I don't deserve a range finder...... but people suck too!

[jeggolfer68]

I have worked at our local course since I retired 10 years ago. Clubs, headcovers, wallets, purses, rangefinders, watches, rings, shoes, towels, money clips, coolers with a six pack, hats, jackets, cigars holders, phones have all been turned in at our course and returned to owners most of the time. The problem is this; if we find the item and return it to owner, we might get a thanks. If we do not have the item, we get looked at like we kept the item. Happens all the time.

[Break81]

I'm similar to you, I have and will always loose things on the course. So I've had things returned and some not.

 

I've left my rangerfinder in the cart and I'm not sure it it went out again but I got that back.

Left my swing weight on the course, that never showed up.

Left my swing weight on the cart, I was able to get it back.

Dropped my tee bag with accessories in it on the course, was thankfully returned to the clubhouse.

Have lost various divot tools, didn't expect to get those back.

 

Some people suck, some people don't, but don't expect others to pick up after you, you lost it you lost it

Off topic but I see you have a Nike Engage Dual wedge... how do you like It?

[Cue_147]

I've lost a couple of wedges... one got handed in the other didn't.

 

A group of us handed in €12,000 in a shoe bag... It was dropped from a buggy and we found it.

[EricWGolf]

If you are predisposed to losing your rangefinder, take a Sharpie and write your name and phone number right on the side of the it.

 

Psychologically, it's much harder for someone to keep it that way. They can't rationalize keeping it by saying "the owner won't ever be found" or "if I turn it in, someone in the pro shop will just take it anyway."

 

It won't weed out the people with no conscience, but it will significantly shrink the pool of potential thieves.

 

(Edit for grammar)

[joey2aces]

buy a watch

[Break81]

If you are predisposed to losing your rangefinder, take a Sharpie and write your name and phone number right on the side of the it.

 

Psychologically, it's much harder for someone to keep it that way. They can't rationalize keeping it by saying "the owner won't ever be found" or "if I turn it in, someone in the pro shop will just take it anyway."

 

It won't weed out the people with no conscious, but it will significantly shrink the pool of potential thieves.

Great idea... I actually think engraving is even better since even a permanent marker can be removed with acetone or MEK.

[traderfx]

Found multiple clubs and phones and always turn them in to the pro shop or the guys who left it will come back and get it. My buddy found a $100 bill in the middle of the fairway once. Didn't exactly think it was wise to turn that into the pro shop and nobody came back asking so he kept it.

[Pinger89]

Got a brand new set of Vokey SM6 wedges at the beginning of last year built to my Spec with my shaft of choice and the whole nine. My first round with them I brought my 54* to the 18th green (I was short of the green on the fringe, but a mile from the hole) as that is my go-to wedge for 110-in and anything around the greens. It's my favorite club and you know where this story is headed.. we get done 18, shake hands, grab our putters and head off. I get home and put my clubs in the front room and the next week is nothing but rain for 5 straight days. No range sessions, no rounds of golf. A nice day hits and I decide to go get a quick nine in after work, so I get home and go to clean my clubs before the round and can't locate my beloved 54* wedge. My heart sinks and starts pounding, I frantically look all over the world of my house.. nothing. I call my brother and ask if he took it. Doesn't have it. I'm thinking there is no way I left it at the course because I have NEVER left a wedge, especially my 54*, behind. Ever. The panic continues and I decide to call the course, but in the back of my mind I'm thinking there is not a chance someone found a brand new Titleist Vokey SM6 wedge with a KBS C-Taper shaft and turned it in to the Pro shop. No way. I call and speak with Peter at the desk who was absolutely zero help. I used to work at this course and worked with him briefly and explained to him my situation and his response was "I don't think anything has been turned in the last few days." I replied, "okay, it was from the beginning of the week about 5 days ago, so could you check?" Peter- "I'm sorry but nothing has been turned in this week. Have a good day"

 

The guy didn't even bother to turn around, walk 10 feet to where the lost-and-found clubs are, and look for my wedge. I'm livid. I'm also now realizing I'm going to have to replace this brand new wedge that I spent a good chunk of change on and that is not exactly in the budget. I spend the rest of the day looking around my house, in my car, at work, pestering my brother. It's nowhere. The next day I wake up and think that I should try the course again because Peter didn't even check. I call up and speak to Kathy who I worked with for quite a while. She remembered me and I explained to her what happened and how Peter didn't even bother to turn around and look, so she said she would check it out. She comes back to the phone 30 seconds later and...

 

"Sorry, Paul, I don't have any black Vokey wedges here." Heartbreak. "Thanks for checking, Kathy. By chance do you think it could have been turned in to the starters hut and they haven't brought it down yet? I know it's been a while and they usually bring them down by the end of the night, but couldn't hurt to check." Kathy- "okay, Paul, let me run down and check and I'll give you a call back."

