Taking non-range balls from the range...

[ilikedng]

I think I would be doing all golfers out there a disservice if I don't pluck them off the range balls...

 

the inconsistencies between crappy range and good balls will throw off anyone whos trying to work on their swing..

 

I wouldnt want to do that to someone.. golf is hard enough as it is.

[SadTrombone]

Can someone explain to me how it is the right of a course to pick up a ball I left in the right rough, put it in the basket and "assume" the ball? I paid for it and have the receipt to prove it. Should they be allowed to do so?

 

When courses start making lost and found bins for the balls and not "used balls $2.00/dozen" bins, then I'll stop pulling non-range balls from the basket.

 

-mini

[tbarr15]

I think most people are OK with taking a premium golf ball from a range on a golf course that uses mostly one type of range ball.

 

I also don't think anybody thinks its OK to take a golf ball from a stand alone driving range that has a mix bag of balls.

 

Am I wrong??

[SadTrombone]

I think most people are OK with taking a premium golf ball from a range on a golf course that uses mostly one type of range ball.

 

I also don't think anybody thinks its OK to take a golf ball from a stand alone driving range that has a mix bag of balls.

 

Am I wrong??

Well, no...if they're using balls as range balls, how do you know what's a range ball and what isn't? Unless you see your mark on it...then you know they got it from you. But then, prove that someone else doesn't have the same mark.

 

-mini

[belote]

Preface: I have worked at several ranges

 

That being said, there really can't be any confusion between what is a range ball at a particular range and what is not. They order balls by the thousands, so even if there are 4 different kinds of balls in the buckets, everyone knows what belongs to the golf course, and a Pro V1 or HX Tour is without a doubt a lost ball.

 

Everywhere I worked, at the end of the day, we pick the range, and throw them all in a washer with a big tray on it, all the balls were spread out to see. The head pro said as long as it doesn't prolong the cleaning process, go ahead and snag all the non range balls you want before they go in the cleaning chute. People who pick the range and clean the balls develop a keen eye for surlyn covered golf balls, and they will take them out before filling up a bucket of balls.

 

If you want to make a legal argument as to who owns the ball, i guess the range owns the ball after it goes through one cycle of hit-pick-clean-bag, but whoever operates the range will NEVER claim to own them, they generally don't care what happens to them. The price you are paying for range balls is not for the balls as it is to cover the overhead expenses, so taking a premium ball that they didn't purchase to begin with is not harming them AT ALL.

[tbarr15]

I agree with the previous post. A golf course will not be hurt by losing pro v1's, hx tours, etc--because they didn't put them into the buckets to be sold in the first place.

 

I can't stress this enough, but when you go to a Driving Range that is standing alone (for example Bob's Driving Range) don't steal their golf balls. Any premium golf balls are in the buckets on purpose. Their budgets are very low, and they will only have to raise the prices in the long run. I work at one of these, and I hope someone else who has first hand experience at one of these will agree.

[stage1350]

Again, people attempting to justify improper, if not illegal behavior.

 

If it's not yours, DON'T TAKE IT! How hard is that to understand?

 

For a game that's supposed to be based on honor, some of you really don't get it.

[oregongolf]

Again, people attempting to justify improper, if not illegal behavior.

 

If it's not yours, DON'T TAKE IT! How hard is that to understand?

 

For a game that's supposed to be based on honor, some of you really don't get it.

I'm guessing you live a sinless life.

 

Thank God I'm Catholic and I say my Hail Mary's daily.

[Dyno]

Ron Jeremy stole my cherry.

[ezra76]

The range I go to often uses all donated balls. There are plenty of Prov1's and other premium balls but all are scuffed. I did take one Prov that was decent a few weeks ago. I always put the 3 best condition 3 piece balls aside I find to use on the putting green. I just purchased 17 dozen used Prov's so I think I can leave thiers alone now, I might even give them 2 scuffies back for that one. :aggressive:

[abefroeman]

Again, people attempting to justify improper, if not illegal behavior.

 

If it's not yours, DON'T TAKE IT! How hard is that to understand?

 

For a game that's supposed to be based on honor, some of you really don't get it.

 

I have hit lots of balls into the water, so based on this logic the course owes me like 500 balls!

 

 

Ron Jeremy stole my cherry.

 

ROFL :aggressive:

[belote]

Again, people attempting to justify improper, if not illegal behavior.

 

If it's not yours, DON'T TAKE IT! How hard is that to understand?

 

For a game that's supposed to be based on honor, some of you really don't get it.

 

 

I understand your point if you are strictly talking about ranges where balls are donated and that is how they have balls, but if a course orders thousands of the same exact ball, theres no reason for a proV1 to be in there

[oregongolf]

Again, people attempting to justify improper, if not illegal behavior.

 

If it's not yours, DON'T TAKE IT! How hard is that to understand?

 

For a game that's supposed to be based on honor, some of you really don't get it.

 

 

I understand your point if you are strictly talking about ranges where balls are donated and that is how they have balls, but if a course orders thousands of the same exact ball, theres no reason for a proV1 to be in there

exactly.

 

he just happens to be opining about everything.

[tbarr15]

Again, people attempting to justify improper, if not illegal behavior.

 

If it's not yours, DON'T TAKE IT! How hard is that to understand?

 

For a game that's supposed to be based on honor, some of you really don't get it.

