Ball retrievers- please bring your own popcorn

[North Mimms]

So the thread on chippers got me thinking, what actually is the objection that some have on here to ball retrievers?

They seem to be regarded as the Instrument of Satan (or hackers)

Not a wind up thread- I genuinely want to know.


*sits back and opens a bag of toffee flavoured popcorn*

 

[chrisd]

They are one of the finest tools ever invented.................................. you're not goading me into a bad place, I don't carry one by the way!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

The objection is that those that have them spend far too long trying to fish balls that aren't theirs out of hazards.

 

[Snelly]

If I was a Bearwood Lakes member, I would have one in a heartbeat.

 

[AmandaJR]

Invaluable bit of kit at our place - interesting how few guys carry one but are eager to borrow!

 

[North Mimms]

The objection is that those that have them spend far too long trying to fish balls that aren't theirs out of hazards.

Well maybe...
The objection is that some ofthose that have them spend far too long trying to fish balls that aren't theirs out of hazards.

So what about those "anti" people who see their brand new £3 Pro V-1 just running into the stream?
They leave the ball, or they spend ages trying to scoop it out using the back of a club (which is then covered in muck)?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Well maybe...
The objection is that some ofthose that have them spend far too long trying to fish balls that aren't theirs out of hazards.

So what about those "anti" people who see their brand new £3 Pro V-1 just running into the stream?
They leave the ball, or they spend ages trying to scoop it out using the back of a club (which is then covered in muck)?

My own personal opinion, if you can't afford to lose a ProV1, don't buy ProV1s.

 

[Slab]

Spotted one in local sports shop on Saturday (once they re-opened after lunch)

About 18in long but extended to over 20 feet of ball grabbing technology... £20 though so would take a wee while for payback

Didn't buy it but it might find its way onto Christmas list

 

[FairwayDodger]

Water is only in play for one shot at my place so I don't own one..... However I have been known to curse my luck with a brand new z-star just out of reach in the burn and none of my FC's have had the foresight to carry one...

If I played a course with more water I'm pretty sure I'd swallow my pride and buy one.

 

[Alex1975]

The objection is that those that have them spend far too long trying to fish balls that aren't theirs out of hazards.

This ^^^ When I see them used suddenly ball fishing is the new sport and golf is secondary!

 

[MendieGK]

So the thread on chippers got me thinking, what actually is the objection that some have on here to ball retrievers?

They seem to be regarded as the Instrument of Satan (or hackers)

Not a wind up thread- I genuinely want to know.


*sits back and opens a bag of toffee flavoured popcorn*

I have a list of things that i always joke should be banned from a golf course (in a jokey, non-confrontational way). The ball retriever is well and truly on that list!

Other items include -

Beer Towel on the belt
Score counter 'clicky-thing' that hangs from the bag
Black golf gloves (except for rain gloves)

 

[North Mimms]

My own personal opinion, if you can't afford to lose a ProV1, don't buy ProV1s.

I can afford to lose Pro V1s and still don't use them!

We have loads of gorse on our course- I would think i use my ball retriever more often Dry than wet.
If your ball is in a water hazard, you don't have to get it back to play another with a penalty drop.

But if you want to declare your ball unplayable in the middle of a gorse bush, you need to be sure that it IS your ball.
Therefore it needs to be plucked out to identify it sometimes- (Thought I always mark my ball on opposite sides to increase likehood of seeing a mark with needing to move it)

 

[patricks148]

I think Ive got one in the shed somewhere, got it from one of the currents Mrs148's relatives. not much use at Nairn, if its in the sea, you just go back when the tides out and get it

 

[hovis]

The amount of money a ball retriever saves me is unreal. Always take one round the brabazon and spend an extra few minutes on each hole fishing. Must end up with 30/40 premium balls
Job done

 

[Deano23]

Any ball that has the temerity to land in a lake is a ball I want nothing at all to do with. Let it drown!

 

[Chisteve]

I do have one, a present, but there's not much water on my clubs courses so don't bother to take it with me

As I carry not I wouldn't take it anyway

I think it might be different if we had lots of water

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I will quietly hunt for balls in the heather and gorse whilst my PPs play their shots or we wait to play - but I only do so when this does not in any way slow down the play of my group. So I have absolutely no issues with folk spending time using a ball retriever to fish balls out of water - it is no different from what I do - as long as they do so without slowing up or delaying play.

I'm guessing that some who dislike their use actually take that view out of a little bit of jealousy that they themselves cannot get hold of all those balls being fished out of water

 

[GB72]

I have no problem with ball retrievers but more the way some people behave when they have one. I hit a ball into a pond with murky water so I drop another and proceed. Some people with ball retriever in hand will spend 5 minutes prodding and poking to try and find their ball even though you cannot see the bottom of the pond. I have also seen those who cannot walk past a body of water without getting the ball retriever out and having a hunt for lost balls even when they have not hit one in their.

That said, at my old course, Stoke Rochford, they had a couple of large, industrial sized ball retrievers at certain places on the course for golfers to use to retrieve errant balls. Never seen that anywhere else.

 

[FairwayDodger]

That said, at my old course, Stoke Rochford, they had a couple of large, industrial sized ball retrievers at certain places on the course for golfers to use to retrieve errant balls. Never seen that anywhere else.

Carnoustie.... and most appreciated!

 

[AmandaJR]

That said, at my old course, Stoke Rochford, they had a couple of large, industrial sized ball retrievers at certain places on the course for golfers to use to retrieve errant balls. Never seen that anywhere else.

We have one on our 4th but boy is it heavy and hard to manipulate!!