Taking good balls from range buckets

[Jeremie Boop]

A lot of courses will sell found, "lightly experienced" golf balls in the clubhouse for $1 a piece or some such. Would it be ok to take balls out of that tub without paying for them?

There's your answer....

No, but you did pay them for the bucket of balls at the range. Not exactly a good comparison.

[David in FL]

No, but you did pay them for the bucket of balls at the range. Not exactly a good comparison.

You didn't purchase the range balls. You paid for the privilege of hitting them once, onto the designated range area, where they would be recovered and reused. In essence, you're renting the range balls. How the course decides to use the balls, whether to rent them or sell them is immaterial. At the point that the course recovers them, they belong to the course. They certainly don't belong to you or me.

[Jeremie Boop]

You didn't purchase the range balls. You paid for the privilege of hitting them once, onto the designated range area, where they would be recovered and reused. In essence, you're renting the range balls.

How the course decides to use the balls, whether to rent them or sell them is immaterial. At the point that the course recovers them, they belong to the course. They certainly don't belong to you or me.

They aren't losing money by someone keeping a regular ball from a bucket of range balls, they would be losing money if someone took it from the jar on the counter.

[Lihu]

A lot of courses will sell found, "lightly experienced" golf balls in the clubhouse for $1 a piece or some such. Would it be ok to take balls out of that tub without paying for them?

There's your answer....

I hadn't really thought about it in this manner. So, it's probably best to simply leave all balls alone on any course.

I always thought of it as removing trash, as I do any time I see it on the course. Also, the ball machines jam all the time and it is mostly premium balls that jam them because of their soft covers. I suppose, I'll just leave everything there in the future. Let the grounds keepers collect all the trash on the course too. Gives them something to do.

[Yukari]

to the OP:  If you have to ask, you probably know the right answer. What I told my kids growing up:  If it's not yours, it's never ok to take it. dave

There is a good quote to live by. Workers at a course I play regularly knows me well. Sometimes when I go to the range, some of them will actually give me pro v1 and v1x. I'll take those since they gave them to me. But when I find it in a range bucket, I will hit them back to the range - reserved for my driver of course. Haha

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave s

to the OP:  If you have to ask, you probably know the right answer.

What I told my kids growing up:  If it's not yours, it's never ok to take it.

dave

There is a good quote to live by.

Workers at a course I play regularly knows me well. Sometimes when I go to the range, some of them will actually give me pro v1 and v1x. I'll take those since they gave them to me. But when I find it in a range bucket, I will hit them back to the range - reserved for my driver of course. Haha

Technically, it's not theirs to give either, they work for the course. It's like if you took office pens home and gave them to your kids.

[David in FL]

They aren't losing money by someone keeping a regular ball from a bucket of range balls, they would be losing money if someone took it from the jar on the counter.

Theft has nothing to do with the intent that the owner has for the use or sale of an item. I imagine that you, like me, have all sorts of stuff in your attic that you'll likely never sell....or, for that matter even use again. The fact that you wouldn't be "losing money'" if it were lost, doesn't give someone the right to take that stuff from us.

[turtleback]

I like how the course can find someone else's property and it's fine but someone else can find the same property and it's stealing.  You guys are great.

You "found" it in the same sense I might "find"money in your wallet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David in FL

A lot of courses will sell found, "lightly experienced" golf balls in the clubhouse for $1 a piece or some such. Would it be ok to take balls out of that tub without paying for them?

There's your answer....

I hadn't really thought about it in this manner. So, it's probably best to simply leave all balls alone on any course.

Ah, the penny drops and the light comes on.

All of the moral ambiguities and ethical dilemmas vanish if we just remember one simple rule:  if it is not yours, do not take it.

Other than that all I see in this thread is a lot of rationalization for, and support, of stealing.

[Pete F]

Since there are 300 million golf balls lost each year in the US and roughly 15,000 golf courses in the US that means each golf course has roughly  20,000 golf balls laying around somewheres.

What is there estimated value?

Perhaps the IRS should look into this hidden asset?

If you think there is a problem with it ask the responsible person. You think the pro would take a chance of alienating a customer in a declining market?

