Fall Leaves & Golf

When the leaves fall…

  • I find it annoying, but still play

    Votes: 49 74.2%
  • Impacts my choice of course and frequency of play

    Votes: 4 6.1%
  • Is a nonstarter, I won’t play

    Votes: 1 1.5%
  • Leaves fall? When? Where?

    Votes: 12 18.2%

  • Total voters
    66

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Finding your ball when the leaves fall can be challenging. Answer the poll with your best choice sentiment. Then expound below on how you feel and how you deal with the situation.
 
Leaves don't bother me and most of our trees are firs. Might have to search or even lose a ball here and there but no worries.
 
I remember playing in Massachusetts during the fall, it was not ideal. I don't have to deal with leaves much anymore but I think I would at least change the ball I used to save some money.
 
My club does a really good job clearing leaves. That said, I have been playing golf in the Northeast in the fall for so many years, I am used to playing with leaves on the ground. I just switch from yellow to white balls.
 
The golf courses around here are primarily pines. There are some eucalyptus trees mixed in but the leaves aren't too bad. So no big deal for me.
 
My course has a "Leaf Rule"
If you can't find your ball in the leaves, take a free drop in the area you last saw it.
 
Just an annoyance. If the weather is good enough that I'm still playing "bonus golf" when leaves are coming down, it's not a big deal.
 
Me and my buddies observe the leaf rule. If it's not in the woods and we agree where it was then you get a no stroke drop.
 
Hate it but still play. Hate hitting a drive center cut in the fairway and losing it in a pile of leaves.
 
Fall golf is one of favorite time of year to play. I have dealt with fallen leaves on public courses - if I find the ball, clear the leaves and move on. If not, take a free drop approximately near where you know it went.

Luckily my club is more pines than deciduous trees and the grounds crew is usually pretty good at keeping the leaves that do fall off the fairway and off to the sides or into the woods.
 
It's annoying but is what it is, all I'm trying to do is get in rounds because it gets too cold and wet for my tastes. We have a local rule that says if you are sure you lost your ball in the leaves, it's a free drop as long as everyone in the group is ok with it. there shouldn't be penalties because our local maintenance guys can't keep up with all the leaves, a nearly impossible and thankless job.
 
It's just a fact of life, if you want to continue playing past early September. We observe the leaf rule too and take a free drop if lost in the leaves.

If you can't play with leaves on the ground, the season is awfully short 😀
 
It's a real issue where I live. Lots of deciduous trees and most of the courses around here are full of them. While I appreciate the effort some course put in to clear the leaves, it's just impossible during certain times of the year to keep up with it. The fall rains sometimes make it so the fairway and rough are going to be taller and obscure the ball's location in addition to the accumulated leaves. I will tend to play an optic green ball during this time of year to increase the chances of finding my ball.

It doesn't stop me from playing, but is a consideration in what courses I play.
 
it's annoying but I generally play with a ball that I know I might lose and I don't spend too much time looking for it. It is what it is.
 
It's just a fact of life, if you want to continue playing past early September. We observe the leaf rule too and take a free drop if lost in the leaves.

If you can't play with leaves on the ground, the season is awfully short 😀
Also, other than the leaves, the weather is basically perfect in the fall. It's generally the driest season and the temp is always nice.
 
I’m playing a couple of rounds next week and chose where I was going to play based on avoiding leaves
 
It's just a fact of life, if you want to continue playing past early September. We observe the leaf rule too and take a free drop if lost in the leaves.

If you can't play with leaves on the ground, the season is awfully short 😀
Nailed it.
 
Definitely annoying, but gotta still get out and play.
 
Also, other than the leaves, the weather is basically perfect in the fall. It's generally the driest season and the temp is always nice.
my favorite time of the year for just about anything. im not at all a heat person. Love the fall season. Other than the leaves and also the earlier sunsets. But give me the rest of it whether wise. And also the foliage before its all falls makes for some beautiful scenery on the courses (or really anywhere).
 
Fall golf is the best. Leaves are a minor inconvenience. Plus when its colder we switch to bourbon.
Might be my favorite time of year.
 
Leaves are just another course condition for the golfer to deal with. Play it how you find it.

If anything, when paying your green fee, ask the employee if there's a local rule in effect. 3 minute search, then a free drop is a good answer.
 
Its still better than trying to play in the snow. Been there done that.

It was when in college and there were no green fees. So no loss. Just made for a miserable time trying to find the ball. You had to look for holes where the ball entered the snow.
 
Usually we are losing balls in the middle of the fairway this time of year. But we had like 4 days of really windy conditions when the leaves started falling, and most blew away or were on the ground and the ground crew cleaned up most of them. Course closes on the 15th, and still is beautiful. Still just enough time to get in 9 after work.

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No falling leaves out in Phoenix! lol
 
Fall rules in effect. You can play a cheap ball like a Warbird or Wilson Smartcore off the tee, and switch for the approach if you desire. If people know your ball should be in play and it cant be found where they saw it go, drop, no penalty. Not hunting for balls keeps play moving and doesn't cost a fortune.
 
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