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19th Hole

Is this the worst “my clubs were stolen” story ever?

Published

6 years ago

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Tom Owen. Remember the name, because this unfortunate gentleman may have the worst tale of club theft in recent memory.

Now, the experience of having one’s bag pilfered, never to be seen again, is awful. Your clubs are simply gone, and you have no idea who took them and where they went. Tom Owen had the first part of that experience, however, he knows exactly where his clubs are…and he can’t (legally) do anything about it.

Therese Henkin New Zealand’s Howick & Pakuranga Times originally reported the story.

Mr. Owen’s bag, with its thousands of dollars of equipment and his cell phone, was lifted December 15th from Howick Golf Course at Musick Point, New Zealand.

“They took everything, all my clubs, my bag, trundle, golf balls and my mobile phone which was tucked away inside the bag,” he told the paper.

However, as this is the 21st century, Owen was able to track his phone (which was in his golf bag) to a nearby residential address on Pigeon Mountain Road.

Presumably overjoyed, he called the police to report the theft and the location of his stolen property. One can only imagine his despair when he was told the authorities would be unable to lawfully search the premises and thus could not recover his clubs.

After reporting the incident, Owen was surprised to learn that police were not able to search the premises for the goods.

A police spokesperson explained.

“While we understand people may think police can use the tracking system people use on their phones and then send a patrol car to retrieve the property, under the Search and Surveillance Act 2012, police officers do not have the authority to enter a premise based off a locater app on a missing phone. If police resources are available and the technology can pin-point a specific address such as a household, Police are able to knock on the door and make enquiries, but not enter.”

Obviously, Owen isn’t a fan of the law, and he thinks it puts victims in a bad position. He’s right: Knowing the authorities can’t do anything, but knowing where your stolen phone, etc, is, do you risk your life taking the law into your own hands?

“It’s very frustrating to know where your stolen items are and not have anyone do anything about it. If police really can’t act on the information you give them, then something needs to change.”

What do you think, GolfWRX members? Does this make any sense? Do you join Owen in calling for a rewriting of the law?

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24 Comments

24 Comments

  1. Crazy About Golf

    Feb 3, 2018 at 11:16 pm

    Here’s a cut/paste of a text my friend sent me the other day: “So a guy from my office was playing Stonebridge (his home club) by himself this weekend. While putting on one of the perimeter holes, 2 ‘youths’ snuck up, jumped in his golf cart and drove off. Clubs, car keys, wallet, cell phone, etc were in it. He chased them in the direction of the nearby projects but lost them. Cart was stripped and ditched by the time he caught up.”……only in New Orleans……

    Reply Report comment

  2. Matt

    Jan 26, 2018 at 1:48 pm

    FWIW, you can get golf club insurance in NZ for a small premium but I’d never leave my expensive clubs out of eyesight at a GC for more than a minute. Police have a point here but it sounds like they’re being dicks about it – you’d expect a bit of follow-up such as a detective inspector checking it out. I’d screengrab all the gps info and ensure the iPhone tracker has the correct address then door knock all the neighbors and go to the cops if I learned anything about that address. If the police did jack all with my research then take the full story to a TV reporter.

    Reply Report comment

  3. LEUNG Chi Sum

    Jan 23, 2018 at 7:56 am

    Simple. I would have just break in and take me stuff back, and if the guys there dare to charge me of illegal entry, I would charge them of theft.

    Reply Report comment

  4. Mat

    Jan 23, 2018 at 4:17 am

    I love the automatic “guns guns guns” American reaction. We don’t really have guns here in New Zealand. It’s not some twisted right of everyone being a “well regulated militia”. Property crimes are a concern here, but our police don’t even carry guns. And before you say so what, I’ve had my clubs stolen here. It’s a problem. But we tossed out the old government because they were soft on crime. Ironically, it’s the Lefties that are now hiring police as quickly as possible. But ya, warrants are a thing, and there’s only so much you can do without proof – proof according to the law. And that law, as you might expect, is a little behind. Saw this in the States just a few years ago… it’s tricky, but I truly hope the guy gets his sticks back. Golf clubs are in the top-10 most common crimes here.