I hadn't really thought about it in this manner. So, it's probably best to simply leave all balls alone on any course.

I always thought of it as removing trash, as I do any time I see it on the course. Also, the ball machines jam all the time and it is mostly premium balls that jam them because of their soft covers. I suppose, I'll just leave everything there in the future. Let the grounds keepers collect all the trash on the course too. Gives them something to do.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

Quote:

Originally Posted by David in FL

A lot of courses will sell found, "lightly experienced" golf balls in the clubhouse for $1 a piece or some such. Would it be ok to take balls out of that tub without paying for them?

There's your answer....

I hadn't really thought about it in this manner. So, it's probably best to simply leave all balls alone on any course.

Ah, the penny drops and the light comes on.

All of the moral ambiguities and ethical dilemmas vanish if we just remember one simple rule:  if it is not yours, do not take it.

Other than that all I see in this thread is a lot of rationalization for, and support, of stealing.

I fully agree, you are on the golf course to play golf and not for any other reason.

I only pay $1 for basically used for one shot Pro-V1x, it's really not worth any moral dilemma.

[Bryan Kasper]

I trade balls with good balls from the range. In my opinion and pro v1 does not deserve to be wasted on the range. not any other expensive ball I'm good condition. When I find top flutes or other old crap balls while I'm playing I save them and put them into my bag. While on the range I swap those crap balls with good balls because it doesn't make sense to waste the nice covers on some of these soft cover balls on a range.

[Ongle]

The thread isn't about you hitting a ball into the range, the thread is about taking premium balls out of a bucket of balls you rented to use on the range.  Would you be okay if I went to the bowling alley and decided one of the loaner balls looked good and fit me well so I just threw it in my bag to take home? When you take property that isn't yours it's stealing.  You can attempt to justify it however you like, but it's property that doesn't belong to you and thus you have no right to it.

Jesus, I bet you're fun at a party?! It's a golf ball, get off your high horse! Hitting it into the range area doesn't automatically make it property of the club.

[newtogolf]

Jesus, I bet you're fun at a party?!

It's a golf ball, get off your high horse! Hitting it into the range area doesn't automatically make it property of the club.

It's stealing, that's what the threads about, stop trying to justify it.

[DrvFrShow]

At my range these are balls hit with drivers by a couple of pros. They have about 9 holes worth of wear on them. I know whose they are from the brand and which tournaments are coming up. I save them for my driver, because I hit Callaway balls, and these are Nike or Titleist.

Technically, it's not theirs to give either, they work for the course. It's like if you took office pens home and gave them to your kids.

You've never taken pads or pens home from the office? Come on, that's a perk. Practically everyone has done it. Or at least did it until the late 90s when it got brought up on Seinfeld when Kramer did it.

[Sante TwoGloves]

i take prov1s out of my range buckets all of the time. i also hit balls i find on the courses and along the side of the road ( live next to a fenced in private club)  i dont want at the range. the range is way ahead at this point.

[Ongle]

It's stealing, that's what the threads about, stop trying to justify it.

Waaahhhh! Then the golf club shouldn't appropriate the balls hit into the range either should they? I buy a ball from the pro shop, tee it up on the 1st and slice it into the range. That's still my property, I have a right to ask for it back? But when have you ever seen a pro shop with "lost and found" golf balls for people to claim? Answer: NEVER! Have no doubt that the ball collectors take the good ones they find themselves, so what's good for the goose is good for the gander. I'm not trying to justify anything, just stating that if you think taking a decent ball from a range bucket is such a terrible act you're a sad act! Simple as.

[Sante TwoGloves]

maybe we should start collecting the tees we find that arent broken at the range and bring them to the front counter? :)   seriously, there are greater crimes. who is completely honest on their taxes raise your hand.

[tefunk]

It's stealing, that's what the threads about, stop trying to justify it.

Agreed. Whether you justify it one way or another, it's still stealing. Stop kidding yourselves... At least be honest with yourself about it and say "I steal premium range balls". You may be a thief, but at least you'd be honest. Btw, I don't steal them.