Theft at the golf course

[John Kavanaugh]

Myself I dont know how to do this but should we consider setting up a go fund me page for Will as it is the Christmas season?

Please, it's not like it was a Pepsi.

John,


You're correct. It was a Coke...

Now we’re getting serious. Irreplaceable.

[John_Cullum]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144342863240?hash=item219b814d88%3Ag%3A2u0AAOSwd05hxQBX&LH_Auction=1


Watch this auction. This will establish the true replacement cost. If there are no bids the price is too high.


I see one on buy it now for $11,975.00. That's a pretty good deal if the condition is right.

[Lou_Duran]

My mobile phone was "lost" at Spanish Bay when the caddies transferred my clubs from my SwiftX to theirs.  I used it in the pro shop right before the round, put it in my bag with my wallet, but it never made it back when they put my clubs back.  I had the resort looking for it for three days but it never showed up.

[Daryl David]

My mobile phone was "lost" at Spanish Bay when the caddies transferred my clubs from my SwiftX to theirs.  I used it in the pro shop right before the round, put it in my bag with my wallet, but it never made it back when they put my clubs back.  I had the resort looking for it for three days but it never showed up.

Couldn’t use the “find my phone” capability?  Happened to my wife last year and we fired up the locater. Found it in one of the carts in the barn even after the club told us all the carts had been checked.

[JohnVDB]

I got a set of the Apple AirTags and have put on of them in the bottom of my golf bag. If it goes missing, I’ll be able to track it.  It is also real nice when you fly to get off the plane and see that your clubs made the flight with you.

[SL_Solow]

I read these posts and I remember fondly, but with some continuing disbelief, a very good player I used to play with in the 80's at a municipal course in the north shore suburbs of Chicago  This was just before metal "woods" took over and obsoleted persimmon. Charley played with a set of clubs that included a set of MacGregor persimmon Tommy Armour woods circa 1949 with the original shafts.  His irons came from the first production run that Ben Hogan allowed to be sold when he founded the Hogan company.  His sand wedge was unexceptional (I used to kid him about it) but his putter was a Wilson 8802 by Arnold Palmer.  Other than the sand wedge, every element of his set was a valuable collector's item.  Charley routinely leaned them against the clubhouse wall before and after rounds.  He viewed them as no more than "his clubs".  Nothing ever happened.  A different time and place I suppose. 

[John McCarthy]

In the early 90s when the titanium drivers took off thieves used to pull up to bag drops and toss them into the trunks.  There were also a few well organized mass thefts from big box golf stores where a stolen car would drive in through the plate glass in front and grab all the drivers.  Much better payoff than sticking up a gas station for $85 dollars and simple theft, not armed robbery which can catch you 10 years.

[Mark Smolens]

I read these posts and I remember fondly, but with some continuing disbelief, a very good player I used to play with in the 80's at a municipal course in the north shore suburbs of Chicago  This was just before metal "woods" took over and obsoleted persimmon. Charley played with a set of clubs that included a set of MacGregor persimmon Tommy Armour woods circa 1949 with the original shafts.  His irons came from the first production run that Ben Hogan allowed to be sold when he founded the Hogan company.  His sand wedge was unexceptional (I used to kid him about it) but his putter was a Wilson 8802 by Arnold Palmer.  Other than the sand wedge, every element of his set was a valuable collector's item.  Charley routinely leaned them against the clubhouse wall before and after rounds.  He viewed them as no more than "his clubs".  Nothing ever happened.  A different time and place I suppose.

Some time in the early 90s a golf pro buddy of mine purchased a set of Callaway X-16 prototypes from a friend of Billy Andrade's (for whom Callaway built the clubs in an attempt to convince him to come over from Titleist). They were the X-16s but had the X-14 stamps on the back. They were too flat for Mike, so he sold them to me. Used them once, at my boss's club on the South Side (Ridge CC). Hit 16 greens and shot 76 (which is pretty darn good for a chop like me).


When we finished the round, I was going to walk over to my unlocked car with my caddy to put the clubs away, but the other two guests had valeted their cars and the valet was away from his post (I never felt it appropriate to valet my Saturn with 150k miles on it. Once a trunk slammer, always a trunk slammer. After a few minutes of chatter, we simply put our clubs on the bag rack. After a nice dinner, came out to find that one set of clubs was missing... Pretty sure the guy who stole my clubs didn't get close to fair value for the resale. Won't leave my clubs on the bag rack again.

[Jeff Schley]

No experience with golf theft, but I equate it to snow ski theft as they have a ski rack to put your skis and poles outside the halfway hut and then outside the lodge.  At beaver Creek, both me and my friend had our skis taken from the lodge.  It was after we had bought a ski tote which has a lock on it.  Did we use it that day?  No. 


However my skis were cheap and the thief didn't get much for them if anything as I bought them at sportmart (remember them) for like $500 bucks.  It was just when locks started to become common.  The trust and honor system while honorable 99% of the time around the world, it only takes once.

