Close call!!

[GolfSpy_APH]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpVUHwtgaX9/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

Finch with a Beem at the range cart... Ever happen to you?

 

[russtopherb]

That could have ended badly!

[GolfSpy BOS]

Yikes!  And that's why most of those have cages fully surrounding the driver.

 

[MacTourney]

Steel cage all-around instead of plexiglass for sure.   But picker driver made a mistake too by turning into-toward tee area, that's a no-no at that distance- it can damage the vehicle. 

[GolfSpy_KFT]

Yikes! I have accidentally hit the ball picker before but never like that! Glad the guy was not injured!

[fixyurdivot]

2 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpVUHwtgaX9/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

Finch with a Beem at the range cart... Ever happen to you?

 

No, I shoot at those carts all the time and have yet to hit one .  I'll bet the ball retriever carts get whacked pretty regularly but not like that too often .  Many just have mesh cages surrounding the cab.  Probably still scares the heck out of the driver though.

[MacTourney]

Comparatively speaking, range ball pickers in protected-motorized carts have it made. 

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

11 hours ago, MacTourney said:

Comparatively speaking, range ball pickers in protected-motorized carts have it made. 

 

Pretty sure I know a few playing partners it would be helpful if I had this!

Should probably go a little lower just to be safe. 

[Merlin1313]

I've been the target in the cart and got smacked a few times. We didn't have all that protective gear on the cart(some of course but not as much). I KNOW there were a few golfers that always aimed for me- figured I was there for their amusement and good target practice. Glad no-one got hurt

[fixyurdivot]

I was watching a YT instruction video the other day, from Aussieland, and noticed in the background what looked like an automated ball sweeper. That peaked my curiosity and sure enough someone built a new mousetrap (no doubt there are others).  It's a great concept and likely competes well with the current standard, especially with higher labor rates. Anyone ever seen these in action?  

[tony@CIC]

3 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

I was watching a YT instruction video the other day, from Aussieland, and noticed in the background what looked like an automated ball sweeper. That peaked my curiosity and sure enough someone built a new mousetrap (no doubt there are others).  It's a great concept and likely competes well with the current standard, especially with higher labor rates. Anyone ever seen these in action?  

Saw on on TV some time ago. Not as much fun aiming at that 'device' vs the picker's cage. 

[Merlin1313]

2 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

Saw on on TV some time ago. Not as much fun aiming at that 'device' vs the picker's cage. 

Yeah- but I've been IN the pickers cage- not always so much fun there- but I ALWAYS knew it was gonna happen. So- to make it fun(ny) I'd put on a football helmet and basically taunt the folks up on the tee area- so I got what I deserved(asked for)

[Fred Mitchell]

After observing an offender intentionally trying to hit you exit the picker with a low loft driver and a full bucket of balls and some tees. Tee it up and watch the OH s*** look in his eyes

[BIG STU]

On 6/12/2023 at 9:40 PM, Fred Mitchell said:

After observing an offender intentionally trying to hit you exit the picker with a low loft driver and a full bucket of balls and some tees. Tee it up and watch the OH s*** look in his eyes

I actually did sorta a version of that. I was the mechanic at the local tourist trap executive course driving range up the street. The ball picker had broken down on the range. We were in the back corner trying to get it running. Now this is a range about 150 yards wide. These jack hats were deliberately hitting at us and laughing. We sent one of the range guys to tell them to hit to the other side. They basically responded FU and kept on. I had enough. I went to my truck and got my 1 iron and driver. I was a decent stick in those days and could hit a 1 iron. They rolled one up to us. I teed up the 1 iron and let fly. Now they were under the shelter and the ball hit on the concrete in front of the mats bounced and revibrated under the shelter. I sent the range guy up and he told them that was a 1 iron and the driver was next and I would take their heads off. They did move

Poetic justice --- They were building condos to the left of the range and had not extended the nets. The contractor had installed windows in the new units. That side of the range was roped off. This was at night and the young attendant told them it was closed. They went to hitting and breaking condo windows and threatened him. He called the manager who called the Police. The manager called me since I was closer. One of the local instructors had his camera set up going and filmed the whole thing. An unmarked Police car pulled in and got them on camera too. When I got there I recognized the guys as the same ones from the day before. They were arrested and handcuffed on the spot. Now they were out of state tourons. It was a holiday weekend so no magistrate until Tuesday. Needless to say the main owner has a lot of pull in this county. It had been a busy weekend and their hearing was the last one on Tuesday (ha ha). Bond was not set until damages were calculated. Here if you do malicious property damage and are from out of state you stay in until damages are paid for in cash. LOL they had to get someone from home to pay damages and the fine. I think they finally got out Friday

[StrokerAce]

if I ran a range and found someone intentionally aiming at the guy doing his job and picking up the balls so you can slice more of them I would ask you to leave in no uncertain terms and you wouldn't be allowed back.

accidental/unintentional - sure, it happens, but if you're aiming at em and sending lasers right into him that's horse sh*t.

... if I ran a range.

[Kenny B]

Our range picker always picks coming at you or going away; that's the longer direction so less turns involved than being a target in an arcade gallery.  Most balls are in the 50-200y range.  When the picker is coming at me or headed away and in the range of the club I'm using, I take a break or aim at the other side of the range.  The pickers are kids who also wrangle carts and the turnover rate is very high.  I try to keep them happy.

[MacTourney]

On 3/4/2023 at 10:26 AM, fixyurdivot said:

No, I shoot at those carts all the time and have yet to hit one .  I'll bet the ball retriever carts get whacked pretty regularly but not like that too often .  Many just have mesh cages surrounding the cab.  Probably still scares the heck out of the driver though.