    Reply Report comment

  5. BG

    Jan 21, 2018 at 4:06 pm

    My comment is awaiting moderation 😮

    Reply Report comment

  6. ben

    Jan 21, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    Steal my clubs please and put me out of my misery … 🙁

    Reply Report comment

  7. Dave Rainone

    Jan 20, 2018 at 10:43 pm

    This is not the worst stolen clubs story. In 2010 a CT pro (Kevin Giancola) had his clubs stolen after he qualified for the final on the state PGA Championship. He won the final with a set he cobbled together.

    But imagine the feeling when you’d advanced to the final and someone steals your clubs.

    http://www.middletownpress.com/news/article/CONN-PGA-CHAMPIONSHIP-Giancola-uses-spare-clubs-11879873.php

    Reply Report comment

  8. labillyboy

    Jan 20, 2018 at 8:48 pm

    I’d go knock his door with a couple large friends and a few guns…That is; If the police wouldn’t do it for me. Here I don’t think that would be a problem… It would not be pleasant to steal anything from me and having me find out about it.

    Reply Report comment

  9. Sean Foster-Nolan

    Jan 20, 2018 at 7:31 pm

    They use that kind of technology to track stolen vehicles…I guess now if you steal a car in NZ you don’t have to worry about being nabbed.

    Reply Report comment

    • ben

      Jan 21, 2018 at 12:53 pm

      … but only if you hide the car in your garage and deny entry to the police …lol

      Reply Report comment

  10. HB

    Jan 20, 2018 at 3:49 pm

    Doesn’t make sense to me. Why have the protection on your phone In The 1st Place. God..no normality in this world now.

    I know what I would feel like doing if they were my clubs.?!><\^[{}

    HB

    Reply Report comment

  11. Irv

    Jan 20, 2018 at 8:03 am

    I’m sure if it was a stolen sheep they would have done something about it pronto.

    Reply Report comment

  12. douglas terry

    Jan 19, 2018 at 10:31 pm

    They stole his Stan Thompson Ginty irons? (circa 1975) The bastids!

    Reply Report comment

  13. phil

    Jan 19, 2018 at 6:17 pm

    The thief won’t be playing those clubs now. He’ll try to sell them to a used sports equipment store or on line. Try to catch him showing the equipment at his home and then visit with somebody big and scary. Watch him fold.

    Reply Report comment

  14. James T

    Jan 19, 2018 at 5:48 pm

    I’m guessing the thief is a golfer, too. More than likely he was at the course the day he saw your clubs were unattended and stole them. From his known address (where your phone is) look up his name and then look up his GHIN handicap. If it’s substantial (high) then challenge him to a match for a set of clubs. Remember, he’s got an extra set to lose in a bet.

    Or, even better, follow him when he goes to play golf. When he steps into the pro shop to pay for his round steal his clubs. Perfect karma! (Accidentally drags his clubs across the side of his car when leaving)

    Reply Report comment

  15. TJ

    Jan 19, 2018 at 4:26 pm

    Should have initially gone with the police and called his phone while they were at the front door.

    Reply Report comment

  16. Getemgoose

    Jan 19, 2018 at 3:20 pm

    I may sound like a crazy veteran but I’d do some recon, kit up, and get my stuff back.

    Reply Report comment

  17. Dino

    Jan 19, 2018 at 3:19 pm

    I’m surprised that New Zealand would enact a law that pre-empted the legal concept of “probable cause”. The police in most common law societies would have had probable cause to enter the premises and look for stolen property, etc. This is especially so given that a witness (victim) would have sworn a statement to that effect.

    Reply Report comment

  18. theD0n

    Jan 19, 2018 at 12:55 pm

    Guys, police need a warrant to enter a house (with limited exceptions). And entering someone else’s house can get you killed. With a little reconnaissance, just catch the occupant when he leaves the house…

    Reply Report comment

  19. allan

    Jan 19, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    I had my clubs stolen from my garage and reported it to the police and insurance company who said they would replace them at current inflated prices. I got the money and fortunately had a second set of clubs to play with.
    Two months later I was visiting a second hand sport store and saw my clubs on the wall. I called the police and they confronted the store owner. He denied any culpability and the police left saying nothing much could be done and if anything was done I wouldn’t get my clubs for at least 6 months anyway. I told the police to close the report file. They agreed.
    I went to the store owner and offered him $200 for the clubs and he quickly accepted my offer. I made a lot of money on the deal.

