to Villagers but it is a lot harder to get away with stuff in the relatively safe environment of the Villages. All the Villages gun lovers helps as well as long as there are not many mentally ill or evil people among those weapons fans.

Stolen or lost
 

I was sure my clubs were stolen. Five days later they were in Eisenhower rec center. Good luck. Remain hopeful.

Of course it is unfortunate…..
But how many thefts in the past were committed by folks living in America friendliest hometown?

Yay. Last night the bag and clubs were found by a man and woman, and the woman called this am. Apparently, the bag and clubs were thrown in bushes too far away to have fallen off the cart. I am ever so grateful.

Hmmmm. Interesting.

Is this regarding the O.P.'s clubs? Different username posting so that's why I'm asking.

They both have the same birthday listed.

Was banana logo’s still there?

“Doubt anything was stolen”? There is stuff stolen all the time. We have air tags on the bags and cart, heavy duty security covers for the bags and an alarm system on the cart.

I'm sure it happens, but in 5 years in TV, I'd never seen a credible report of theft of anything, on social media or anywhere else.

In somewhere around 4000 rounds of golf, all over the world, I've never seen, heard of or experienced, a stolen piece of golf equipment.

How did they get your phone number? Was it on the bag?

Please elaborate. Were they in a lost and found room at Eisenhower?

Were they on the back of another golf cart?

All lost and found stuff eventually goes to Eisenhower.