 

I'm sitting at my kitchen table for the next 5 minutes which felt like an eternity. My phone rings and it's the course. I pick up, say hello, and Kathy says "Paul, you'll never believe this, but they had it. They were keeping it in the starter hut because they knew if someone saw it in the shop they would claim it was theirs and didn't want someone to take it. I'll tag your name on it and coke grab it whenever you like." Me- "Kathy! You are the best! I'm on my way!"

 

So, not only did someone turn in my brand new Vokey SM6, but the starter kept it hidden so no random person could catch a glimpse of it in the shop and claim it as theirs. The following week I was playing a different course by myself and had a twosome behind me who was up my butt the whole way. They would hit the green and give themselves automatic gimmees from close range. Just pick up and keep going. I was getting so frustrated with them because I play very quickly, especially by myself, and they still managed to play up against me. I got the 18th green and was so frustrated I just hit my chip, putted for par and grabbed my ball and walked off. I went into the Pro Shop to grab a drink and came back to gather my stuff and noticed my 58* was missing. Not again... there is no way. Someone must have walked by and grabbed it because there's not a shot I left it on the course and I just used it on 18. And if I did use it on 18 there is not a chance the jerks behind me are going to turn it in. So I grab my bag and start walking to the 18th where they are just finishing up. The gentleman walks towards me and with a club in his hand and asks if I forgot something. I laugh and say yes, and he hands me my wedge. He then apologizes for how quickly they were playing and the reason was because behind them was a single who refused to play through or join up with them and he continually hit up on them. I shook his hand, thanked him, and went home with my complete set.

 

Incredibly long stories here, but at least there is some sort of honesty still out there on the course. I also look forward to the day that I can pay it forward and turn in someone's brand new Vokey wedge.

[braincramp52]

Lost my virginity on golf course and still looking for it.

 

This makes me have second thoughts about ever playing golf with you.

[Shilgy]

Left my rangefinder on the tee of a par three at my club once that was not turned in. Had my name on it s well. Who does not turn in something that has the owner's name on it??

Asked the pro if I should put a note on the bulletin board that told them I have the case as well if they want it. Grrr. :(

[Lenny7]

I keep trying to lose my 60 degree wedge but some jerk keeps turning it in. I need someone to save me from it.

[ethanshapiro]

This isn't very uplifting but I got a new Tour V4 for my birthday on tuesday, left my bag by the putting green, and when I got home I realized it was gone. This was yesterday. i have a tournament today and I'm just really annoyed and I hope I'm just an idiot and it fell off my bag but I know that that's not the case as the clip was on a certain way and it's nearly fully undone...it's been only 3 days and I'm heartbroken about this...hope dearly it turns up

[cardoustie]

Well I lost mine today at Osprey Point in Boca. Paired w a senior (single added to our 3-some) who had a blue flag and some how it left the cart when he was driving it alone

 

Of course nobody has turned it in. I noticed it missing 1.5 holes later and the Marshall went backwards and no luck

 

Not happy

 

I had a backup and a clown at my club broke it last year

 

Bad karma coming to the thief

[MaddMaxx]

I gave a buddy of mine a Taylormade R580 XD driver because he is the type to brag over how little he paid for his clubs and still score well. He doesn't have much cash so it works for him.

He hit this driver 30 yards farther and 10x straighter than his old laminated wooden driver.

Anyway he goes to an upscale course for a free round one day, I was working, and he left it by a bench. He called back several times but no one turned it in. Who in the hell keeps/steals an R580 xd? Especially some one who I assume has the money to buy what they want.

[RSinSG]

The title of this thread is pretty funny OP.

 

I too had a rangefinder stolen - off of my bag that was parked next to the pro shop. I had a GPS watch stolen when I used a clever rubber mount and put it on a cart. I actually did put a note on the bulletin board informthe thief to contact me if he needed the charge. Lost a 6 iron that was never turned in. Who keeps a 6 iron??

 

I have name labels on everything but a crook can peel those off. I'm thinking about using an engraving pen and writing "Stolen from..." on clubs, rangefinder, etc.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

I gave a buddy of mine a Taylormade R580 XD driver because he is the type to brag over how little he paid for his clubs and still score well. He doesn't have much cash so it works for him.

He hit this driver 30 yards farther and 10x straighter than his old laminated wooden driver.

Anyway he goes to an upscale course for a free round one day, I was working, and he left it by a bench. He called back several times but no one turned it in. Who in the hell keeps/steals an R580 xd? Especially some one who I assume has the money to buy what they want.

there must be a guy out there now hitting it 30 yards farther and 10x straighter than his old laminated wooden driver.

[cvvorst]

I found a rangefinder on hole 18 just a couple weeks ago. I turned it into the pro shop right away, and went to the first tee (in a scramble that started off multiple holes) it turned out it was a guys in the group ahead of us. I can't imagine being a thief and hiding it or keeping it. But, some people are scummy.