 

 

Amen Brother--glad somebody still understands that our sport is based on honesty and honor. Again though I don't mind if prov1's are taken from courses that have ranges on them because the managers of the course will often tell the bag boys to get any non-range balls out of there. That being said since I was once a cart guy myself I understand the joy of bringing home prov1's that I found while working, so I leave all prov1's or any other premium balls behind for those guys--its my way of tipping them because they often go very unnoticed

[belote]

If you justify that as being your way of tipping someone that you believe deserves a tip then you are cheap. Leaving something behind is not a tip.

[tbarr15]

If you justify that as being your way of tipping someone that you believe deserves a tip then you are cheap. Leaving something behind is not a tip.

 

Lol, I know maybe that does sound a little cheap--I was only half serious, but I guess it is better than some people who don't tip anything and then treat the cart guys like slaves.

[DanZ]

If I find a non-range ball I save it for hitting the driver.

[stage1350]

Again, people attempting to justify improper, if not illegal behavior.

 

If it's not yours, DON'T TAKE IT! How hard is that to understand?

 

For a game that's supposed to be based on honor, some of you really don't get it.

I'm guessing you live a sinless life.

 

Thank God I'm Catholic and I say my Hail Mary's daily.

 

I'm as much of a sinful heathen as the next guy. (If not worse.)

 

The difference is that I'm not out here advocating theft. Justify it all you want. It's stealing. Is stealing range demo clubs okay too?

 

I'm good friends with the owner of the driving range I frequent. The last thing he needs is to have everyone pocket the golf balls that he uses to make a living.

 

Or is it because the golf course or range is a faceless company to you? Everybody would be ready to kill you if you suggested that it was okay to steal a 009 Cameron out of another player's bag. But nobody cares if it's stealing from the range or the golf course. Is that your way of sticking it to the man?

 

Live your life the way you want. I'm not your judge. But if you want to come on here telling me that stealing from another person is justified, I'm going to call you on it.

[DRGJR72]

If you swipe it, that is one less ball to practice with.

 

Leave it be, there are plenty to be found in the woods or in the lake at the golf course.

 

Not to mention, if you need to swipe a used pro-v1 from the local driving range, you don't need to be playing them in the first place. If you can't afford that ball, there are plenty of other "less-expensive" alternatives.

 

And by the way, stealing is stealing no matter what it is. Bad Karma is not good.....why bother?????

 

My last question is why would you want to play a beat up pro v-1 anyhow???

 

Just my 2 cents

 

DG

[wedgetoafoot]

I think some of guys just like to take the most extreme viewpoint on either side of the fence and argue it to death. I had a girlfriend like that once; it didn't last.

 

I don't think it's stealing, but I don't really care that much anyway so call me what you will.

[DRGJR72]

If it is not stealing then what is it?? Just out of curiosity? Not being an a**....I really don't care whether someone takes a ball or not, but I am just curious as to what you define stealing is, if taking a ball that does not belong to you, does not fit that equation?

 

Dan

[SadTrombone]

Is it stealing when the course picks up my ball out of the woods? When does it stop being my ball? We have to define the bounds of when the ball is mine and when it stops being mine to define when it is stealing.

 

-mini

[stage1350]

Is it stealing when the course picks up my ball out of the woods? When does it stop being my ball? We have to define the bounds of when the ball is mine and when it stops being mine to define when it is stealing.

 

-mini

 

It stops being your ball when you abandon it. At that point it belongs to the owner of the property. If you lose it on the course, it becomes the property of the course. If you lose it OB in a yard adjacent to the course, it becomes the property of the homeowner. If the course owners/operators go through the woods the next morning and find the ball that you couldn't find, it's theirs since you abandoned it when you finished your round and left the course.

 

It's the same reason that if you hit it into a homeowner's yard that you can't retrieve it without their permission. Otherwise, you are trespassing. Your push/fade that put the ball OB does not give you grounds to enter their property.

 

There is also a big difference between finding your marked ball that is readily identifiable by you that you just hit into the woods compared to grabbing ProV1s out of the range bucket. If you know you hit in that area and can identify your mark, it's still your ball, since you haven't abandoned it. Taking the premiums out of a bucket of range balls is theft, plain and simple.

[DRGJR72]

Is it stealing when the course picks up my ball out of the woods? When does it stop being my ball? We have to define the bounds of when the ball is mine and when it stops being mine to define when it is stealing.

 

-mini

 

While you are looking it for it yes....if you leave it, then no. You are also arguing apples and oranges. Two totally different things. But that was not really my point. The point was if you buy driving range balls to "use" on the range, and you opt to pocket a ball from that bunch that you purchased to "use" on the range, then that is stealing in the simplest sense. No different if you go to hit baseballs at the batting cage. If you were to take a ball from the batting cage that would be stealing. People just think that it is no big deal because it is just a golf ball or whatnot. But to some driving ranges it is a big deal, especially if a lot of people do it. It adds up and becomes a problem.

 

We could on about this from beginning to end, like I said in my previous post....I don't really care if you opt to take a ball or not. I choose not to to take range balls to use on the course. If you want to swipe some balls from the range, feel free.

 

Dan

[belote]

If it really matters that much to the range in question, I have an EXCELLENT idea.... DONT BUY PREMIUM BALLS FOR USE ON THE RANGE, buy the s*** and people wont take it.

[Dyno]

My range only stocks rocks....stray balls are Top Flites.

[maskedman]

Again, people attempting to justify improper, if not illegal behavior.

 

If it's not yours, DON'T TAKE IT! How hard is that to understand?

 

For a game that's supposed to be based on honor, some of you really don't get it.

I'm with you 100%. Golf is predicated on honor, both on and off the course.