Sneaking on Private Courses

[Fourputt]

24, what does it matter?

24 going on 12?

Now that's just stupid.

Yep.

Sorry, but what you guys are doing or threatening isn't playing golf. You are attempting to steal something which you haven't earned the right to, then justifying it as somehow moral because it's the only chance you'll ever get to do it. It's really no different from "borrowing" a Ferrari for a joy ride just because you'll never be able to actually afford one. You're probably right... hard to make that sort of a living with a conviction on your record.

[brgolf]

Actually it depends on what the traffic ticket is for. In most states speeding is not considered criminal because conviction does not carry the possibility of a jail term whereas driving without a license or with an expired license or registration do carry the possibility of a jail sentence and are therefore considered criminal.

I was being sarcastic! j/k. Fair enough I'm not American so I wouldn't really know that. Still I don't expect our pal here was at the higher end of the scale. "Plenty" of citations for driving unlicensed would probably put him on death row in some states.

[Uber$winG]

The only place at which I would risk getting caught for trespassing is the Playboy Mansion… and of course I would play as many holes as possible.

[cougar978]

Hmm, looks like I'm a little late to check in on this one with all the simultaneous pissing matches that are happening.

Anyway, when I was 12-13, I used to sneak on the local country club to practice chipping and putting on the green closest to my house after the marshals pulled the flags for a day. Members saw me doing it driving by, and the worst thing I got was a 'we are not amused' stare, most could give a shit, some waved. I made sure I always left the green in better shape than I found it, and no one ever said a thing. Also, I used to ride my bike to school up the cart paths on the front nine (it took about a mile off the journey, again, never had any complaints, because I always made sure to avoid any members who were playing). After I made the JV team (by the skin of my teeth) in 9th grade, I could play and practice with impunity because that was my high school's home course.

I can identify with the OP, because when I was 24, I think it'd be pretty cool to sneak on to an exclusive course, but now it's (in the words of one of my cousins), a pretty 'low budget' move. I think it'd be humiliating to get escorted off a course or arrested for trespassing, so I wouldn't try it now.

[OCdude12]

For Christ's sake!!!! Get off your f'ing high horse like you're God's gift to this world and have never done anything wrong. I wasn't born yesterday. Yes, I know its wrong to sneak on a course, call it criminal, call it trespassing, I don't care what you call a human being swinging a golf club somewhere he's not entitled to. This was the entire reason why I made the post and ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS WRONG IN THE FIRST POST!!!

I'm not trying to rationalize anything. I wanted to see what lengths people would go to play some of the best courses around and didn't intend to get lectured by mom via this message board. I've played the game for 12 years now and know how to show respect for people and the course. Its not something I would make a habit out of, its something that you do once and have a story to tell since it wouldn't be a course people get to play every day, let alone in some lifetimes. Some of you guys need to relax and take life a little less seriously.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Id sneak onto a private course just to take a dump on the second hole.

[Elsfan]

Just because something is wrong doesn't mean people won't do it. You yourself on this thread speak of doing things that are equally as bad, at least in my eyes, as the suggestions of the OP. When you decide the speed limit is not applicable to you or are driving in a manner that is not advisable or puts others at risk you can tell others their actions are wrong but its rather hypocritical. I consider the road actions to be a greater offense especially with the great numbers of death and other injuries while driving. If you sneak onto Pine Valley and get caught or arrested, I will laugh when hearing about but not really care. To top it all off, you argue free speech and then tell Iacas to kill the thread and call the OP a troll. Its just a fantasy thread, these courses are special and unfortunately most of us will not be able to play them even if we do in fact have the coin. How is that fair? The rules at clubs like Augusta do all they can to keep the average citizen out. I say go for it OP.

[cougar978]

The rules at clubs like Augusta do all they can to keep the average citizen out.

I thought about this one time - I know the ONLY way I will EVER play at a place like Augusta is win the US Am, US Mid Am, or US Pub Linx (good luck with that). Oh well, it never hurts to try your damnedest.

[kennay92]

never have, but theres a private course by my dads house where its just open(no fences or anything, at least at the holes ive seen) so one day, ima gonna park my truck in the street, bring the driver, an 8 iron and the putter and am gonna go play the par 4 i see everytime i drive by

rules are meant to be broken, or else they wouldnt be made :)

[tulefog]

I have never snuck onto a world class golf course (or any other golf course) to play for free. I never will, either. It costs money to tend a golf course, and I am happy to pay my share.

[mdl]

Everyone's being a little hard on the OP. Yeah sneaking onto a CC course is a low budget move, but I don't have a lot of sympathy for the moralizing in this thread much either. Sneaking onto a course you can't play because you didn't inherit a fortune or spend every waking hour trying to become wealthy seems not very much like stealing. When you steal there's a cost to the owner. It seems more like letting your kids use your rich neighbors' super awesome back yard playground style equipment when your neighbors don't want you to and aren't home. Lame? Sure. Worthy of moralizing and labeling criminal? Not so sure.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I have never snuck onto a world class golf course (or any other golf course) to play for free. I never will, either. It costs money to tend a golf course, and I am happy to pay my share.

Dont you want to screw the man?

[Fat Slice]

There ARE ways to get on a private course legally. If you are creative and honest, it can be done.

Later this month I am going to play at the Waialae Country Club.



I am going to start sniffing around to see how I can get on Augusta. NOTHING is impossible, just very difficult.

[rudygu]

Just because something is wrong doesn't mean people won't do it.

Never said they wouldn't.

You yourself on this thread speak of doing things that are equally as bad, at least in my eyes, as the suggestions of the OP. When you decide the speed limit is not applicable to you or are driving in a manner that is not advisable or puts others at risk you can tell others their actions are wrong but its rather hypocritical. I consider the road actions to be a greater offense especially with the great numbers of death and other injuries while driving.

Am I being that unclear? I never compared the two offenses. I didn't get on this forum and talk about how "passionate" I am about speeding. I didn't call anyone that thinks it's wrong names and tell them to live a little. You've just decided to assign actions to me so that you can label me a hypocrite. Have I sped? yep. Do I advocate it? no, it's a bad idea. Look at my posts again, read them for what I said instead of whatever it is you think I said. I think it's stupid to get on an internet forum and tell other posters they can't respond to your post with something you don't like to hear. I think trespassing is wrong. That's it, all I've said. I'm getting tired of repeating myself, but I don't like my words being twisted.

To top it all off, you argue free speech and then tell Iacas to kill the thread and call the OP a troll.

He was trolling. He obviously knew he would get a reaction (hence the disclaimer in his first post) and has proceeded to post inflammatory statements. I'm not making that up. I didn't "tell iacas to kill the thread". He said he almost did and I said I hoped he changed his mind. I still wish he had.

Its just a fantasy thread, these courses are special and unfortunately most of us will not be able to play them even if we do in fact have the coin. How is that fair? The rules at clubs like Augusta do all they can to keep the average citizen out. I say go for it OP.

Why does it have to be fair? Not much else in life is. If the OP wants to play those courses that badly, then he should work to accomplish it the right way. Or sneak on. He is free to do that at his leisure - until he gets caught and faces the punishment. I don't think it's the right thing to do, but his actions are not my responsibility.

I'm done. Goodbye.