south florida How to get a line in a golf course pond

[Drake Hartman]

I’ve read threads on this topic before, but they are out dated and I’ve come to terms with the fact that golf courses may or may not have gotten more strict Since said threads were posted; either that or I’m doing something wrong.

 

How do I get to fish a golf course hazard legally? Everything I’ve read says to simply ask a receptionist or greenskeeper and “you may be surprised with the answer”. I’ve tried three different courses, two of them being public courses, the other one I didn’t realize was a membership type deal till I asked a guy in the pro shop.

 

no luck

 

One big problem here is idk much, like just about nothing, about golf, so idk how or where to talk to a greenskeeper or a receptionist. I’m a sociable person and I’m always polite. But I’m not sure what to do. I’m trying to do this in Boca Raton Florida. Not sure if that’s the first problem.

 

All input is greatly appreciated.

 

Also my first post here. So hello!

[Big Hands]

I fished a local golf course pond as a teenager in the 70's. We had to sneak in over a fence that wasn't more than three feet tall right next to the road. The pond was pretty close to the fence there, and about a third on the bank was obscured by reeds, so they had to actively come to see if anyone was fishing and most of the time wouldn't bother. You'd have to hit a ball sideways off of the 10th tee to have a chance to bounce backwards off of something that isn't there to hit us, so not much chance of that happening. We would roam most of the shoreline when we fished it at night.

 

Still, I would assume that the answer will always be "no" the first time you ask, and isn't likely to change due to civil liability, at least here in the nanny state where I . . . live.

 

Reminds me of the time in the mid-80's when we vacationed in a condo on the golf course at Hanalei Bay on Kauai. A kid is walking down the road inside the resort and he has a rod with a largemouth bass dangling from the line.

 

I went out to ask him about his catch and he first tried to tell me he caught it in the bay, LOL. I was like "Dude, that is a largemouth bass and they don't live in the ocean." 

 

Then, after a couple more tries at convincing me that he caught it the bay, he finally cracked and told me he took one cast in the golf course pond with a bubble and feather and the bass ate it almost immediately. He was scared he'd get into trouble for fishing the pond. I just wanted to know where the bass were biting.

[Drake Hartman]

1 hour ago, Big Hands said:

I fished a local golf course pond as a teenager in the 70's. We had to sneak in over a fence that wasn't more than three feet tall right next to the road. The pond was pretty close to the fence there, and about a third on the bank was obscured by reeds, so they had to actively come to see if anyone was fishing and most of the time wouldn't bother. You'd have to hit a ball sideways off of the 10th tee to have a chance to bounce backwards off of something that isn't there to hit us, so not much chance of that happening. We would roam most of the shoreline when we fished it at night.

 

Still, I would assume that the answer will always be "no" the first time you ask, and isn't likely to change due to civil liability, at least here in the nanny state where I . . . live.

 

Reminds me of the time in the mid-80's when we vacationed in a condo on the golf course at Hanalei Bay on Kauai. A kid is walking down the road inside the resort and he has a rod with a largemouth bass dangling from the line.

 

I went out to ask him about his catch and he first tried to tell me he caught it in the bay, LOL. I was like "Dude, that is a largemouth bass and they don't live in the ocean." 

 

Then, after a couple more tries at convincing me that he caught it the bay, he finally cracked and told me he took one cast in the golf course pond with a bubble and feather and the bass ate it almost immediately. He was scared he'd get into trouble for fishing the pond. I just wanted to know where the bass were biting.

Man, that’s exactly the kinds of stories i here about those golf course ponds. It’s why I wanna get to fish one so bad! I hear nothing but good things. I’ve fished two golf courses but didn’t get to fish them hard.

 

The first one was with my grandpa when I was probably about 10 years of age, and we got kicked out about the third time we fished it. Caught a 2 to 3lb bass or a blow up every 5 casts or so and I just knew there were bigger one in there.

 

The second one wasn’t really fishing ON the golf course, rather one of the ponds in the course stretches way over to a main road and I just park on the grass by the road and fish it. Still fish it once in awhile never been told to leave. Not much luck though. A couple decent bass, a couple snakeheads. You can only access about 30 feet of the bank so if they aren’t biting you don’t have many cards to play.

[CrankFate]

I’m planning on trying it. I’ll let you know how it goes. I’m thinking go in the evening, look friendly and look like your not looking to cause any trouble.

[huZZah]

I imagine they say no cause once someone sees one person doing it…and catching something…well, then it’s outta control.  Or members don’t wanna see someone fishing the hazard. 
 

probably just ask you to leave, but I bet only if someone complains. Worst you could get a trespassing ticket I guess if you’re not a member.  But I doubt they would want the trouble. 

[Rich12]

Most wont let you because of liability reasons.  They dont want you on the course while people are playing golf.  Public courses are generally open daylight till dark, so really no time for you.  Golf balls hurt.  A golf ball can kill you. 

 

[Drake Hartman]

1 hour ago, huZZah said:

I imagine they say no cause once someone sees one person doing it…and catching something…well, then it’s outta control.  Or members don’t wanna see someone fishing the hazard. 
 

probably just ask you to leave, but I bet only if someone complains. Worst you could get a trespassing ticket I guess if you’re not a member.  But I doubt they would want the trouble. 

