"What Lies Beneath"

[fozcycle]

I just read an article in the Feb '13 edition of Golf magazine...."What Lies Beneath"

 

The story chronicles the adventures of diving for golfballs. As I read along, it mentioned both Lexington Oaks, located in Wesley Chapel, FL where I live and Pebble Creek, located in New Tampa where I play every week. It was a very interesting article about the diver (Wes Stanfield). I have never met him, but have seen him diving the local ponds at Pebble Creek.

 

It got me to wonder, How many of you actually buy & play used golfballs?

 

Can you actually notice a difference when you play a "refurbished ball"?

 

I do not purchase the "recycled balls ", but I have a retriever and usually pick up a couple good balls when I play. Currently, I have 2 5 gallon buckets full. I used to go to the local range and contribute a bag of used balls on a regular basis....but that stopped last summer when they closed the range and built an apartment complex.

[revkev]

I saw the story too Foz - perhaps you should contribute those balls by hitting them through the windows at the new complex alla Tiger and Rory from the commercial.

 

I've never played Pebble Creek - Lexington Oaks is nice enough - how is Pebble Creek? Cool to play regularly at a place where the story takes place but a little scary to know what's out there in those ponds. My course is notorious for its rattle snakes - I see them a few times each season - I've seen some 8 footers coiled and ready to strike up way, way too close and we've had at least one person get bitten, in my league in fact, he was very fortunate that it was a dry bite. I guess the huge sign that said warning rattle snakes and the noise weren't obvious enough for him. I think there was beer involved.

[RoverRick]

I have played "recycled" vs "refurbished" golf balls for about 3 years. I often get almost new Pro V1x for less than $1.50 each. They are just fine. The refurbished golf balls are not the same, but as much golf as I play, my golf expenses would double if I bought brand new Pro V1x's every time.

 

I do not lose a lot of balls but they do not last forever.

[fozcycle]

I usually see at least one gator every week @ Pebble Creek.

 

The course is tight with water on 17 holes. Currently, we still have a few bald spots in a couple fairways, from the deluge of rain in October. All the greens are elevated and are putting very fast. Ace golf is the owner and about 2 years ago, they acquired two clubs in Pinellas Cty, Wentworth & Crescent Oaks. Both tacks are fun to play with Wentworth being the most difficult. They were private clubs that went belly up.

 

Last month, there was a gator(10 footer) sunbathing on the edge of the 17th Senior Tee. I was glad I was playing from the Whites...LOL At Pebble Creek, we have been averaging 30+ golfers in our Saturday game.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Never tried refurbished balls. Will play a recycled ball if I happen to find it on the course. Generally play inexpensive balls mixed with ProV1x's I get from work...

[fozcycle]

I have played "recycled" vs "refurbished" golf balls for about 3 years. I often get almost new Pro V1x for less than $1.50 each. They are just fine. The refurbished golf balls are not the same, but as much golf as I play, my golf expenses would double if I bought brand new Pro V1x's every time.

 

I do not lose a lot of balls but they do not last forever.

 

 

I understand that the "Refurbbed" balls are actually stripped and repainted. Guess that may take something off the original finish.

 

I usually do not lose many balls.....however, this week I put two new NXT Tour S balls in the ponds at Babe Zahairias GC......and still managed to score an 84.

[RoverRick]

I saw the story too Foz - perhaps you should contribute those balls by hitting them through the windows at the new complex alla Tiger and Rory from the commercial.

 

I've never played Pebble Creek - Lexington Oaks is nice enough - how is Pebble Creek? Cool to play regularly at a place where the story takes place but a little scary to know what's out there in those ponds. My course is notorious for its rattle snakes - I see them a few times each season - I've seen some 8 footers coiled and ready to strike up way, way too close and we've had at least one person get bitten, in my league in fact, he was very fortunate that it was a dry bite. I guess the huge sign that said warning rattle snakes and the noise weren't obvious enough for him. I think there was beer involved.