[Tommy Naccarato]

Apple Air Tag would come in really handy here.


Most always keep their phone on their person.  Even if it’s on vibrate (if you’re at a private club) then it’ll go off the second the Apple tag goes out of Bluetooth range and it will follow it by locating it with anyone that has their iPhone on and registered to Find My iPhone that’s nearby.


Cost: $29.95….

[Tommy Naccarato]

I got a set of the Apple AirTags and have put on of them in the bottom of my golf bag. If it goes missing, I’ll be able to track it.  It is also real nice when you fly to get off the plane and see that your clubs made the flight with you.

Just saw this!  Air Tags work! 

[JohnVDB]

I got a set of the Apple AirTags and have put on of them in the bottom of my golf bag. If it goes missing, I’ll be able to track it.  It is also real nice when you fly to get off the plane and see that your clubs made the flight with you.

Just saw this!  Air Tags work!

They do. 


My girlfriend and I went to Iceland this summer.  I had purchased a four-pack ($100 w/ free engraving) and given one to her.  When we cleared immigration, my bags were just coming out on the conveyor.  After a couple of minutes I told her to check where her bag was.  It was still in Newark.  We went straight over to the airline’s luggage counter and got things sorted so that it arrived the next day.   


The benefit of the tag was that we didn’t have to stand there for another 30:minutes watching bags come out, go over there and have them start checking.  She could show them where it was and beat the line of anyone else whose bags didn’t arrive.

[Mark Chaplin]

Very sad story but you wouldn’t leave $10k in cash in your good bag yet as a caddie I see expensive watches going into golf bags all the time. My fear as a caddie if it goes missing you know where the blame is coming, even as a former senior police officer.


Basically never take an expensive watch to golf if you take it off to play.

[jeffwarne]

Basically never take an expensive watch to golf if you take it off to play.

That was kind've my first thought when I saw the post.
33 years ago I played golf on my honeymoon and my wife tagged along.
On the first tee I took off my wedding ring and put it into the smallest pocket in my bag.
My wife stopped me and said "learn to play with it on", and I did, which took about 5 holes.
I guarantee you I would've lost multiple ones by now if I hadn't followed that advice.

[archie_struthers]

 


not a new phenomenon though I feel for anyone who has been a victim.


Trevino used to tell that story about the bookies getting robbed in Texas and my favorite caddie story remains the theft at Woodcrest CC  (circa 1970)


so be careful out there kids

[Ian Mackenzie]

My only surprise is that this kind of stuff doesn't happen more often.

Golf bags have always been an easy target, with clubhouses and pro shops banning bringing them in, often left alone for several minutes at a time (or longer).  Combine that with peeps letting their guard down as they look to leave their worries at home and enjoy a day on the links and its easy pickings for even the dumbest of petty theft yucksters...

+1


If you are at a public-access course and you leave valuables in your golf bag unattended, then you have made a mistake. Sorry, doesn't matter if it's at a nice course with the word "Pine" in it. Dip-shits are more common today than in years past.


Where else do you do that?


Work? No.
Supermarket? No.
Restaurant? No.


Sadly, whenever you are out in the "Gen Pop", you need to prepare accordingly and, in this day and age, assume the worst.


Cynical? Yes.
Practical? You bet.

[George Smiltins]

How well do you know all the people on this trip? Just sayin...

[Rick Sides]

Will,
That sucks man !  So sorry to hear. Go on a few sites and look like Facebook market in that area, postmark, eBay, real real. See if anyone is selling : good luck

[Rick Sides]

Correction,, poshmark

[Jason Connor]

Sorry to hear this. 


Agree that I usually feel my things are safe at nice clubs too.


On a lighter note I did once observe a fox steal a guy’s head over.


I was on 10 green in SLC and a single was teeing off on 9. I watched the fox (that had followed me from the clubhouse all the way down #10 wanting a cracker) go over to 9 tee, take his head cover that was laying on the tee behind the guy, and slink off.


When the guy hit and turned for it and saw it was missing, I whistled to him and pointed out the fox, then 50 yards away.

[Rick Sides]

Any luck Will?

[Will Spivey]

Everyone, thanks for the feedback (well, except maybe for the "did you see what she was wearing? She was asking for it" feedback  ).


It is sad to hear so many tales of woe from what I'm sure most of us consider a sanctuary. To close the loop and answer a few of questions asked of me here:


-The watch has not been recovered. I have filed a police report, registered it as stolen with Rolex and filed an insurance claim.
-Sadly, the insurance, though sold to me by my agent as an "inflation policy" is only going to cover about 1/3 the current market value of the watch. Tough lesson to learn on my first ever personal items insurance claim.
-I never actually "left" my bag unattended. The valuables pouch was taken from my bag while I was never more than 30 yards max from my bag, on the practice putting green or while being briefed by the starter. As I reflect on what happened I was almost certainly "cased."
-The day of the incident Pine Needles was great. Since then they've been (shockingly) unresponsive. I have offered a reward, etc., and they agreed to post signs, etc. Since they won't call me back I have no idea if they've done this or not.
-Normally, I would not have that watch in my bag, it would be in my room, in a safe. However, this was the last day of trip and we had checked out of the hotel.. I could have left it in my car, but before this I thought it would be safer with me than unattended in a parking lot.
-Thanks for the links to auctions, etc. I am tracking ones as they come available, but I likely won't replace it. I purchased that watch as marker of a professional achievement after starting my own company over 15 years ago and finally getting to profitability.
-I hope whomever took it is afflicted with a horrendous case of the yips (both chipping and putting) for the rest of their life!


