Ball Retriever: Helpful accessory or 15th club?

[c. lassiter]

Let's consider the evidence:

1. It's long and skinny like a club.

2. It actually fits inside the main compartment of your golf bag, and not relegated to an external sheath like your umbrella.

3. Under certain special circumstances (admittedly rare) it can be used to advance the ball.

Based on the above, I say 15th club.

[mdrengl]

Every Pro V1/Callaway Black/Nike ONE Black I have in my bag was supplied from my ball retriever. I vote helpful accessory.

[timtim]

It looks like your only concern would be...does make ball retrivers?

[Marinemike]

I was under the impression that clubs were carried for the soul purpose of expeditiously losing golf balls. Since a retriever doesn't fit that description I say it's an accessory.

[Titleist Man]

It looks like your only concern would be...does

HA HA HA that was good maybe a ball to from ping(anyone know why they havent done this yet).

[CG031]

I'm 99% sure the rule on this is that it's an accessory because it does not have a club head at the end. Therefore, perfectly legal to carry if you already have 14 clubs.

[MGP]

HA HA HA that was good maybe a ball to from ping(anyone know why they havent done this yet).

Years ago Ping used to make balls. They had this god-awful half fluorescent orange/half yellow ball I remember seeing occasionally. They are still probably throwing up a little over that fiasco...

Edit: Ping Golf Balls A far as ball retrievers, I added one this year as the club I joined has these gnarly thorn bushes in all the tree lined ravines that line several of the fairways as well as a couple strategically placed creeks. It's already come in handy retrieving balls from the thorn bushes a few times. There are some places there that even the the ground dwelling varmints won't go...

[timtim]

I thought the half one color half another color ping balls were to practice your putting with.

My dad had a ball retriever, and had a piece of tape on it were he kept track of the balls he retrieved. Little pencil marks. Like a gun slinger. His rule was that he only put a mark on it when he retrieved one of his own balls. I remember he had like 16 marks on it. He played in Florida.

He also put a fluffy headcover on it so people would not know he had one.

[whip_it_out]

They are not considered clubs as they are not used to hit the ball. They are perfectly legal. This was debated on The Golf Channel yesterday, I'm not sure what show

[twinke masta]

What if you hit the ball with it, or putt with it, would that be illegal?

[c. lassiter]

It looks like your only concern would be...does

I believe my experience with those god-awful, rock hard Ping balls is well documented in the forum. But in case you missed that, I tried them, and they sucked.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

It's a fishing pole.......

[piper_clap]

It came in handy to retrieve my sand wedge from 10' up a blue spruce tree the other day.

I wish I could say it slipped, but I threw that SOB after taking 3 strokes to get out of the most godforsaken bunker on earth. Getting it stuck in the tree, however, was completely unintentional.

[tjy355]

I much prefer the soft buttery feel and tactile feedback of forged ball retrievers.

[twinke masta]

i much prefer the soft buttery feel and tactile feedback of forged ball retrievers.

****ing lolllllll

[Azprobe]

I love my retriever... go looking for my Wilson and find a ProV1 ... it's like Christmas!

[PiKapp23]

I admit I carry one and have for years, but the one I carry is very compact and is only about 15 inches long or so when not extended. It fits in the side pocket of my bag and almost never comes out. Occasionally I will use it if my ball trickles into hazard and I can see it, but I almost never go looking for balls (the lone exception will be during a really slow round when I come to a hazard and see a few balls at edge - I will pull a few but almost always leave them laying at the edge of the hazard). I also use it occasionally if my balls gets into poison ivy or some other situation where I do not want to go in to retrieve. The most usage comes from my playing partners, though, as they know I carry it.

[RCF]

I much prefer the soft buttery feel and tactile feedback of forged ball retrievers.

True but only if you are properly fitted for one...