Golf Equipment Theft Exploding

Lock up your Berthas!

The days of leaving your golf bag unattended at the golf course are becoming a distant memory. Golf equipment theft has become a real problem for both golfers and pro shops. With the value of clubs now easily exceeding $2000.00 per set and in many cases $500.00 for a driver, it has simply become much too tempting for thieves to resist.

Golf courses across the country, both public and private, are issuing warnings to their members not to leave their clubs unattended. According to a recent estimate from Claim Card Inc., an insurance replacement service, golf club theft has exceeded $100 million annually.

Edwin Watts Golf Shops, the largest golf equipment retailer in the country, have been the victim of numerous smash and grabs. Their response has been a $100,000 reward for evidence leading to the conviction of thieves who have knocked them off. They have gone so far as to lock their expensive inventory in a vault each night and take it back out in the morning.

Golf courses have been negatively impacted by this growing theft trend because golfers (rightly or wrongly), expect the club to protect their equipment. When it gets stolen, the first thing they do is go to the pro or the club manager and demand that their equipment be replaced. A course in New York was reportedly held liable for such an occurrence and there have been numerous "out of court" settlements reported in both the U.S. and Canada .

Clubs are taking steps to counter the problem, but it is difficult. The golf club environment is built on trust and respect, which yields a perfect situation for thieves to take advantage of. Thieves simply walk on the course dressed in golf attire, choose the equipment they want to steal, and walk off without being bothered. It is much easier than stealing a car stereo, a bicycle (most of which are locked) or breaking into a house. And simply putting your clubs in your car after a round is no longer a safe solution either, especially with the proliferation of mini vans and SUV's that have windows and no trunks. Thieves can simply smash the window and walk off with your clubs. Oddly enough, when cars are stolen, the owner may get his car back, but his clubs won't be in it.

What is driving this upswing in theft? Obviously, the increasing value of clubs is a major cause, but the game is now attracting a wider demographic than ever before, which has meant a larger black market for stolen clubs. In addition, golf clubs can be easily fenced on the Internet or to an unsuspecting or unsavory reseller within 48 hours. There is no shortage of people who are looking for a deal on expensive clubs.