I read online that the people who work at said golf courses generally get there a couple hours before they open, so you go in and ask if you can go and be out of the way before the golfers even get out. That’s what I tried at three different courses. Still a hard no. Wondering where all these stories I’m hearing like “I just asked and was smiled bro they let me right in” are coming from lol

36 minutes ago, Rich12 said:

Most wont let you because of liability reasons.  They dont want you on the course while people are playing golf.  Public courses are generally open daylight till dark, so really no time for you.  Golf balls hurt.  A golf ball can kill you. 

 

The stuff I read said make friends with the greenskeeper and ask him. He’ll say something like yeah just get outa here before the golfers get on the green (insert time the course opens) but my problem is idk how to even talk to a greenskeeper. Do I have to play golf at said golf course to meet this legendary man who keeps the greens and gate keeps my dream fish? 

[schplurg]

Ask for permission.

[Hammer 4]

Are there no lakes/ponds around where you live.?

 

Generally, fishing golf course ponds is like shooting fish in a barrel imho.

Your better off fishing somewhere the going isn't so easy, and you will build a better skill set.

I'm an avid golfer, one thing is, IF you do go to a golf course, do Not leave any trash, i.e. line hooks, ect.

And yes, the greenskeeper is the guy to ask.

[Drake Hartman]

3 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

Are there no lakes/ponds around where you live.?

 

Generally, fishing golf course ponds is like shooting fish in a barrel imho.

Your better off fishing somewhere the going isn't so easy, and you will build a better skill set.

I'm an avid golfer, one thing is, IF you do go to a golf course, do Not leave any trash, i.e. line hooks, ect.

And yes, the greenskeeper is the guy to ask.

I bring a trash bag with me anywhere I go. I hate to see trash in a lake. I also take hyper good care of the fish. Always releasing ASAP after catching, not putting them on the grass as I’ve read it can damage the protective slime membrane they have.

 

I’m not an expert. But my spots around here are no longer good. I know this because I remember catching more fish and have pictures of hundreds of bass, probably 50 of them kissing double digits (never quite made it) and all of my spots are dead. I’ll go to a spot where I once caught 10 fish including a nice trophy size one in the spring of 2011. Today I’ll catch nothing but a foot long snakehead, maybe two. Maybe a peacock bass. Even in the spring.

 

I’d like a day of shooting fish in a barrel man lol.

 

how do I talk to a greenskeeper? I couldn’t find answers to that elsewhere.

[Functional]

I dont know your moral feelings on this but some of the most often over looked ponds are in cemeteries.

 

Was a little surprised when a buddy brought me to one one day but we've never been given a problem all the times we did it before we got into a boat.

[Mike L]

21 minutes ago, Functional said:

I dont know your moral feelings on this but some of the most often over looked ponds are in cemeteries.

 

Was a little surprised when a buddy brought me to one one day but we've never been given a problem all the times we did it before we got into a boat.

I thought about that where my Ma and Dad are resting, but I just couldn’t do it. 

Nothing to do with my morals, just couldn’t do it. 
 

But that’s me 

 

 

 

Mike

[Retiredguns]

An acquaintance at work turned me on to a real honey of a hole in front of a Walmart. Right off the road, nothing to look at, but it is always good for 6-7 Bass. Just feels weird fishing a retention pond at Walmart with cars and noise everywhere.

 

I did fish a few golf course ponds as a kid, but attitudes were different back then. Not everyone was worried about liabilities. Caught a lot of monster Gills and plenty of nice Bass. 

[Mike L]

With all the private golf courses in Florida that never get fished, it wouldn’t surprise me at all that a new state record is swimming around in one of them. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[the reel ess]

17 hours ago, Drake Hartman said:

I’ve read threads on this topic before, but they are out dated and I’ve come to terms with the fact that golf courses may or may not have gotten more strict Since said threads were posted; either that or I’m doing something wrong.

 

How do I get to fish a golf course hazard legally? Everything I’ve read says to simply ask a receptionist or greenskeeper and “you may be surprised with the answer”. I’ve tried three different courses, two of them being public courses, the other one I didn’t realize was a membership type deal till I asked a guy in the pro shop.

 

no luck

 

One big problem here is idk much, like just about nothing, about golf, so idk how or where to talk to a greenskeeper or a receptionist. I’m a sociable person and I’m always polite. But I’m not sure what to do. I’m trying to do this in Boca Raton Florida. Not sure if that’s the first problem.

 

All input is greatly appreciated.

 

Also my first post here. So hello!

I tried our local public course and was told no. The reasoning is they are already trying to stop people from sneaking in and allowing one person would encourage further trespassing. Liability reasons. They don't have much water anyway. We also have a drinking water reservoir that I tried to get into. No dice. Again, liability.

[Drake Hartman]

4 hours ago, Functional said:

I dont know your moral feelings on this but some of the most often over looked ponds are in cemeteries.

 

Was a little surprised when a buddy brought me to one one day but we've never been given a problem all the times we did it before we got into a boat.

Interesting idea! I bet not too many people fish in those haha I'll look into that. Thanks

3 hours ago, Mike L said:

With all the private golf courses in Florida that never get fished, it wouldn’t surprise me at all that a new state record is swimming around in one of them. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Yeah man, also they stock them with bass to eat mosquito larva apparently! So you know they're in there.

[J Francho]

You're going to find that in almost every case, fishing a golf course is going to end up being trespassing.  Illegal activities are not only discouraged here, but forbidden.  This thread is closed.

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