[wingfoot64]

I play in a senior league on Tuesday mornings and was paired up with another fellow, he had a very old Scotty Cameron putter and I asked him how old it was. He said he didn't know, he found it on a golf course in Myrtle Beach. I guess he saw the look on my face and gave a lame a** excuse that he was on vacation. WTF does that have to do with not turning it in? Changed my perspective of that dude, I put the word out to other members about him and I'm glad he doesn't play with our group anymore.

[Akron09]

Lost a scratch wedge at a charity event...never got turned into the clubhouse.

[jkwjr60]

Happened to me this past weekend. Left a very nice Bushnell Tour V4 Shift in the cart. Called the course twice to see if it had turned up and of course it didn't. I realize it's 95% my fault for leaving it, but it sucks that someone else decided to keep it. Bummer man....

[halliedog]

To you guys leaving range finders in carts, I read something on here right after I got mine that has helped:

 

When you take your range finder out of it's pocket in your bag, put your car keys in same pocket. When you replace range finder in bag pocket, pull your car keys. That way you can't leave the course with your range finder in a cart.

[Shifty76]

Last season I had my rangefinder attached to my bag via the snap holders on the bag. Unbeknownst to be it snapped half way through my round and I didn't notice until the next time I played a week or so later. Called the pro shop and someone had turned it in.

 

Edit, ah crap, another thread from a year ago necro'd from the dead.

[Fiveten03]

I know it’s rudimentary or childish but put your name and number on the range finder. I have tags on all my s*** (my wife rags on my all the time) but my hypothesis is that when something’s personalized or if there’s a means to return it people will. I’ve left mine at the range and had it turned in. Makes it easy for the course to contact you too instead of tempting an employee from just assuming it’s now theirs. I’d like to think it applies to clubs as well.

[blehnhard]

I am famous for leaving all kinds of stuff on the course - towels, range finder, sky caddie. Many times we have multiple groups playing - I like to have one of our groups playing behind me to "pick up" after me. Had just replaced my old Bushnell that had stopped giving consistent yardages with Precision NX Pro a few months ago. A few weeks ago, noticed on 18 that I did not have it. Went back to group behind me, no luck. Started thinking about where I could have left it. Had a bad habit of sitting it on the seat kind of behind me. Had hit a bad tee shot on 17, 20 yds left into rough. Did not use it there as it was a chip out to just short of green. Went back to that area, and found it in the grass. Now have a Caddy Buddy pouch that attaches to windshield frame, so I can always see if I have it. Still sometimes put it in the drink holder or well out of habit. I use a label machine to put name and cell # on any items that may "grow feet" and walk away from me.

 

True story - about 8 or 9 years ago, I had gone shopping at a Safeway food store close to home. I carry my money in a money clip and my "cards, etc." in a pack secured by rubber band. Paid for my purchase with a credit card and my money clip must have fallen out on the floor. Had about $500 in it. Realized when I got home that did not have it. Called the store and someone had turned it in. It was easy for me to identify it as the money clip was from a PGA Club Pro Championship. Went back to store and tried to identify the person who turned it in. They did so anonomously (sp). Gave a $100 to one of the children's charities that the store collects for from time to time.

[Arafel]

I found a guy's credit card on the second tee box. We caught up to him at the turn.... He was so happy that his wife wasn't going to kill him he bought me and my friend 9 holes of golf.

[Londoner]

Lost my virginity on golf course and still looking for it.

Well I certainly didn't take it!

[dbleag]

I've mentioned this before, but at my course, I am constantly amazed at what items are turned in that no one ever claims

 

and

 

what items are lost that never get turned in.

[smileykj218]

At the range a month or so ago and found keys to a nice black Audi A8. Bet they went to clubhouse so they could get home.

[fraggletane]

Left my phone on the 10th tee and only realised when putting my bag and cart in the car. Had to make the jog back and thankfully two dudes picked it up and I ran into them on the 12th. It was a small country course out of town with an honesty box for green fees so would’ve been near impossible to locate later on.

 

Found a pitch mark repair tool that looked well worn and very sentimental. Handed it in asap. Doesn’t matter if it’s a towel or a rangefinder you’ve gotta hand it in.

[Londoner]

Left my phone on the 10th tee and only realised when putting my bag and cart in the car. Had to make the jog back and thankfully two dudes picked it up and I ran into them on the 12th. It was a small country course out of town with an honesty box for green fees so would’ve been near impossible to locate later on.

 

Found a pitch mark repair tool that looked well worn and very sentimental. Handed it in asap. Doesn’t matter if it’s a towel or a rangefinder you’ve gotta hand it in.

 

Great point. I use my late dads pitch mark tool. I would rather lose my whole bag of clubs than that.