Golf Etiquette . . . another golfer picked up my ball... three times.?

Question

I'm curious, I golf several times a week at a semi-private club in southern california. Last week something odd happened. A lady who was playing a few holes behind me kept coming into my fairways and picking up my ball, inspecting it, then placing it back down. The first time I asked her kindly to not pick up my ball. I don't really care personally, but she gave me this snotty look and drove off... Okay, fine. I hit another tee shot and sure as c**p this lady pops out from the previous hole and picks up my ball again, this time she tosses it down!

I ride over to her, tell her to not touch my ball - to never touch anyone's balls (hah hah) unless she's absolutely sure the ball belongs to her.So it happens a third time . . .I call the pro shop from my cell phone, the ranger comes out and tells the lady to leave the course. Granted I play there at the least three times a week so they know me, but what sort of idiot was she? Was I wrong for having her kicked off the course

Answer 1

Unless its a hot cart girl, I dont like people playing with my balls on the course either.

Seriously, you were in the right.  You were probably alot nicer to her than I would have been.  Pro V1s are 4 bucks apeice.  If its not your ball, keep your hands off of it.  You can identify a ball without moving it.

Answer 2

Yes you were wrong. She wasn't stealing your ball. Get a life and stop looking for excuses to hit bad shots. Golf is a game for the patient and mentally tough. When you are polite to people you would be surprised how accommodating they can be. Have fun don't sweat the small stuff. I doubt your about to join the PGA tour. Ha Ha.

Answer 3

Well, it was the Marshal's decision to kick her off the course, not yours.  You did the right thing to call in and have an "authority" for the club manage it rather than raise the confrontation another level.

She could be a normal lady having a bad day - or she could be a psycho, who knows?  The Marshal confronted her and made a judgment call.

Answer 4

Obviously she was trying to make you mad.  I see absolutely no reason for her to do that the second and third time.  Good for you to get her kicked out.

Answer 5

If she's on another hole, there's no reason for her to be there. She was being rude and interfering with your leisure time. You did the right thing by reminding her kindly, then warning her that her actions are considered to be bad manners and will not be tolerated, and then calling the club and letting them handle it.

Answer 6

I don't play golf, but I've watched it on tv and from the side lines.  I would of walked over to her, found her ball, drove to the nearest water hazard and tossed it in.

You did nothing wrong, maybe she will learn to leave guy's balls alone next time.

Answer 7

It was the right thing to do.  What if you were playing for money?  What if it was a tournament?  This is just something that you don't do.  I would be ok if she rolled the ball to look for a mark as she may have hit it on the other fairway (three times???)  but she learned her lesson and hopefully she won't subject somebody else to this.  However...you incur no penalty so not a huge deal...but it could affect your lie...so roll the ball, don't pick it up I would say to her.

Answer 8

maybe she was out of balls and was hoping to find an unmarked one to claim.

Answer 9

Absolutely not.  I can't stand when people pick up golf balls that aren't their's when there are obviously other people playing on the course in the area.  If no ones around, sure pick it up.

She has no business on the course.  Especially if she can't keep track of where her ball goes.  It's not like she's hitting it a mile either.  

She has no right to pick it up.  She has a right to see if it's hers by inspecting, not touching.  Maybe rotating it to see a brand, logo, number, etc. but never removing it from it's resting place.  Some people actually play by the rules and like to play it down.

It's amazing how many people are on the course now that golf is so popular that have no idea of ettiquette.... especially at a semi-private place.

Our only hope is that sh-T golfers are put off by the cost of golf and spend their money elsewhere during this recession.

Answer 10

Not at all!!!! One of the shortcomings within our golfing public is the lack of ettiquette. Even in the country club to which I belong, many of the new members haven't a clue as to what one does on the course. Occasionally, a letter will go out stating some of the infractions which were observed. There is no longer a listing of "Dos and Donts" on the carts which may have had an effect on some. So if you see someone s******g up , call them on it!! That goes for any golfer reading this response. Let's clean up our game.

Answer 11

I'm guessing her husband set her up to do this. Now he's happy, your happy, we're all happy.

Answer 12

well 3 times!! thats outrageous.  She was probably messed up.  So she got mad when you asked her not to pick up the ball.  So she comes and does it again, and again!  You did the right thing.  A psycho shouldn't be on a golf course.  Tell her to play with her own balls.

Answer 13

no that is one of the rudest things in golf to do even after you asked her nicely

Answer 14

No way man! If I said it once, she would be lucky if the second time there wasn't kung-fu happening. But in all seriousness, the ranger would have got there and had to pull a 6'2" 200 lb man off an old lady for real.

Answer 15

absolutely not! I'm a beginner and I know better then that. She should have marked her ball if she was having trouble identifying it and you asked her not to do it.