[stevestrike]

I was playing in a five-some with my Dad, and some of his friends (read: OLD guys). On this particular day, there also happened to be a junior golf tournament going on--something to do with college golf, but I didn't really pay too much attention. It was a pretty busy tournament with young, college golf hopefuls.

Anyway, we were coming in on #9, and the tournament was going off on the adjacent #1 fairway. When we got to our balls, there was one of the young golfers balls in our fairway too. So there are four old men standing there, and 5 golf balls. Each old man stands next to his ball, as a timid young lady comes looking for hers. I'd say all the balls were no more than 10 yards apart. Arthur picks up a ball and declares it his own, as does each of the other old men. Arther tells the girl, "that one is yours". She looks down, yep Srixon, and hits her shot. We continue on to the green.

Here's the problem, Arther is pushing 80 years old, and can't see worth a darn. A few minutes later, a crazy momma comes riding up to us. "Are any of you hitting Srixon balls". Sure enough, one of the guys was, and they hadn't seen the green markings vs. the blue. She says, "You hit my daughter's ball!" Well, yes, but the girl had hit the wrong ball first! The old guy just hit whatever ball she left behind.

The point of the story is to always double-check your ball, and never believe a group of old men that tell you "that's your ball". I felt so bad for the girl, but she did hit first, so she had the opportunity to double-check any of the balls lying there. I'm sure she was nervous for the tournament and felt awkward like she was intruding on our game, but let me tell you none of us cared! She could have walked up to each ball and looked at it, and it would not have bothered these guys. I'm sure she'll never make that mistake again.

[steveh1591]

im in my last year as a junior and in this one comp in the summer i hit my tee shot, yeah no problem, so i and a playing partner walked ahead and went to help him (a good playing partner) look for his ball, we eventually found it, as i walked out of the trees i saw one of the other 2 players (48 handicap hacker) shank my ball straight into some houses, his ball was 10 yards further on
thanks for losing me a nice brand new proV1x

is it really that difficult to check ??!

[stevestrike]

It's not difficult at all, of course. The point I was trying to make is that you should check--even if someone tells you otherwise. This poor old guy couldn't see the ball well enough to distinguish one Srixon from another. Never assume!

[sentinalpride]

That does suck, but true always double check. Even though I mark my balls differently than anyone else, and haven't seen anything close to mine, I still double check my ball.

[stevestrike]

Yep, this poor old guy can barely see the ball to hit it, let alone make out identifying marks on it while it's sitting at his feet. It used to annoy me when guys would pick up my ball to look at it, but then I figured "at least they are making an effort to identify and play the correct ball", unlike many-a-duffers who will walk up and blindly bash at whatever white plastic happens to be where they think their ball ought to be without as much as a second thought to golfers on the adjoining holes.

[youngwaldo]

Most of the once a week warriors don't even know what ball they are playing if you ask them.

Wk

[steveh1591]

youngwaldo, on Oct 21 2009, 05:46 PM, said:

Most of the once a week warriors don't even know what ball they are playing if you ask them.

true
everytime i see someone getting ready to hit around the vicinity of my ball i feel like i have to walk up to them just to make sure that it isnt mine they are hitting

[samphillips9]

In junior tourneys, play anything other than a ProV and you don't have to worry. I bet I am the only kid out there who plays Srixons.

[stevestrike]

Yeah... did you even read the story?!? Ah well, nevermind.