Spent many a day and night on a picker- 7 gang pinned to a farm tractor.  Knowing my target status with the young punks I turned their actions into my benefit.  I would make a large elliptical orbit about 200+ yards out and it was amusing watching a bunch of folks repositioning themselves on the tee for target practice.  Velocities are a little lower out there and even though the tractor got plunked a few times there were so many balls collecting in one area by their misses it made my job easier timewise, so thanks guys!   I probably learned more about golf swings and their flights riding a tractor than being on a tee.   Only once really startled me when ball got through a tiny opening down low near my feet that it would be a one in several million chance of sneaking through- it did, no pain, but ball bounced around inside cage like a pinball.  Fun times, and you get used to the clang noise and after a while you don't even notice it much. 

[BIG STU]

11 hours ago, MacTourney said:

Spent many a day and night on a picker- 7 gang pinned to a farm tractor.  Knowing my target status with the young punks I turned their actions into my benefit.  I would make a large elliptical orbit about 200+ yards out and it was amusing watching a bunch of folks repositioning themselves on the tee for target practice.  Velocities are a little lower out there and even though the tractor got plunked a few times there were so many balls collecting in one area by their misses it made my job easier timewise, so thanks guys!   I probably learned more about golf swings and their flights riding a tractor than being on a tee.   Only once really startled me when ball got through a tiny opening down low near my feet that it would be a one in several million chance of sneaking through- it did, no pain, but ball bounced around inside cage like a pinball.  Fun times, and you get used to the clang noise and after a while you don't even notice it much. 

I had a similar set up on the range at the course my old man ran. 7 gang on a 47 Ford Furguson. It had a good home made cage but exactly like you described you could get bounce ups around the clutch and brake pedals. I got a bruised ankle one night from a freak hit. We ended up putting extensions or bat wings down and under. Solved that problem. LOL loved that old tractor and it was tough. I also pulled a 7 row pull gang mower with it. Sometimes I had to help the guys on the course mow

[BIG STU]

14 hours ago, Kenny B said:

Our range picker always picks coming at you or going away; that's the longer direction so less turns involved than being a target in an arcade gallery.  Most balls are in the 50-200y range.  When the picker is coming at me or headed away and in the range of the club I'm using, I take a break or aim at the other side of the range.  The pickers are kids who also wrangle carts and the turnover rate is very high.  I try to keep them happy.

I would be on the range at night when I worked at the pre described Tourist Trap. I knew all the kids who picked the range. We had an EZ-GO picker with the little pick up type bed. The kids used to play with me cruising out slow at 50 yards and letting me flip a 56* into the back of the bed. Now the clientele of tourist hackers in that place is unbelievable. I was doing that one night and one of the owners was out there highly amused. He was amused until this idiot decided to do the line drive thing with a driver. He hit the picker and the ball bounced back nearly hitting the owner. Then he was not amused he ran the guy off. He then told me it was funny what we were doing but it gave some idiots bad ideas. So we never did that anymore. The owner did add that one idiot can spoil fun for others. But yeah as a general rule I do like you do because seriously you never know what will or can happen. Last thing I want to do is hurt someone or tear up equipment.

There used to be another range just up the street but it now has houses on it. The owner himself (who I knew well) was picking one night and the tourons kept firing at him despite him asking them not to do so. He finally got mad and shut the lights off and closed the range. He did that or instructed his staff to do so from then on. He did not care he had money anyhow. Someone said when he closed that his attitude led to his closing. I told them BS that was when we had the housing boom here in 04 05. He got 2.5 million for that land. I was working at the Tourist trap at the time and we bought all the balls and equipment for their range on the North End of the Beach. LOL I brokered that deal and got a little chunk of change and a range mat I have in my backyard to this day

Edited June 16, 2023 by BIG STU

[MacTourney]

7 hours ago, BIG STU said:

...loved that old tractor and it was tough. I also pulled a 7 row pull gang mower with it. Sometimes I had to help the guys on the course mow

Powerful little toys they are, we had Ford, Massey, Deere and Belarus with Ford doing the most work.    I'm sure you have lots of great stories.   When time was short we sometimes took off the outside 2 gangs and did both at same time-  pull a wide deck mower behind and the ball picker in front.  Miss those days too.  

[BIG STU]

On 6/16/2023 at 8:56 AM, MacTourney said:

Powerful little toys they are, we had Ford, Massey, Deere and Belarus with Ford doing the most work.    I'm sure you have lots of great stories.   When time was short we sometimes took off the outside 2 gangs and did both at same time-  pull a wide deck mower behind and the ball picker in front.  Miss those days too.  

I did the same thing with mine but did not take the outside gangs off. Had to run in 2nd gear. In the summer the engine would get a little warm. Would stop by the lake or creek good excuse to throw a line in. Yep I carried a little Zebco 202 on that tractor and my golf cart

[ballhawk]

   Picker is safe from this guy..............

[Cagolfer]

Looks like Finchey is trying to pop the face off of another driver.   I have accidentally done the same thing.  Luckily the cart had a steel cage.  Now I just try to land one into the basket when it drives by, regardless of the distance.  

[chris_]

There is a local club in AZ with some buildings about 50' lower than the tees at their range, which a net normally protects. Somehow a Coors truck drove out onto the range to turn around after his delivery and caught what sound like at least 5 balls before he made it out of there. 

[Shapotomous]

Who would want to pizz off the beer delivery guy?? That aint very forward thinkin'.  Were they Bud drinkers?!