Having A Ball!

The poet T.S. Elliot once wrote that the only relics of western civilization that would last forever were "the asphalt road and a thousand lost golf balls".  Given the number of potholes that appear in our roads every spring, I can't speak to the durability of asphalt but I can verify that there are dozens of golf balls lost every day. When I'm mowing in the morning,  I can find as many as a dozen balls in any number of locations.  At that time in the morning there are usually very few golfers on the course so I'm pretty sure I'm not picking up anyone's ball in play. Often when I find a ball, there's not a soul in sight.

At first glance there doesn't seem to be much of a pattern to where balls  show up. I've found them in the rough, on the fairway, around the greens, in the half buckets where I dump the clippings, even in the cups. I used to wonder if some late night golfers, playing into the twilight just couldn't find shots in the fading light, or if folks just hit some practice balls down the fairways and went home without retrieving them, but after checking online with other folks who do what I do, it seems the lost ball phenomenon is not uncommon. Lost balls are everywhere from the surface of the moon to the bottom of Loch Ness, researchers have even called lost golf balls  "the signature litter of humanity".

Once lost, a ball will stay where it lays for a very long time. Made from complex polymers and
plastics, the modern golf ball can last a thousand years before decomposing. In the meantime, lost balls are a hazard for our mowers and a distraction for players. The rough and fairway mowers have blades that spin with considerable force, and will do considerable damage to an errant ball, but in turn its still like hitting a large rock when the blades make contact.

Some players, perhaps through constant practice, seem far more adept at finding lost balls than others. Course workers sometimes refer to these folks as ball hawks. Ball hawks come with various degrees of skill. There is the casual ball hawk, the player who simply keeps a wary eye out for any ball out of place as they walk their round. Such ball hawks are usually discriminating judges of quality, keeping only the best finds and leaving the cheaper balls for others. Then there is the Hoover hawk - the player who finds and keeps all sorts of balls. These are the players who regularly disappear into the woods and gullies in search of hidden treasure. Their bags often overflow with their discoveries and they are known to have buckets of "experienced" golf balls living in their trunks, lockers and garages. Finally their are the "Professional" ball hawks; those players who know their games, the course and the tendencies of others,  and know where the prime finding grounds lie. These players are like big game hunters. They are valuable partners to have when your ball goes astray as they already have a pretty good idea of where it might end up. Usually fairly proficient players themselves, these pros tend to be altruists, more intent on finding the balls of others than in keeping their finds for themselves, though they are not above keeping any premium balls they may encounter.

If you are wondering where the best spots are to find balls at Links there are a few things to keep in mind. Every hole has its own "catchment" areas. The graveyard to the left of one, the trees on the right and left of two, the tree line between three and four are all common collection areas. The community forest and gullies to the left of three, seven and eight take their share of victims, but the steep banks tend to discourage search parties. The gully on six, the trees on the left side of five and the fence line on nine are other fertile finding areas.

There are some guidelines as to the quality of "recycled" golf balls. The rule of thumb seems to be short and right = lower quality and long and left = better balls. Beyond that there really is no pattern. I have found balls so far off the proper line that one can only imagine how they got there. I've also found them sitting in plain sight on holes where no golfers can be found. One thing is certain though - if you pick up a ball that IS in play you will know about it very quickly. The old adage that the surest way to meet new people is to pick up their golf ball is very true, so before any ball leaves the ground be absolutely certain it is well and truly lost and in need of a new home.

Which leads me back to why the grounds crew might pick up balls. I've already alluded to the environmental and safety reasons for grounds crew clean up. I'll confess in my case its often curiosity and challenge that lead me to see what I can find. Some mornings are better than others. The day after a best ball tourney or a commercial league scramble seem to be the most fruitful. I know some of my commercial league team mates don't seem stress too much over balls hit deep and crooked. While they'd much rather be in the short grass, they'll occasionally follow a wild shot with a shrug and the comment "they make more every day". They're right of course. I find the proof all the time!

This week's blog went up a day late as I was in Vancouver doing my orientation for participation on the course and grounds committee at this years RBC Canadian Open. So far the assignment doesn't seem to be too challenging. My assigned task includes operating a cart and delivering water to caddies and players on three or four holes. I'm looking forward to the experience though and will be sure to update readers with more behind the scenes info from the tournament as the event draws nearer!