    Reply Report comment

  20. Bruce Ferguson

    Jan 19, 2018 at 12:15 pm

    I’d have walked up to the residence (with a witness) and explained to the occupant, “Look, I’ve tracked my phone to your home, I’d like my clubs back, or I’m afraid I’ll have to contact the police”. I’d bet the resident would have complied. Of course, now that the story is public, the thief knows the police won’t do anything about it.

    Reply Report comment

  21. JD

    Jan 19, 2018 at 11:14 am

    So the guy couldn’t walk in there himself? I would gladly get a breaking and entering charge and take a few punches to get my MP18’s back.

    Reply Report comment

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19th Hole

‘I think that’s a mistake’ – Brandel Chamblee questions surprise Luke Donald decision at Ryder Cup

Published

8 hours ago

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Sep 26, 2023

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For the first time since 1993, the European team has chosen to open the Ryder Cup with Foursomes rather than Fourball.

When asked why he made the decision, European captain Luke Donald indicated that he wanted to get out to a “fast start”.

“It’s pretty simple really, we feel like as a team, statistically, we are stronger in foursomes within our team than we would be in fourballs.”

“Why not get off to a fast start? That’s it.”

However, Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee has questioned the decision calling it a “mistake” on Golf Central.

“It is very important to win the first session from a momentum standpoint. But it’s significantly more important to lead after the first day. If you go back to 1997 to present, starting with fourballs allowed them to end with a strength on the first day, and mostly they’ve dominated in the foursomes.

“If you win the first session, you win the Ryder Cup about 60% of the time. But if you win the first day, you win 70% of the time. So in one fell swoop, he’s potentially thrown away a 10% chance, which is a monumental advantage given to the European side, and I think that’s a mistake.”

Team Europe shared their practice groups on Monday, giving a hint at what the potential pairings will be.

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19th Hole

Report: Solheim Cup star was dropped by captain on Friday afternoon for refusing to play with two of her teammates

Published

8 hours ago

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Sep 26, 2023

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According to a report, Celine Boutier asked for a partner change after her partner, Georgia Hall, underperformed during morning session of the Solheim Cup on Friday.

Boutier and Hall lost to the United States pairing of Andrea Lee and Danielle Kang one up.

Apparently, the European team captain Suzann Petterson obliged the request, and offered to put the Frenchwoman with Leona Maguire in the afternoon, but Boutier didn’t like that pairing either.

The report indicates that after Boutier refused to play with Maguire, she was sat by Petterson for the afternoon session. It did seem odd that one of Europe’s best players sat in the afternoon session after going down 4-0 after foursomes.

The report comes from Handicap 54 on X, who has gotten some interesting scoops in the past. His initial report told a similar version of the story without names.

“Well, now I will give the names of this story. At the same time, I take this opportunity to clarify a detail that I explained poorly, but it is a detail that does not affect the fact. Why didn’t I tell them until now? I wanted to wait for the celebrations, and I wanted to wait for the Golf Sin Tags friends to say it (@gfcgolf and@alexlarrazabal1), who I knew had the same information and were on the course (I considered them to have priority).”

“The issue went like this: Céline Boutier, after Friday morning, asked Suzann Pettersen to play with someone other than Hall. Pettersen told [Boutier] that [s]he would play with Maguire (I explained that detail poorly) and Boutier refused. Therefore, Pettersen decided that Boutier would not play on that Friday afternoon.”

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19th Hole

Scottie Scheffler working with renowned putting coach following year of struggles on the green

Published

8 hours ago

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Sep 26, 2023

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Scottie Scheffler is coming off one of the best ball striking seasons in the history of golf. The number one ranked player in the world had a solid season, coming away with both a PLAYERS Championship and a Waste Management Phoenix Open win. However, with the way he played from tee to green he would most certainly have liked to come away with a major or two.

For the season, the former Longhorn remarkably ranked 1st in Strokes Gained Total, Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Strokes Gained: Approach. Unfortunately, he also ranked 151st in Strokes Gained: Putting.

After Scheffler arrived in Rome for this week’s Ryder Cup, he was seen on the putting green practicing with putting coach Phil Kenyon. Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis has since indicated that the duo began working together last week in Dallas, Texas.

Kenyon also works with Europe’s Tommy Fleetwood, so the dynamic of working with players on both Ryder Cup teams this week should be interesting to monitor.

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