How many balls do you lose per round

[B_R_A_D_Y]

Old golf joke: This course was so tough I lost 3 balls in the ball washers. Only a person who loses lots of balls appreciates that old joke.

When I get home from a round my wife doesn’t ask me how I did. Instead she asks, “how many balls did you lose.” That’s no joke, she does.

I played a tournament when I was a young man with a wicked banana slice, and I lost 6 balls in the third flight of the final round. At the end of that round the guy I was playing against said to me, “The way you dress, I thought you were a much better golfer.”

I hardly hit the banana ball anymore, but what aggravates me more is losing a ball in the rough. I can accept hitting it deep in the woods or in the water, but knowing it’s right there, somewhere in the tall grass, really gets to me. And in the fall, when the sun is low, leaves are on the ground, and the grounds crew has slowed their mowing schedule, I tend to lose more balls per round … but I also find more, too, Last year I tied my old 6 lost balls in a round record, but I found 7 balls as well. Of course, I never find balls as desirable to me as the ones I lose.

So that’s my record: 6 lost / 7 found, in the same round. Although I also had a day last year with 5 lost / 4 found. She was still pissed.

[Pandaman]

My record in one round is 11, but I was a beginner and the course I was playing had several water hazards and OB quite close on several holes. 

Typically now I would say between 1 and 2, on average at my home course, but more when fallen leaves are about.

[tony@CIC]

When I started out - even up to a few years ago, I lost so many during a round that I would only buy Slazengers which were 2 doz for $25. Today, I can play a couple of rounds and not lose any or like yesterday I lost 2 ( both in thick bushes). 

[russtopherb]

I don't count anymore. If I find more than I lose, I consider it a good round.

[AndySP]

Likewise, I can go a few rounds losing none, but typically lose one every other 9- ish. 
 

my first round of the year this year was a disaster on that front though. New to me executive course and I lost 4 balls in 12 holes. 3 drives went missing that were (I assumed) right where I wanted them, only to never figure out where they went. Hate that. Naturally I blamed the kids in front of us. 

[ParFore74x]

When I first started playing I probably lost 3-6 per round so I was always happy to find others while searching for mine. Today it’s not uncommon for me to lose 1 or 2 each round but, as of late I have been pretty good about keeping all of mine. Probably just jinxed myself for the next round…..

I have to agree with previous statements that losing them in the water or OB is part of the game but, losing one in the rough when you know that it’s right there is frustrating. 

[JerryB]

Heck, I've lost a few in the fairway before.  Last year as a beginner I lost upwards of a dozen balls on several occasions.  I was also a big fan of the "thrill of the hunt" and would play whatever I could find if I couldn't find mine.

I've lost 8-10 on an early round this season but recently it's been between 1 and 5.

[tony@CIC]

6 minutes ago, ParFore74x said:

 

I have to agree with previous statements that losing them in the water or OB is part of the game but, losing one in the rough when you know that it’s right there is frustrating. 

And depending on where you play - you may not want to get too close to either to retrieve them. 

[Middler]

I used to lose 2-3 per round on average, with a worst of 5 balls a few times. I have backed off my swing, am hitting more fairways, and losing about 1 on average. I've played a few 18 hole rounds lately without losing a ball at all (that was unheard of for me a year ago), even went 38 holes before losing one last week. I may never run out of golf balls at my current lost ball pace. 

Teeing up a brand new ball and blasting it off into the woods/weeds never to be found on the first shot is one of life's notable irritations... 

[Kenny B]

I lose an average of 0.33 balls per round.  I will play a ball for 3 rounds before I lose it or take it out of play.  OB is not in play for me at my course (never done it), and we have no woods that collect balls.  Very rarely is a ball lost in the rough (sometimes when leaves start falling); losses are mostly from a poor shots over water.  I minimize the cost by playing a ball that I have used for at least one round on holes with water; for me that's #3 (two opportunities to hit the water), #9, #12 (really bad shot to hit water but I've done it), #14 (if I shank it), and #15 (if I chunk it).  Haven't lost a ball on #14 and 15 this year (now I probably will this weekend).

[Tyler86]

 I loose 1.4 per round. The course usually plays the biggest factor. Slope of 125 or less, probably not gonna loose one. Slope closer to 145, especially water heavy, odds are im gonna loose a couple 2-5. My group of guys live on opposite corners of town so we bounce around a lot.

[B_R_A_D_Y]

We had a Dr who used to spend way too much time looking for balls at every creek & pond on the course. His buddies got him back during their yearly golf trip to Myrtle Beach. They saved cut surlyn golf balls all year, then the front group at Myrtle seeded every waterway with cut balls. Thrilled to find a ball then pissed to discover it was cut, they said he cussed his head off the entire trip. No one ever told him.

[tony@CIC]

3 hours ago, B_R_A_D_Y said:

We had a Dr who used to spend way too much time looking for balls at every creek & pond on the course. His buddies got him back during their yearly golf trip to Myrtle Beach. They saved cut surlyn golf balls all year, then the front group at Myrtle seeded every waterway with cut balls. Thrilled to find a ball then pissed to discover it was cut, they said he cussed his head off the entire trip. No one ever told him.

One of my golfing friends is a ball hawker. Whenever he gets close to a pond he immediate takes out his extended (16'?) ball retriever and pulls out every ball he can find  - no matter how bad it is. . I keep yelling at him - "we need to move along" since there's generally a 4some behind us. Then he'll use one of those ratty, water logged balls to hit over the water and of course it goes in - keep telling him it's a 'self-fulling prophecy' . FYI he can afford new golf balls. 

[CarlH]

I discard more balls than I lose.  I occasionally lose one every few rounds, but typically the ball will get scuffed or worn out and I'll take it out of play.  

