17 sets of golf clubs stolen in The Villages
 

Hear this via an email. Does anyone know anything about this?

Old News
 

The thefts were reported weeks ago in the Sun.

Always be suspicious of things you hear via email. Maybe it was referring to the 17 car break-ins over in Lady Lake.

I also received that email - the first time about 3 weeks ago from my neighbor and then yesterday from a girlfriend. I too am suspicious of emails that are passed along listing that something happend to a friend of a friend who neighbor heard etc etc etc

The email is as follows:

Pass this along to our friends.......17 golf bags full of clubs were stolen today all over The Villages. I know this because my sister, Cathy, the one who lives past Hibiscus Rec Center, had hers and her riding friend taken from Southern Trace. They had gone to Giovannis for lunch. They had even backed their carts in and pulled down the canopy. The police said this was going on all over today

This was in the CDD4 notes for June:

There have been numerous thefts of golf clubs in the villages, however only one of those cases was reported in Marion County. We are working with the other agencies on these cases. We did make two arrests in reference to those cases. It is important to stress to the citizens that they need to lock up their valuables, including golf clubs, when they aren’t on the golf course.

Of course it does not say 17 but numerous is close to 17 or 10 or (insert number here).

Z

Just as bad as stolen clubs
 

Had friends from Ct here for the weekend. Their first visit. Played Bonita Pass Sunday morning and the Mrs. left her sand wedge on the course somewhere. Called the course several times over the following days but no one turned it in. No true golfer would keep a club they know belongs to someone else and that they know will have to be replaced. Very sad commentary.

May be in somebodys bag and they are unaware it is there. Then to it may have been another visitor from CT.

1. Checked the other bags. 2. So what are you trying to say? Kind of an sophmoric comment isn't it?

This happens everywhere. I've been lucky to have some clubs returned and I've been unlucky. TV is no different than any place else.

Left my sand wedge at the chipping/pitching area at Sarasota driving range when visiting in January. called the next day no one turned it in. went back a few days later; sure enough someone had turned it in. I was pleasantly surprised. Hope your friend's club turns up.

I agree that people in TV are no different than elsewhere. Over 30 years I also have dropped clubs and had them turned in and not turned in. I was just hoping for more from my fellow TVers. I wouldn't think of keeping something that didn't belong to me. Even if I found a Scotty Cameron putter. (Well, that might be tough ..... but I would turn it in.)

Reports regarding stolen golf clubs is the main reason I will not go from the golf course to breakfast, lunch or dinner anywhere in TV.

As for leaving a club at the course,.....Golf digest did a study and intentionally left 25 $100+ wedges at various courses. I am happy to report that 21 of the 25 were returned to the pro shop

I wish neighborhood watch would spend more time around golf courses and at town squares

Pardon my ignorance -- I'm not a golfer - is a Scotty Cameron putter an inexpensive golf club?

Scotty Cameron putters start around $250 and go up quickly from there. Whenever I've seen them it is usually on TV. You may recognize them by the three rather large red dots on the back. The few golf shops that carry them generally keep them in locked, glass cases.

Label your clubs!
 

OK this what I tell my members, Label Your clubs! I get about 75 clubs turned in a season and maybe 30 are claimed. Golflabels.com will make you 40 mylar labels for about $10. Or take those address labels we all have hundreds of and put them on the shaft with clear tape over it. They may only last a season but it's cheap. Those with labels get returned pretty quick.

Since most of my members walk they will find a club and put it in their bag. When finished they may leave in a hurry and forget about the club until another day.

If someone finds a club they should hand it over to the Ambassador who may find the owner a few holes ahead.

If I kept every club I found I'd need a bigger garage..........

The golf club thefts were real. I was one of the victims. Just my driver and my passengers driver were stolen. We were putting on hole number 4 of the Lakes. This a green where your cart is out of sight of the green. The police caught the guy and he had stolen lots of clubs. He is now in jail in Marion county. once done there he will face charges in both Lake and Sumter county.
We did get our clubs back, but in Florida you (the victim) have to pay the pawn shop what they paid the crook. My TaylorMade driver was $10 and my friends Callaway was $15.
All I can say is to never let your clubs out of sight. Even on the golf course.

Stolen while playing. Holy Cow, I never considered that was a possibility....

I "lost" mine from the from parking lot of Mallory couple of years ago. They were found down in Ft Myers. I too had to buy them back:

• Taylormade r7 $35
• Odyssey putter $15
• Titliest and Taylor hybrid for $3/each
• Callaway Big Bertha 3 wood $1

Having the thief who took mine do time and pay me in full to replace missing.... priceless

As hedoman says label your clubs. I bought mine at Hacienda pro shop and they have my name, address and phone number on them. Believe all pro shops can make them. sell for 5.00/sheet of 14 labels. Cheap insurance.....

Apparently owning expensive clubs can be dangerous for your health

Included on labels
 

For those of you who have labeled your clubs, what information do you include besides your name?

Phone number only
Address only
Both

Thanks

How does labeling your clubs prevent theft? Those labels can be removed with a little grip spray in 5 minutes.

why not put you address on the label so the thief knows where you live and if there is any keys or remotes in you bag he or she will what to do with them

Lost Club Label Purpose
 

The intent of labels, I belive, is to facilitate the return of clubs left behind while playing.

Very good post . :BigApplause:

Don't put your adress on them if you feel uncomfortable. Name and phone number is sufficient. If found and returned to the golf shop they can be easily identified as yours or they may even call you ( that's what we do).

As for theft, who doesn't have some bag tag with name on it? Some with address too...... Put your rain cover over them and lock 'em up if possible.

Keep your keys and valuable out of the bag no matter what....

JMO