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Originally Posted by LordEmery

Well, I got a couple things accomplished today. I called the course in question and talked to the head pro and explained to him the OB debate. This was his answer :
"No, those lines are drawn on the ground to keep carts and people out of the private property there, the ground crew is ordered to draw the lines out like that, the rule applies to all the tournaments played here also. I know, those stakes are a bit deceiving around that bend, but yes he was OB."

I told him it looks as though he just messed up on creating a straight line and he should have made a direct line between the stakes. He said "ya, sorry about that, we just have to keep people out of there."

So now I'm thinking why didn't they just move the stakes farther into the course and then draw the straight line? And I also don't blame him or any one of us four for considering that a messed up line that should have been drawn properly. Or staked further away from the property if it was so important to keep us out- then there would be no debate. But I guess you can blame us for not knowing the rules. OK, disqualify all four of us!

So, there was no money involved although these are serious golfers and he DID post his score in the CDGA (Chicago district golf ***.) for his handicap - which did a nice little plummet. Now the question arises - Do I still let him bask in the sun over his "greatest" round or do I throw a bit of ice water on him ??? ( ) >>>>> >>>>>

Originally Posted by TwillDog

Thanks for the follow-up, as disappointing as it is. The club is dropping the ball here. Lines should follow the stakes, not some arbitrary path on the ground. Most golfers understand that OB means OB and you can't drive your cart onto people's property in search of your ball. A crooked line to aid that cause is dumb. Also if you buy a house on a golf course, you know that people will consistently drive up to your property line in search of their ball. If you don't like strangers driving up to your property, DON'T BUY A HOUSE ON A GOLF COURSE! I'm amazed at people who think that it's been ok for them to walk up to someone's back yard to look for a ball for years, but when they buy the nice golf course house and it's their yard, it's taboo... The property line doesn't extend into the golf course property, so the line should be straight. If it does extend farther, move the entire OB inward and line it there. Or do what most courses do and only use the stakes to mark OB. Whatever the case, the club should do better than that.