Here's a better 2022.


Thanks all.

[Rob Marshall]

Everyone, thanks for the feedback (well, except maybe for the "did you see what she was wearing? She was asking for it" feedback  ).


It is sad to hear so many tales of woe from what I'm sure most of us consider a sanctuary. To close the loop and answer a few of questions asked of me here:


-The watch has not been recovered. I have filed a police report, registered it as stolen with Rolex and filed an insurance claim.
-Sadly, the insurance, though sold to me by my agent as an "inflation policy" is only going to cover about 1/3 the current market value of the watch. Tough lesson to learn on my first ever personal items insurance claim.
-I never actually "left" my bag unattended. The valuables pouch was taken from my bag while I was never more than 30 yards max from my bag, on the practice putting green or while being briefed by the starter. As I reflect on what happened I was almost certainly "cased."
-The day of the incident Pine Needles was great. Since then they've been (shockingly) unresponsive. I have offered a reward, etc., and they agreed to post signs, etc. Since they won't call me back I have no idea if they've done this or not.
-Normally, I would not have that watch in my bag, it would be in my room, in a safe. However, this was the last day of trip and we had checked out of the hotel.. I could have left it in my car, but before this I thought it would be safer with me than unattended in a parking lot.
-Thanks for the links to auctions, etc. I am tracking ones as they come available, but I likely won't replace it. I purchased that watch as marker of a professional achievement after starting my own company over 15 years ago and finally getting to profitability.
-I hope whomever took it is afflicted with a horrendous case of the yips (both chipping and putting) for the rest of their life!


Here's a better 2022.


Thanks all.

Insurance is interesting Will. I am under the impression that mine covers full replacement value. I need to check that. Rolex sports models are an interesting animal. How many watches do you know that go up in value?

[Will Spivey]

Everyone, thanks for the feedback (well, except maybe for the "did you see what she was wearing? She was asking for it" feedback  ).


It is sad to hear so many tales of woe from what I'm sure most of us consider a sanctuary. To close the loop and answer a few of questions asked of me here:


-The watch has not been recovered. I have filed a police report, registered it as stolen with Rolex and filed an insurance claim.
-Sadly, the insurance, though sold to me by my agent as an "inflation policy" is only going to cover about 1/3 the current market value of the watch. Tough lesson to learn on my first ever personal items insurance claim.
-I never actually "left" my bag unattended. The valuables pouch was taken from my bag while I was never more than 30 yards max from my bag, on the practice putting green or while being briefed by the starter. As I reflect on what happened I was almost certainly "cased."
-The day of the incident Pine Needles was great. Since then they've been (shockingly) unresponsive. I have offered a reward, etc., and they agreed to post signs, etc. Since they won't call me back I have no idea if they've done this or not.
-Normally, I would not have that watch in my bag, it would be in my room, in a safe. However, this was the last day of trip and we had checked out of the hotel.. I could have left it in my car, but before this I thought it would be safer with me than unattended in a parking lot.
-Thanks for the links to auctions, etc. I am tracking ones as they come available, but I likely won't replace it. I purchased that watch as marker of a professional achievement after starting my own company over 15 years ago and finally getting to profitability.
-I hope whomever took it is afflicted with a horrendous case of the yips (both chipping and putting) for the rest of their life!


Here's a better 2022.


Thanks all.

Insurance is interesting Will. I am under the impression that mine covers full replacement value. I need to check that. Rolex sports models are an interesting animal. How many watches do you know that go up in value?

The answer is not too many. Certain Rolexes (Daytona, GMT and Submariner) have gone crazy the last few years. Most other "normal" swiss watches (IWC, Breitling, Omega, etc.) haven't lost much value. The appreciation on my GMT was obscene -- literally 5x what I paid in 2003. Do check your policy. My agent (soon to be former agent...) told me Personal Articles Policies are "stated value policies," not replacement cost/appraised value policies. Double check!

[David Wuthrich]

Being in the Insurance Industry, I can tell you that there are many different types of coverage available.  I promise that you can get coverage for true replacement cost, but it will come from the "high end" carriers (i.e. Chubb, PURE, AIG, Vault) but your premiums will be higher.  It is truly you get what you pay for and I can say from experience that I am glad that I paid a little more on the front end to be fully covered when I did have a loss.