Those Feral Golf Balls

Golfers often find balls lost by other players. Nestled in deep rough or hiding in brush, these balls are fair game for whoever finds them. Unfortunately they come with drawbacks. Here's how to play with a found ball (one that's feral).
Remove any dirt, leaves, etc. from the found ball with a golf towel. Clean it better with a ball washer on the cart or at one of the tee areas. This is the first step to rehabilitating a feral ball (one that's gone wild).
A discolored ball that does not "clean up" probably was in water or soil for an extended period of time. It's uncertain whether this affects its playability. It may try to hide in the woods or water because it is ashamed of its appearance.
Put your own marks on the ball. Some golfers use a combination of dots or mark their initials. Don't try to cover the marks of the former owner with Liquid Paper or Wite Out. Although you may find their marks distracting, the white coating just comes off when the ball gets wet. If you're worried about a playing partner recognizing and reclaiming their ball, this seldom happens. It is now your ball, at least temporarily.
Multiple markings in varied colors indicate the ball has been lost several times. Consider carefully whether you want to play with a ball that's on its third owner. Multiple markings show that it is either unlucky or is truly feral. Such a ball will return to the woods or water at the first opportunity.
Place a feral ball with balls in the cart or golf bag. Don't play it right away. This gives it time to become re-domesticated. Unfortunately association with the feral ball sometimes incites wild behavior in other balls. It's safest to use feral balls on holes without many hazards. This prevents the ball from bolting for the woods or diving into a lake. If you ignore this guideline, it is likely the feral ball won't stay in your possession very long.
Even with great vigilance on the part of the golfer, a feral ball often finds places to hide. Spots to search for the newly escaped ball include deep grass, sprinkler heads and even plugged in sand traps or in dirt. Sometimes a golf ball repeatedly ends up in the woods or out of bounds. I recommend the three-strikes-and-you're-out treatment for such a ball. Even if you keep finding it, it's behavior shows that deep down it is feral. Release such a ball deep into the wild, so another golfer won't find it and suffer as its owner.

Story ID:	4471
Written by:	Virginia Allain (bio, link, contact, other stories)
Organization:	none
Story type:	Musings, Essays and Such
Location:	Poinciana Florida USA
Year:	2008
Person:	golfing