Fishing Golf Course Ponds

[Floridabassking352]

Hey guys, I heard that people enjoy great bass fishing in Florida on golf course ponds and being a Florida native myself, I've often wondered how people are able to fish on them. Do you have to ask someone who works on the course if it's allowed? I've never seen anyone do it but I've heard talk that they do.

[dux n bux]

I, while not being a florida dweller, visit my g-parents sometimes. While down there i beg my pa to take me fishing because i take my rod every where. While at the local tackle shop, one of the guides pulled us aside and told us to go to a golf coarse pond near sand destin and as long as you stay out of the way of the golfers they dont mind and ask you what you caught and whatnot. there were alot of bass and there were some huge ones i saw that gave me a look. i could have made the trip very productive if i had only discoverd this site before the trip...

[jomatty]

at the golf course near where i live i just walked in and asked.  they were already familiar with me because i would golf there sometimes, but i dont think that mattered much.  they said it was fine, but i had to be off before the course opens and after it closes.  not great but the fishing is ok and i can often get out for an hour or two in the morning and do some fishing at dusk or at night.

[ring fry]

Having been a golf course superintendent at several golf courses, I'll comment.  I have always had good fishing at all the courses I have worked at.  My suggestion would be to talk to the golf course superintendent.  We are at work a couple of hours before they start playing.  Although each one is different, here's what I would do.  If you want to fish, check in with me the first couple of times.  If the pond is "in play", leave before the first golfers get to you.  Early morning and late evening.  As with fishing anyone else's property, take a small trash bag with you, pick up some beer cans, candy wrappers, etc., and just happen to put the trash in the dumpster while thanking me when you leave.  Of course there will be some private clubs that will not allow you to fish unless you are a member.  I'm sure in the metro areas it will be tougher to get permission, but the worst they can do is tell you no.

[logger]

My buddy was a superintendent at a course as well. We fished his course all the time before the golfers got out there and there were some pigs. Just ask, the worst that could happen is they say "No". Then what are you out? Nothing.

[RdNkHunter]

Ive been to a few courses to fish.  Ive heard of a few monsters being pulled out but Ive only landed a couple small bass.  Im not sure of the laws for florida, but my bro-n-law just moved back from california and he said that out there the golf courses are mandated by the law to stock their water with bass to eat the misiquitos larva.  I figure its the same here.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

I caught a few smaller bass at a local course All the politics involved really made this DINKS ON THE LINKS experience not worth it at all

[Jerkbate]

If the course is public & is on public land (Corp of Engineers owns it), do you guys think you would still need to ask permission?

[jomatty]

i would say you definitely still need to ask permission.  it may be a public course but it is still managed and run, and is not a come as you like type of place.  i would still try to be gone by the time the golfers get there and ask permisiion.

if you play golf i think it helps too.  when i asked at my local course i just happened to be finishing a round and i think that helped because i was a golfer who would understand about being on a course and also i was a customer.

[ring fry]

Yes, I think you still should ask permission.  The golfers pay a user fee to play on public land and you are being allowed to use the same land for free.  On a side note, I have, on several occasions taken a spinner bait rod with me when I play in one of those 5 - 6 hour scrambles.  While groups are stacked up and waiting, I fish.  People laugh at first, but it's pretty cool when you start catching fish.  

[armesjr]

I worked on a golf course for a couple summers and regualarly fish them, and these are great places to fish if you can.  They are fished very little, and often have some real lunkers in them.  Like everyone else said i would ask, and if you do go make sure you go during low golf traffic times.  Golf traffic is going to be at its greatest on the weekends and in the mornings during the week.  What i have found is in the summer, the golf course is usually pretty deserted in the eveings in the early part of the week, which is nice because it conincides with good fishing.  Also during the summer i know many private golf courses will close the course for a full day or part of the day, usually Monday, for general golf course maintenance, which would allow you to avoid golfers all together.  By the way if your out there, just remember to stay quite, out of the way, and aware of incoming golf balls. They hurt.   Golfers just like fisherman dont appreciate people making noise and interrupting them.  

[tallydude]

PM Bocabasser. I know he fishes golf courses and can probably give you some advice on how to get them to play nice with you.

[dux n bux]

i had a ball hit at me today

[ring fry]

I tell my staff that the two safest places to be are in the middle of the fairway and right next to the pin.  ;D  Although that might tend to get you not invited back.

[LCpointerKILLA]

I live in the Windermere Club here near Orlando. I am a member of the club, and I fish the ponds all the time. My dad loves to golf, but I would rather fish on the ponds. I can fish on any pond that is not in the way of golf traffic whenever I want, and on tuesdays the course is closed, so I can fish anywhere. A lot of times groups of kids show up and fish, and sometimes people looking for food, but they are always kicked out pretty quickly. The fishing is great, there is bass, catfish, all types of bream, and some carp. My biggest bass ever was caught here at 9 pounds and an ounce.

Thats why my name is GolfCoursePondMan

[Wall_Hanger]

I live in Virginia and Golf Course fishing is a big deal around here (due to the lack of productive lakes in the area) We have been fishing these ponds for years and not much has changes as far as getting kicked out. Some days we can go all day without getting run off and others it seems like they are waiting for us. The people living in the houses sometimes run us off but there are alot of people who dont care and will come out and talk to us about our luck. We have tried to ask permision but they act like fishing is a crime. The lakes we fish arnt really on any major parts of the course so players never give us any problem. I would just try to stay out of the way and fish where you arnt seen that well.

good luck either way!!

William