burtonda

Those 5 words speak volumes about your character.

The common law references I made in the previous post derive from the common law of England.

The Wikipedia page for Lost, Mislaid, and Abandoned property explains the common law implications of inadvertantly leaving your club on the course. Essentially, it obligates the finder to turn the club over to the course with the idea being that the true owner will return for the club. If the owner doesn't return for the club, the club may either be discarded or given to the finder. This what any decent citizen should do without any understanding of the law or obligation under it. So, yes, if you can positively ID the club you not only have the right to be upset, but you are still its legal owner. Call the cops. Let them create the scene. Or just write it off as a lesson learned and take solace in the fact that you're a better person than the finder.

Quote: You are correct, I mistakenly quoted your post when it should have been the one above. All apologies. I disagree that this issue fizzled ten years ago and is no longer relevant.

Quote: Sounds more like a spolied children's club than a men's club. Pathetic.

Brilliant. Kim Jong Un, Bashar al-Assad, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Omar al-Bashir would like to hear some more of your insight on the perils of a free press.

You aren't invited because of your substandard portfolio, social standing, power, and connections. Even if a woman has these things she still doesn't get in. That's the difference.

Well if it's OK with you 2 it should be OK for everyone. I completely agree with this. But that club's membership criteria are certainly fair game for public scorn.

We are talking about a major sports enterprise in the USA sanctioning an event at a private golf club & who they allow to be members of it . Accurate information: makes all the difference in the world.

OK, so the PGA Tour sanctioning this event is OK because their tournament is considered a major? So if it were a "lesser" tournament, then sanctioning it would be a problem? We aren't in a court of law and no one is being tried or convicted by anyone. Public opinion and sentiment are not bound by the same burden of proof. Perception, in the absence of concrete information, always molds public opinion. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. You wouldn't be explaining reality vs perception to her. You'd be explaining perception (yours) vs perception (mine). If you had a document from ANGC explaining membership criteria, lists, or statements from the members then you'd have the reality. Without any information it's all perception.

How can you claim that they have absolutely nothing to do with this event when it is on their 2012 schedule and counts towards FedExCup standings? This makes no sense. Their sanctioning of the event sends the message that it's OK to discriminate against women as long as the money's right and it follows sacred "tradition". Would it be different if the club discriminated against certain races? Or certain religious beliefs? Or certain sexual orientations? If so, why is it OK when it's women? I couldn't care less what these uber-rich frat boy Augusta members do at their grownup playhouse and who they choose for playdates. I don't care if they host a tournament there every day of the year. It becomes a problem when a major sporting body sanctions their event as part of their official schedule. If you have a daughter/granddaughter, try explaining why this is OK to them.

How can you possibly say they have "zip, zilch, nada" to do with it? I see very little distinction between "holding" and "sanctioning" with respect to the discrimnatory policies of the club. Go to the PGA Tour website and tell me they have nothing to do with this event. If they really want "zip, zero, zilch" to do with it they should take it off their tour. These types of arguments are always made to justify continuing bad practices.

The outrage should be directed at the PGA Tour, tournament sponsors, and even the players who cling to "tradition" as a blanket justification for their participation. Heck, you can even express outrage at the fans who support it by attending or simply tuning in on TV. No one is forcing the PGA Tour to hold an event at Augusta National. And certainly no one is forced into sponsorship, attendance, or support. Augusta National Golf Club is a private club. They are under no obligation to admit anyone, nor are they required to post membership criteria or lists. As pointed out earlier, many private clubs in the US operate in this manner. Even some public ones essentially do this (ie. Curves). With that said, history never looks kindly on systemic discrimination or repression. And the excuses (ie. public vs private) that seemed so right at the time eventually just seem pathetic, backwards, and sad.

This isn't mutually exclusive - I expect people to police their group AND be good golf citizens by repairing ball marks they didn't create. It's a very simple task that protects the green from long-term damage. I've repaired hundreds of ball marks I didn't make and it only takes me around 5 seconds to fix one. If it takes you 30 seconds then you're doing it wrong.

Different strokes for different folks. Enjoy your round however you wish. Just don't criticize others for having different motivations and attractions to the sport. There are courses where golf cart rental fees are integral in keeping the course afloat financially - granted this likely affects the less "peaceful, beautiful" ones.

Why would you criticize anyone for using one? What effect does my transportation preference have on you? I don't care if you drive, carry, push, or pull your sack of clubs around the track as it has absolutely no effect on my enjoyment of my round. If you keep a reasonable pace, repair your ball marks and divots, and yell fore if you banana slice one at me 2 fairways over then you're OK in my book and I'll buy you a beer at round's end.

There are many "parts" of golf and exercise is rarely the primary attraction. Competition, self-improvement, hanging out with buddies, spending time outdoors, temporary relief from responsibility, interacting with clients, or just simply hitting a couple of good golf shots are much more important motivators to the vast majority of regular golfers. You are doing the sport a disservice when you demean golfers who choose to get their exercise elsewhere.

I've been golfing regularly for 20+ years and have seen only 2 clubs damaged through normal use (I had a defective driver that the head flew off of after 3 swings and my buddy hit a big, hidden rock with his brand new vokey in a trap). Outside of a driver sky mark, which has virtually no effect on the performance of the club, it is highly unlikely someone would damage your clubs hitting off a teebox or fairway. Your clubs are more at risk for damage in your trunk on the drive to the course. I'm not saying clubs are invincible, only that the risk of damage is so minimal that it doesn't outweigh the good karma you'll get by sharing with your fourball.

I have no problem with anyone trying out my clubs. In fact, if I happen to have a new or interesting club I'll offer it up during the round. The benefits of sharing vastly outweigh the miniscule risk of equipment damage.

If you're not paying for your round then you're a thief, not a customer. You don't get to decide what a business owner charges for their product or service. Take your business somewhere else if you don't like their fees or attitude. Stealing at 22 years of age, regardless of how you try to justify it, simply makes you a criminal. Plus you clearly have no idea how much money it costs to maintain even an average golf course.

I consider myself a somewhat serious golf enthusiast and I have many TaylorMade clubs (R9 SuperTri. R7 TP irons, and some hybrids). I think they make a quality product and couldn't care less about their advertisements and frequent release of new models. If you like how their clubs perform then why would you care? And I also think that ad is pretty cool. Clearly they don't employ the morons from the Progessive insurance ad agency.

You're right, my bad. I should have looked into the details myself and I take back my previous comment knocking him for touching his hat. I, however, still have a gripe with an Augusta official not waiting until they were off-camera to make this request. Anyone who follows professional golf knows that this is how Fowler does interviews and it has nothing to do with disrespecting the game. They should have told him before the interview or waited until it was over. That would be the professional, and adult, way to handle it.

I was taught to keep my hands to myself when I was a kid. Apparently the Augusta official never learned this. Just about everyone discovers this at one time or another in their lives.

The first day back to the range after winter. I so both dread and look forward to this day. Will probably happen this weekend.

Not a bad argument, except that the women who would get an invite to the club are just as power hungry as the men who get invited. They would jump at the chance for that status symbol and notch in their belt.