 

Rattlesnakes are my favorite snake. I like a little warning before I screw up. The cotton mouth water moccasins is my second favorite snake because often you can smell them. Copperheads neither smell nor make a sound will bite you several times not just once so they are my least favorite snake. All these can be found on our golf course but the rattler is not that common on the course.

 

Copperheads and Watermoccasins are very common and there was one in the hole on number 7 a couple of months ago. Sadly, he gave his live so that I might retrieve my ball. Not sure it was really a he. It was small though.

[Rickles]

I have played "recycled" vs "refurbished" golf balls for about 3 years. I often get almost new Pro V1x for less than $1.50 each. They are just fine. The refurbished golf balls are not the same, but as much golf as I play, my golf expenses would double if I bought brand new Pro V1x's every time.

 

I do not lose a lot of balls but they do not last forever.

Apparently great Ricks think alike yet again. I am in complete agreement with everything said here. Do not get refurbished go and get the AAAAA grade recycled on Ebay of whatever ball you play. For me that's the Pro V1X. Most of the time you wouldn't know it wasn't new. Thats all I play with. Usually I get a hundred box for Christmas and that lasts close to a year.

[Rickles]

Never tried refurbished balls. Will play a recycled ball if I happen to find it on the course. Generally play inexpensive balls mixed with ProV1x's I get from work...

Can a I get a part time job where you work? Will work for new Pro V1X's

[fozcycle]

The cover of Golf magazine used to term "The most dangerous job in Golf"

 

They ought to do an episode on "Dirty Jobs"

[revkev]

I usually see at least one gator every week @ Pebble Creek.

 

The course is tight with water on 17 holes. Currently, we still have a few bald spots in a couple fairways, from the deluge of rain in October. All the greens are elevated and are putting very fast. Ace golf is the owner and about 2 years ago, they acquired two clubs in Pinellas Cty, Wentworth & Crescent Oaks. Both tacks are fun to play with Wentworth being the most difficult. They were private clubs that went belly up.

 

Last month, there was a gator(10 footer) sunbathing on the edge of the 17th Senior Tee. I was glad I was playing from the Whites...LOL At Pebble Creek, we have been averaging 30+ golfers in our Saturday game.

 

Oh yeah that's a great group - I love Wentworth actually, the course fits me eye and they are doing a very nice job of restoring it, the Irish pub is to die for. I didn't like Crescent Oaks quite as well but to be fair I've only played there once and that was in a scramble on a rainy day - not a fair assesemnt plus they were doing tons of work on it at the time. Wasn't Pebble Creek their first project?

 

It's funny, we rarely see gators over here on our courses although they most certainly are here - I think it's because the courses that I play are so near salt water that even the ponds are more brackish than fresh water. I have to say that I'm a huge fan of Florida Wildlife, lots of relatively safe up close and personal encounters with stuff you'd only see in a zoo elsewhere. Not a big fan of pigmy rattlers or water mocasins though because they could actually cause some damage even when one is acting responsibly.

[fozcycle]

Oh yeah that's a great group - I love Wentworth actually, the course fits me eye and they are doing a very nice job of restoring it, the Irish pub is to die for. I didn't like Crescent Oaks quite as well but to be fair I've only played there once and that was in a scramble on a rainy day - not a fair assesemnt plus they were doing tons of work on it at the time. Wasn't Pebble Creek their first project?

 

 

Yes, they were a Driving Range Group, then acquired Pebble Creek about a dozen years ago. Wentworth is the one I really like, but i can't get the Saturday guys to play there very often.....they don't like the 40 min drive and the course is much more difficult.I like it as you don't have to be a John Daly to score on it....you do have to be accurate as the fairways have some pretty tight turns. Crescent oaks is a fair track....we usually get over there a couple times a year. As for Mulligan's Irish Pub.....it started at Pebble Creek. Now they have one at Wentworth as well. Matter of fac, my Wed night dinner group (about 12 people) ate their last night at Pebble Creek. Great beer and their Irish Nachos are terrific!