Getting my ball

[JustAPal00]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

Is it a crime to walk onto someones yard to get your ball if there is a "No Trespassing" sign there? I was playing golf yesterday and hit a ball into someones yard who lived along the course. When I went to get my ball I noticed the sign and went back onto the course without my ball. I realize I am liable for any damage I do if my ball breaks something, but don't I have the right to retrieve my property? When you live next to a golf course don't you have to expect that stray balls might enter your yard and people come to retrieve them?

 

[CraigFL]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

...When you live next to a golf course don't you have to expect that stray balls might enter your yard and people come to retrieve them?

I believe this is why they put up the "No Tresspassing" sign. They probably are tired of the extra traffic through their yard as well as the damage done by a few of the inconsiderate people...

 

[JustAPal00]

For what it's worth, I live next to a different course and have lived next to a golf course over half my life(24 of 44 years). Traffic from golfers isn't even noticeable! We probably get 4 or 5 balls a weekend in our yard, and where this guy was located I would bet less! The reason this person has this sign up is not because of “wear and tear” on his yard, but because he has a problem! Golf balls do damage, golfers walking on the grass do not! I was trying to find on line if it was a criminal act to walk in his yard, or if he would have to sue in civil court. I could not find it and thought maybe someone knew the answer.

 

[CraigFL]

...Traffic from golfers isn't even noticeable! ...Golf balls do damage, golfers walking on the grass do not!....

You have to understand that this is what YOU believe and doesn't really apply to all golfers-- especially since you don't know all of them personally. The first thing that comes to my mind is that this homeowner might have an underground sprinkler system or electronic pet fence and you're out there walking around with your spiked shoes. What I am sure of is that it can be very difficult to prosecute tresspassers unless you have signs and this person does...

 

[JustAPal00]

Only professional golfers wear spiked shoes anymore, they now have little plastic grippers on the bottom. As I said before, golf balls hitting things do damage, a golfer walking on your grass does not. Now if that golfer decides to hit their ball out of your yard then they may tear up some grass. In the 24 years of living next to golf courses, that has only happened a couple times! The question is can you walk onto private property to retrieve your property that inadvertantly lands there? Let's say your mail blows out of your hand and lands in the neighbors grass, can you go get it if there is a no trespassing sign?

 

[ErinGoBragh]

Trespassing is trespassing, regardless of circumstances.

 

[lealea1005]

JustAPa100, you may be considerate, but some other golfers are not. I grew up about 50 yards from the 4th green. The golf course is separated from my parent's property by a split rail fence. I cannot tell you how many times, with my family sitting in the backyard watching, a golfer gets out of the cart, removes the rails of the fence and drives the cart well into my parent's property to hit the ball back onto the green. They drive right back onto the course with out replacing the rails.

My parents were forced to put a "No Trespassing" sign on their property line because the carts were making deep ruts and mowing the grass was becoming a hazard for my father. The sign is disregarded, for the post part, by the golfers.

Just my 2 cents.