Golf Club damaged My clubs through use without my knowledge / consent

[nj24]

Hey would love to get everyone's opinion on this.

 

I store my clubs at the golf club I belong to and noticed that my clubs were placed in the wrong slots today. Upon inspection, I noticed that there was a ball mark on the crown of my new 2024 driver. My club knows that I'm a low single digit handicap, so this isn't an idiot mark that I am likely to make. I'm thinking another member or a staff member used my clubs without my consent. 

 

Would it be unreasonable to ask for a complete replacement of the driver + shaft along with maybe discounts on other clubs as well? I acknowledge that this could be a mental thing, but none of my clubs felt right during my round today. Just hate the idea that someone used my property without me knowing. Appreciate the feedback. 

Edited March 11 by nj24

[hammergolf]

17 minutes ago, nj24 said:

Hey would love to get everyone's opinion on this.

 

I store my clubs at the golf club I belong to and noticed that my clubs were placed in the wrong slots today. Upon inspection, I noticed that there was a ball mark on the crown of my new 2024 driver. My club knows that I'm a low single digit handicap, so this isn't an idiot mark that I am likely to make. I'm thinking another member or a staff member used my clubs without my consent. 

 

Would it be unreasonable to ask for a complete replacement of the driver + shaft along with maybe discounts on other clubs as well? I acknowledge that this could be a mental thing, but none of my clubs felt right during my round today. Just hate the idea that someone used my property without me knowing. Appreciate the feedback. 

Absolutely you should ask for a replacement on any clubs that are damaged! I would also have a very serious conversation the head pro or director of golf. Might be a bit of a stretch to ask for complete set though.

[naj959]

Sorry to hear. I think you deserve a new driver head forsure. Do you have to prove that someone else used the clubs or have they owned up to it? Genuinely curious if they admit fault or blame the damage on you.

[toastinato]

I worked at a private golf course for 10+ years. Honestly, I used to always use members clubs. Given I never damaged the clubs and I would only use members clubs that I knew well and they didn’t mind. I would speak to the head pro or caddy master if you have them. Idk how ALL of your clubs could feel off. To change the feel of your irons, I’d imagine those workers must’ve been trying to chop a tree down with them. But for woods, I think the club should replace at least the head of the club if there is damage to the crown that you didn’t do. But I will be honest, might be tough to prove that. 
 

I’ve had a member claim I damaged the crown of his 3 wood because there were marks all over the top. He claimed it was because of the brush. I’ve cleaned thousands of clubs and never brushed the crown, so I knew it wasn’t me. I knew what it was… his alignment stick kept going up the headcover with his 3 wood in it and rubbing the crown. I told him I would not replace it because I didn’t do it. Club had my back and also wouldn’t replace it. Especially since it wasn’t purchased through them. 

[mantan]

Are they stored only where a staff member could have access to them? You'd mentioned maybe another member had used them.  (Sorry, I've never been a member of a private club - so have no idea if they are stored in a locked personal locker or just in a room members/staff can access.

 

If only the staff has access, then it's worth making the claim to management.  If you driver was damaged that was one thing. As far as the other clubs 'not feeling right', not sure what you could reasonably expect them to do.  If someone else hit and damaged your clubs, that's one thing. If somebody hit your club and didn't damage them - I think an apology is all they would owe.

 

edit - never mind. I saw the post above and I guess this is common place.  Learn something new every day.  I never thought being in a club meant your clubs were community property.

 

 

 

Edited March 11 by mantan

[teedub21]

I’m a member of a private country club and I couldn’t imagine anyone using someone else’s clubs unless they were playing together and an offer was made to try a club out.  Pretty sure it would be grounds for immediate dismissal if it were to happen and a member found out.  

 

Having said this, strange first post that probably doesn’t belong in the “equipment” forum.

[LPSISCO]

7 hours ago, teedub21 said:

I’m a member of a private country club and I couldn’t imagine anyone using someone else’s clubs unless they were playing together and an offer was made to try a club out.  Pretty sure it would be grounds for immediate dismissal if it were to happen and a member found out.  

 

Having said this, strange first post that probably doesn’t belong in the “equipment” forum.

 

We store our bags at my club and I can’t imagine anyone taking another member’s clubs out on the course without permission from that member. Perhaps you’d ask a friend if you could take a club of his out for a round to try it, but if you put a sky mark on it you’d be replacing it, not the club. 

[Jtbsox99]

I could see the club being open to replacing your driver head, but i'm not sure it would be reasonable to ask them to replace the shaft + discount other clubs. As other members have mentioned, it would take a lot to cause your clubs to feel "off" besides the mentioned skymark. Most private clubs have camera's on the driving range. Perhaps worth asking if they can pull footage to see if an employee or member could be found hitting it? 

[nj24]

That’s everyone for the replies. I’m assuming every club feeling off was frustration yesterday as I just got the new driver 2 weeks ago. 
 

