What kind of golfer are you?

[Basher]

I don't think anyone likes losing balls, especially new ones.
There are several golf ball eating black holes on my course. I'm not talking about heather or gorse filled areas but areas of 3" rough which simply devour errant shots. Frustrating as hell when one goes in as they are quite simply almost impossible to find.

In summary, I'll have a quick look to see if I can spot my ball. Otherwise just drop one, add a shot and play on in the interests of keeping up with the pace of play.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I would much rather walk on, I hate looking for balls and never wish to devote time to it unless like someone else said it was a good shot that perhaps ran out of fairway as this annoys me

 

[vig]

TBH i hate losing tees more than balls as they don't go very far.

Generally I have a quick look in the area then move on.

Regarding the ball retrievers. I saw an old chap on my course the other day, pull out one of these, pulled it to full extension and then he went back to his bag and pulled out another extendable rod and screwed them together. The tight old git then spent 10 minutes fishing all the balls out of a water hazard that others couldn't reach with theirs.
I was on an adjacent fairway shaking my head in disbelief, I swear he'd have taken my eye out if he's swung it around. It must have been about 25 foot long

 

[zmtm103]

I just try to stick to fairways and greens. You'd be surprised how something so simple can be so effective!!

www.sebastianheijdenberg.com

 

[andiritchie]

Fairways and Greens i never thought about that

I tend to find the trees and water hazards its much more interesting

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In competitive play I will always play a provisional first and generally will spend my 5 minute allocation looking (waving the group behind through if necessary). This isn't done through miserly intent but a desire to protect whatever score I have accumulated and always wanting to finish as high as I can. Granted if it is the 15th hole and I am way outside the buffer zone I'll only give only a cursory look but if I'm there or thereabouts I'll look properly. Friendly games are a different story. Hit a provisional, have a quick wander and paly the other ball if I can't find it.

The one scenario that really snaps my cracker is the one I have had in my last two rounds and only occurs this time of year. I was playing directly into the sun in a 4ball. I hit my tee shot and everyone confirms that it has gone straight (no draw, no fade) and when I walk down the fairway it is nowhere to be seen. It happened today at Temple Golf Club and on Sunday on the 18th at Ascot. To compound the problem on Sunday, I dropped another to finish the hole anyway and hit a good looking 5 wood dead straight according to everyone in the group and promptly lost that as well.

 

[Cernunnos]

TBH i hate losing tees more than balls as they don't go very far.

Generally I have a quick look in the area then move on.

Regarding the ball retrievers. I saw an old chap on my course the other day, pull out one of these, pulled it to full extension and then he went back to his bag and pulled out another extendable rod and screwed them together. The tight old git then spent 10 minutes fishing all the balls out of a water hazard that others couldn't reach with theirs.
I was on an adjacent fairway shaking my head in disbelief, I swear he'd have taken my eye out if he's swung it around. It must have been about 25 foot long

Did he have a fishing permit for his golfball pole...lol

 

[vig]

Never thought of that. There are koi and orfe in the pond.

I'll ask to see his licence next time

 

[Imurg]

In competitive play I will always play a provisional first and generally will spend my 5 minute allocation looking (waving the group behind through if necessary). This isn't done through miserly intent but a desire to protect whatever score I have accumulated and always wanting to finish as high as I can. Granted if it is the 15th hole and I am way outside the buffer zone I'll only give only a cursory look but if I'm there or thereabouts I'll look properly. Friendly games are a different story. Hit a provisional, have a quick wander and paly the other ball if I can't find it.

The one scenario that really snaps my cracker is the one I have had in my last two rounds and only occurs this time of year. I was playing directly into the sun in a 4ball. I hit my tee shot and everyone confirms that it has gone straight (no draw, no fade) and when I walk down the fairway it is nowhere to be seen. It happened today at Temple Golf Club and on Sunday on the 18th at Ascot. To compound the problem on Sunday, I dropped another to finish the hole anyway and hit a good looking 5 wood dead straight according to everyone in the group and promptly lost that as well.

Couldn't have put it better Homer.

And I get the same problem on the first 2 holes at my club. At this time of year its straight into the sun which is so low its barely over the flag. Lost so many that way.

 

[AliB]

Brendy
fair comment - and a lot depends on the circumstances. But we play a lot of 'friendly' golf on week days when the course is quiet. Some people seem to take particular pleasure in going after lost causes.
Agree with Homer that 'losing' a ball on the fairway is the worst scenario.
thanks for all the votes!

AliB

 

[Herbie]

Whats worse than that is playing a great stroke to the green, watch it bounce in the centre, then take another small bounce, see it roll over the crest of the green out of sight and when you get there, there it is! GONE!

 

[Smiffy]

It peeves me to lose one off a good shot (just run out of fairway, bad bounce and the like) so I'm more likely to focus on finding them. If it's a bad shot I'm more prepared to write it off and move on, put it down to my own numptiness.

Same as that