Looking for lost balls!

[Hardballs]

This will depend on weather and ground conditions, but when playing in winter here in uk, it can get wet and soggy under foot, I make a point of clubbing up and swinging steady so to keep ball in play, I rarely have to go look for balls, I also refuse to look for other peoples balls in the rough because the grass is long and wet and it gets my trousers and shoes wet and filthy, so I ignore other peoples balls and concentrate on my own, occasionally someone might ask for help, but I always decline and state my reason, sometimes to a funny look of bewilderment! Does this make me an *******? Give it to me straight, I don't offend easily and don't care for people who are!

[billchao]

I also refuse to look for other peoples balls in the rough because the grass is long and wet and it gets my trousers and shoes wet and filthy, so I ignore other peoples balls and concentrate on my own, occasionally someone might ask for help, but I always decline and state my reason, sometimes to a funny look of bewilderment! Does this make me an *******?

A little bit, yea. Besides being the courteous thing to do, helping others find their lost ball could potentially speed up play. I think it's bad form to refuse someone's request for help, especially if your reason is that you don't want to get your pants wet. It's not like there isn't the possibility that you may have to get your shoes dirty at some point in the round anyway.

But good for you that you keep your ball in play I guess.

[ghalfaire]

so I ignore other peoples balls and concentrate on my own, occasionally someone might ask for help, but I always decline and state my reason, sometimes to a funny look of bewilderment! Does this make me an *******?

I don't know that it make you and ******* but I think it would be a good thing to help another golfer find their ball.  Your shoes will dry and your clothes will wash out OK so why not?

[Patch]

This will depend on weather and ground conditions, but when playing in winter here in uk, it can get wet and soggy under foot, I make a point of clubbing up and swinging steady so to keep ball in play, I rarely have to go look for balls,

I also refuse to look for other peoples balls in the rough because the grass is long and wet and it gets my trousers and shoes wet and filthy, so I ignore other peoples balls and concentrate on my own, occasionally someone might ask for help, but I always decline and state my reason, sometimes to a funny look of bewilderment! Does this make me an *******?

Give it to me straight, I don't offend easily and don't care for people who are!

Is it just because you just don't want to you clothes wet/filthy? Or, would getting your clothes wet/filthy negatively impact your game for the rest of the round? If playing in a wet/filthy, personal conditions would poorly impact your game, I can understand your reasoning.

Me, I never ask for help looking for a lost ball, but I will help others when asked. If I hit an errant shot, I walk to where I think the ball should be. If I don't find it quickly, (in non sanctioned play) I will make an arrangement with others in my group to keep on playing with out a hold up. Usually adding a couple of strokes is sufficient, while dropping another ball.

[Hardballs]

Is it just because you just don't want to you clothes wet/filthy? Or, would getting your clothes wet/filthy negatively impact your game for the rest of the round? If playing in a wet/filthy, personal conditions would poorly impact your game, I can understand your reasoning. Me, I never ask for help looking for a lost ball, but I will help others when asked. If I hit an errant shot, I walk to where I think the ball should be. If I don't find it quickly, (in non sanctioned play) I will make an arrangement with others in my group to keep on playing with out a hold up. Usually adding a couple of strokes is sufficient, while dropping another ball.

I just don't like being cold and wet, I've bought expensive clothing, shoes, waterproofs and I like to keep clean and dry, if I get wet and muddy my self diagnosed OCD kicks in and it bugs me! I play all through the uk winters, cold, wet and soggy/muddy ground so I've paid for appropiate clothing, So I just simply refuse to compromise my comfort because of someone else's poor play! Even I think it sounds a bit arsey, but I don't care, and just wondered what anyone else thought?

[Hardballs]

A little bit, yea. Besides being the courteous thing to do, helping others find their lost ball could potentially speed up play. I think it's bad form to refuse someone's request for help, especially if your reason is that you don't want to get your pants wet. It's not like there isn't the possibility that you may have to get your shoes dirty at some point in the round anyway. But good for you that you keep your ball in play I guess.

I wouldn't walk through an ankle high stretch of soggy, wet, muddy rough for my own ball, so I certainly ain't gonna do it for someone else! And I would just suggest to keep pace of play up to speed to play less aggressively and keep ball in play, a I do in winter! It actually makes me smile because at some point during the round I get,"my shoes are leaking, my feet are wet, I need new shoes!" But I suspect It's just because they're wading through long wet grass! Which is the main reason I leave them to it!

[ghalfaire]

I just don't like being cold and wet, I've bought expensive clothing, shoes, waterproofs and I like to keep clean and dry, if I get wet and muddy my self diagnosed OCD kicks in and it bugs me!

I play all through the uk winters, cold, wet and soggy/muddy ground so I've paid for appropiate clothing, So I just simply refuse to compromise my comfort because of someone else's poor play! Even I think it sounds a bit arsey, but I don't care, and just wondered what anyone else thought?

Yes it does make you sound a bit Arsey to me.  I don't ask anyone to help me look for a ball either but usually they do without being asked and when it is someone else's ball I always offer to help look.  Just a way to keep the pace up and a courteous thing to do.  But I don't know much about what is considered courtesy in the land of the stiff upper lip so I'll try to not be judgmental.  But it does seem a bit arsey to me.

[Ernest Jones]

I wouldn't walk through an ankle high stretch of soggy, wet, muddy rough for my own ball, so I certainly ain't gonna do it for someone else!

I think this quote makes it all ok. Just be sure to make that part clear to them. It's not that you aren't willing to get wet and muddy looking for someone else's ball , you aren't even willing to do it for your own ball. I would just say something like, "dude, that ain't worth it. I'll give you a free drop and $2 to replace the ball. Let's just call it a practice round and have some fun, eh?"

[jamo]

I think this quote makes it all ok. Just be sure to make that part clear to them. It's not that you aren't willing to get wet and muddy looking for someone else's ball , you aren't even willing to do it for your own ball. I would just say something like, "dude, that ain't worth it. I'll give you a free drop and $2 to replace the ball. Let's just call it a practice round and have some fun, eh?"

I agree. As long as it's mud you're trying to avoid snd not just long, wispy grass, I think you're fine to avoid it. Just be courteous in the way you say that.