Will call the head pro and ask for camera footage today. I’ll let everyone know what they say. Thanks!

[AzSuperHack76]

Bushwood is really going downhill.....

[Greenie]

1 hour ago, nj24 said:

That’s everyone for the replies. I’m assuming every club feeling off was frustration yesterday as I just got the new driver 2 weeks ago. 
 

Will call the head pro and ask for camera footage today. I’ll let everyone know what they say. Thanks!

 

If you cannot see anything wrong with any of your other clubs they are probably fine.

 

I know I have my issues with certain things. I would take all the  clubs and clean them with a cleaner and scrub the grips. I know I am funny but that helps me to make them mine when I buy used clubs. Just an idea.

[straightshot7]

This is why I don't even like anyone wiping my clubs down after a round - - I'm good, thanks. I clean them myself.

[dfeldss]

11 hours ago, mantan said:

Are they stored only where a staff member could have access to them? You'd mentioned maybe another member had used them.  (Sorry, I've never been a member of a private club - so have no idea if they are stored in a locked personal locker or just in a room members/staff can access.

 

If only the staff has access, then it's worth making the claim to management.  If you driver was damaged that was one thing. As far as the other clubs 'not feeling right', not sure what you could reasonably expect them to do.  If someone else hit and damaged your clubs, that's one thing. If somebody hit your club and didn't damage them - I think an apology is all they would owe.

 

edit - never mind. I saw the post above and I guess this is common place.  Learn something new every day.  I never thought being in a club meant your clubs were community property.

 

 

 

 

I don't think this is commonplace at all. Maybe that guy had a good relationship with a few guys that didn't mind, but I've never heard of this happening otherwise.

[jb640042]

is your driver unique in any way? Like a lefty or low spin model and they don't have that demo available in the shop or something? If it was someone from the shop (or the pro) I would like to think they would just let you know and tell you a replacement head is on order.

 

I do know plenty of members who like to hit other members clubs on the range but never without them being present. 

[BURKMI19]

Great topic here's my take from personal experience.  Used to work at a private club that had bag storage.  First, is there any verbiage for members that provides clear details for such a situation to occur?  Is the bag storage under supervision or is it open to anyone to walk in?  What I'm getting at is unless the club specifically states they are willing to reimburse members for supposed damage to or missing clubs then I don't see how you have grounds to an argument.  With the way people are, especially if they know your schedule of time around the club I wouldn't trust bag storage ever.  This is a great example of why.  I would routinely see and have to stop people trying to take other members clubs or staff trying to steal things or "borrow" from a member.  To the point where we established a policy of "not responsible for lost or damaged" if a member/guest used bag storage.  Again just my opinion but my clubs don't get stored anywhere but my trunk or house.

[JAM01]

Look up bailment law in regards to storage of golf clubs. 

[BlueDragonKorea]

13 hours ago, toastinato said:

I worked at a private golf course for 10+ years. Honestly, I used to always use members clubs. Given I never damaged the clubs and I would only use members clubs that I knew well and they didn’t mind. I would speak to the head pro or caddy master if you have them. Idk how ALL of your clubs could feel off. To change the feel of your irons, I’d imagine those workers must’ve been trying to chop a tree down with them. But for woods, I think the club should replace at least the head of the club if there is damage to the crown that you didn’t do. But I will be honest, might be tough to prove that. 
 

I’ve had a member claim I damaged the crown of his 3 wood because there were marks all over the top. He claimed it was because of the brush. I’ve cleaned thousands of clubs and never brushed the crown, so I knew it wasn’t me. I knew what it was… his alignment stick kept going up the headcover with his 3 wood in it and rubbing the crown. I told him I would not replace it because I didn’t do it. Club had my back and also wouldn’t replace it. Especially since it wasn’t purchased through them. 

I originally reacted with a confused reaction to this post, but after @toastino reached out, it seems that this was more of a unique situation where there was a really close relationship and basically some mutual agreement that this was ok (toastinato would be responsible if anything went wrong). I haven't experienced anything like that at my own club, but it seems that this was a pretty unique circumstance for this to be ok and not at all like what was described in the OP.

Edited March 11 by BlueDragonKorea
spelling

[clemsontiger1]

Replacing the driver seems fine. The other clubs is a you thing and they should not give you anything for that at all. In fact, bringing it up might hurt your case more than helps it IMO.

[Abh159]

You said... "I store my clubs at the golf club I belong to and noticed that my clubs were placed in the wrong slots today." 

 

This makes me think that literally anyone can just walk in and grab their bag (or anyone's bag for that matter) which is sort of a problem in itself. Every club I've belonged to had their club storage locked and only club employees could access it. That being said, if someone else did damage your driver I do agree that the club should be responsible for replacing it. I would bring it up to your Pro or DoG (whoever is in charge) and see what they say.

 

However, you asking for "discounts on other clubs as well" seems pretty tacky and low brow if you ask me...

