How do courses retrieve the balls that go into the water traps?

Question

I was wondering if golf courses hire divers to go get the balls the end up in water hazards and lakes(like my balls). If not is there some other way the get the balls? Particularly in the Bay Area if anyone has info on it.

Answer 1

the golf course i work at hasa a diver come to the ponds and then in the creeks they just have people go pivk them up

Answer 2

Your lucky ball is gone forever I'm affraid

Answer 3

in some cases yes they do, in other cases depending on size they will drain the water out and depending on the depth my son and some of his friends would wade in and retrieve the balls and sell them. hope this helps

Answer 4

I don't know about every course but where I play there are seven 'lakes' on the course.  Twice a year scuba divers come in and clean out the balls.  They pay the course a set fee for the privilege and then take the balls and sell them.

Answer 5

They usually do hire divers to go into the hazards and retrieve balls, then the pro shop sells them at a reduced price.

Answer 6

Divers.

Answer 7

They use a big scoop.

Answer 8

They pretty much just go in and get em'. its not a job that i would want.

Answer 9

Here in southeast Michigan - most golf courses will either you a huge "rake" attached to a tractor for the shallow ponds and for the deeper and larger lakes they will allow a certified diver onto the course after hours to retrieve all the balls.

Most will work with the diver and agree to a deal that helps the diver and the course itself.

Most divers will then resell the balls themselves in a small storefront or sell them to smaller driving ranges.

Answer 10

Some do hire divers who go in with scuba gear and pick them up.  At the course where I play they have some guys come with a ball picker that looks pretty much like what they use at a driving range.  They have a couple of ATVs one on each side of the pond with a steel cable and a winch.  They pull the picker across the bottom of the pond to retrieve the balls and they don't even get wet.

Answer 11

My brother in law carries this metal rod that fits in his golf bag. It extends out and has a little prong type grabber on the end. When he hits his ball in the water he pulls his own out with that. :) quite funny, but works :)