 

[dlow206]

i've lost a ball in the middle of the fairway 

[CarlH]

2 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

i've lost a ball in the middle of the fairway 

I've done that before too.  I remember playing a course in Summerville SC and it was in less than desirable shape.  I striped a ball right down the middle of the fairway and the fairway was so bad that I couldn't locate the ball!  Never played that course again, either!  LOL

[Kenny B]

35 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

i've lost a ball in the middle of the fairway 

I have too!!! ... Port Ludlow GC

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

I’m about 1.5 a round. Goal is to make it through a combined 18 w one

[dlow206]

1 hour ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

I’m about 1.5 a round. Goal is to make it through a combined 18 w one

I made it today with only 1 pro v1. Technically, it did roll into the water by one foot on a hole, but i picked it out of the water. 

[MNUte]

11 hours ago, russtopherb said:

I don't count anymore. If I find more than I lose, I consider it a good round.

This is the same for me. I tend to be a net positive after a round. And playing Kirkland Sig V2s, almost every ball I find is more "valuable" than mine! 

[silver & black]

This time of year.... I lose more than I would like to. Plugged.... middle of the fairway... no where to be found...lol. I can go for 50+ holes and never lose a ball; then, I will lose 3-5 balls in a round for no reason. This game hates at every opportunity...lol.

[fixyurdivot]

It depends on the course. Some with thick rough, deep woods, and lots of water (a couple I used to play in WA) were routine ball eaters... as in never to be found.  Amongst the 10 courses I play in MT and AZ, I'd guess one "never to be found" ball every couple of rounds.

[Middler]

17 hours ago, dlow206 said:

i've lost a ball in the middle of the fairway 

I’ve seen that a couple times in the Fall when there are leaves everywhere.

Most of the guys I play with use (pristine) found balls only, they’d never buy new. Fortunately they don’t slow play looking for found balls, only one guy I can think of - ridiculous. The only time I find balls is while looking for balls for my own foursome, and I don’t keep 80% of what I find- I toss them in the fairway for someone else to “find.” A couple of the regulars I play with only use ProV1’s they’ve found, they sell or give away all other brands/models - needless to say they spend hours a week looking for lost balls, often when not playing.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I don't really keep track of my lost ball count. If I had to guess, I lose one every 6th or 7th round. I probably find two or three a round and I'm not a hunter.

[sirchunksalot]

19 hours ago, dlow206 said:

i've lost a ball in the middle of the fairway 

I'll join the club and say I have done it a few times. The last one I can remember was at Brown Acres Golf Club in Chattanooga. One of the worst feelings you can get out on the course. 

As far as balls lost during the round, I can play and lose one or two, but the last round I played I lost eight. 

[Stuka44]

Don't even have to think about it.  Since becoming mediocre at the game  7 lost balls, into water in one round.  River Hills CC in South Carolina.  This course seemed to have water, precisely where my balls were destined to come down on EVERY hole (and for clarification this was not the courses fault). Most of my balls came down in locations, which could best be described as resulting from "less than stellar club swings".  Maybe it wasn't every one, but I think it had water in play on like 12-15 holes or something.  On any given "normal" round its about 1 per round.

And while not exactly, on topic, (of looking while you play).  I lived on the E. Branch of the Chagrin River here in northeast Ohio.  Ok admittedly I was probably technically trespassing, but I was like 10-14 years of age. My brother and I would go fishing in the river, and the Kirtland Country Club, has 4 holes on the back nine that the tee shot is across the river.  Our record was 74 in one day.  We never really kept track, but we likely found in excess of 600 balls in the water, during any given summer.

Oh and maybe "its and Ohio thing", my wife also asks me how many balls I lose, like filing for bankruptcy hangs in the balance.  She really doesn't care I know but it is kind of odd.

Edited May 1, 2022 by stuka44

[berkeleybob]

The last set of rounds I played I lost five balls the first game, three the second game, and one ball the third. However, I have noticed—the cheaper the ball, the fewer I lose.

[Larryd3]

normally I can go a couple rounds without losing a ball.  But on a bad day, it can be a couple lost.  Our 2 courses have lots of trouble areas so errant shots can get you into trouble quickly.  

[jkimbrell0]

I usually lose ~2, but never finished a round with the same ball. Played a couple of months ago and hadn't lost one through 14 or 15 and said something about it to my group. Next hole was near a park and I hit one directly in the middle of the fairway. 2 middle school age kids ran from the park into the fairway, grabbed my ball, and took off on bikes. Nothing you can do but laugh.

I told the marshal when he came around just to let him know the kids were around and he offered me a free box of balls if I stopped at the club house after the round. Didn't even take him up on it for some reason lol. 

[MDGolfHacker]

I think I've done it all.  When I first started golfing, it wasn't unusual to lose 6 or 7 balls. After a few years I thought my swing was getting better so I told a buddy that I just picked up 10 dozen Nike Platinum balls and these will last me a few years! Cue the shanks...couldn't get off the tee with a driver, fairway wood or iron. No swing was safe! One of the most frustrating months I had.  Let's just say those 10 dozen didn't last the month (I played quite a bit more back then compared to now and I think that was also the time we went on a guys weekend away and played some courses that had a lot of water too).  Regardless, that stigma of potentially losing a ball like I did back then had me always carrying two dozen balls for years until recently.  Now I only carry a dozen as the swing has gotten better.  Now I may lose 1-2 balls a round.  I've also had the lost ball in the fairway happen to me as well. Stripped down the middle and couldn't find it (Patuxent Greens Golf Course).  There's a City course I used to play call Carroll Park Golf Course that has a blind tee shot on one of the holes. The kids would run out and grab your ball then try to sell it back to you when you go looking for it Needless to say I haven't played that course in quite a few years.

MDGolfHacker