 

 

Edited March 11 by Abh159

[BYK]

Man I guess I'm blessed then

Never thought having a secure bag storage place at the club would be a big deal

And people just grabbing clubs to try them out, or take them out?  Dunno, sound wild to me

Yah, I'd definitely be pissed to see a sky mark on my driver, new or not.

Hope it works out man!

[Bad9]

I am bewildered at the thought of someone using your clubs without you authorization or knowledge. I would be raising hell with the management of your club over the issue! I'd agree with others that you are due a new driver head but not the rest of the clubs. As a member at this club I would be concerned that this happened at all, its one step below stealing.

[T_Golf_23]

10 hours ago, straightshot7 said:

This is why I don't even like anyone wiping my clubs down after a round - - I'm good, thanks. I clean them myself.

Exactly.

 

i don’t want anyone touching my sticks. Especially when at some places i see them dunk the heads in water. 
 

 

[circa3182]

6 minutes ago, T_Golf_23 said:

Exactly.

 

i don’t want anyone touching my sticks. Especially when at some places i see them dunk the heads in water. 
 

 

What’s wrong with that? I’ve cleaned my clubs like this in the past. 

[mktrout]

I stopped leaving my clubs at my course when I walked in and the bag boy had my Circle T in his hand playing around with it.

[T_Golf_23]

Here is a perspective from working at a club for 7 years growing up and then being a member at one. different clubs. 
 

Working at a club: I know employees who absolutely would hit members clubs. Try their putters, etc. what I don’t know is if they had a relationship where the members were ok with this. It’s common place at that time, late 90’s, for members to just give some of the guys putters and wedges when they were getting rid of them. Even drivers and iron sets. There was no WrX then. So maybe they let guys try them out. But it did happen. No one ever seemed to complain though. 
 

as a member: at my club, members were constantly pissed that stuff was damaged or broken. Head covers missing… etc.  when stored. Our storage was also monitored 24/7… that was more than likely stupidity more than anything when putting clubs away. 
 

i only stored one of my back up sets at the club. And I never let the staff put my stuff in our take it out. 
 

I had a close group of buddies there and they had my permission to grab my back up set if they had friends in town or needed a wedge or something. But the staff knew it was good. They would also replace anything damaged. 
 

I had a very good relationship with the pros too, they always wanted to try my iron sets I brought down.. who the heck else has a different set every round. 
 

anyway, bottom line:

 

this stuff certainly does happen. Your clubs may be messed around with by the staff. 
 

if equipment is broken damaged, they should replace it. All the clubs I have been involved with have done this. If the management won’t do it, go to the board. They will certainly look into it as they don’t want their equipment being played. 
 

check and see if your friends had a guest and thought it would be ok to borrow your sticks. If nothing else, they can offer more insight into dealing with the club specifically. 
 

but go about it quietly and respectfully, you don’t want to p*ss off the wrong people or get a bad rap at your club. 
 

Edited March 12 by T_Golf_23

[T_Golf_23]

16 minutes ago, circa3182 said:

What’s wrong with that? I’ve cleaned my clubs like this in the past. 

If you have solid forged irons and dip the heads in your self… then that is cool. 
 

 If you submerge them past the Hosel, it can allow water to enter certain parts of the club head. Or on an iron like the i230, there is a tiny slit, the water can get I there and not dry properly. Same thing with irons like the PXG 0311t with all the adjustable weights. Or vr pro split backs…. Or cobra king tours, you get it. 

[Avidswampthing66]

23 hours ago, toastinato said:

how ALL of your clubs could feel off.

I think OP is bothered, therefore all clubs feel off.  I would def request for a driver replacement and speak one on with Head Pro and Director of Golf.  I'm sure they would get it.  If it was one of theirs, I'm sure they be upset as well.

[toastinato]

9 hours ago, Avidswampthing66 said:

I think OP is bothered, therefore all clubs feel off.  I would def request for a driver replacement and speak one on with Head Pro and Director of Golf.  I'm sure they would get it.  If it was one of theirs, I'm sure they be upset as well.

Thanks for the clear up. I did read his other comment about how it “felt off” because he was bothered. Makes more sense. Thanks. 

[Bonneville85308]

When I caddied and worked in the bag room at a private club back in my 90s high school days, some of my co-workers and I would often sneak out on the course to play some holes at dusk once all of the members were done and would "borrow" bags of clubs from the bag room belonging to members that hardly ever played. During those "rounds" we would jokingly call each other by the name of the member whose clubs we each "borrowed" that day. I'm pretty sure we used their balls and tees too. It wasn't right, but it happened. Fortunately we never damaged any of the borrowed equipment. There was no camera/video surveillance on that bag room whatsoever, just an alarm that got set at night. I'm sure we would have been fired on the spot if caught.

Edited March 17 by Bonneville85308

[Jtbsox99]

OP, any update on the resolution of this?