Golf Watch

Introduction
Welcome to Golf Watch. Golf Watch is an initiative set up to help Golf Clubs guard against theft, increase the chance of recovering stolen property and strengthen relationships between you and the Safer Vale Partnership. Like Neighbourhood Watch, it relies on reporting incidents and circulating information.

Suggestions for Golfers
Many of the following suggestions are common sense and you may well already undertake them at home or in your business, but do you think about applying them before you go to play Golf?

Ensure your home is secure, windows closed and doors locked, put the alarm on

• Tell someone where you are going and when you will return
• Are your clubs property marked? If not then consider post coding, forensic solutions and photography
• Don’t take valuable personal items with you onto the course
• Limit the amount of cash you have with you
• Park your car where it can be seen by others, not in a dark out of the way place, don’t leave valuables in the car. 
• Remove any marks on your windows that show a Sat Nav has been used.
• Alarm your car, consider fitting a tracking device, look after your keys
• If you are faced with a potential attacker, shout and scream – let them know what they are up against!
• Don’t flaunt your wealth
  

Top 7 tips

Step 1

A left-behind club has a better chance of reuniting with its owner if it's labeled. A regular address label works. Even better is one with your name and phone number on it. Since they're exposed to use and weather, cover the label with clear tape (like you use on packages

Step 2
Often golfers take several clubs out to their ball to be sure of having the right one. Place the clubs out of the way of the shot, but in line with where you will walk next. That keeps you from forgetting them.

Step 3
On the green, determine the direct line from the hole back to the cart. Place the extra clubs on that line. Another strategy is to place the clubs with the flag stick when it is pulled.

Step 4
When playing out of a sand bunker, place the extra club(s) with the sand rake.

Step 5
Check at the pro shop and cart barn after losing a club. It may get turned in by an honest golfer or groundskeeper. Give them your phone number. Call back several times to check.

Step 6

To prevent theft of the golf clubs, use generic club covers. Keeping the name brand club covers advertises the expensive clubs that tempt a thief.

Step 7

When parking the golf cart at the clubhouse, park with other golf carts. Don't park in an isolated spot. Backing into a parking space puts the clubs closer to the building and less available to anyone passing along the cart path or road.  If you have a rain canopy for the club area of the cart, pull it down to screen the club tops. This makes the clubs less visible and less convenient to a passing thief.