Guerilla golf: this may get me banned.

Has anyone ever attempted to sneak onto one of the more exclusive courses? I go past Wentworth most days on the train and it's always deserted. Often wonder how easy/difficult it woild be to sneak on at 6am and play a few holes. Anyone got any stories? Wonder what action clubs take if you get caught? Just told to bugger off or full trespass charges?

I'd probably never do it as being escorted off the premises would be horrendously embarrassing, but it is tempting.

Pretty sure the police would be called with the more exclusive clubs such as Wentworth...a local muni may just kick you off though, guess it depends who catches you! I remember reading a story a few years ago about a chap who snuck onto Augusta after one of the grounds keepers let him and 3 buddies onto the course, for a few hundred dollars. Can't seem to find the write up of it now though.

Many years ago Moor Allerton GC (A Jewish club at the time) used to shut up shop at around 6pm on a Friday night. Local guys used to park up waiting for everyone to leave then nip on for a quick nine. The Club got wind of this and set the sprinkler system up to come on around 7pm. Many a wet golfer was seen trudging away. But the Club accepted these "Friday Night Members" as long as no damage was done and several have since actually joined the Club.

Another tale is from Fulford GC in York (the one the A64 cuts in two). When the B&H International was on, the first group out found a four ball appear in front of them on the 7th. Calls were made and the group were escorted back to their car, parked in a lay-by on the A64.

One from Filey GC. A guy played for several years, was well known in the clubhouse and had made many friends when it was found that he wasn't actually a member.

I always wonder about a bit of night golf with luminous golf balls on some of the countries top courses, of course you would have to know the course in the first place

We wouldn't condone any of this

As a much younger man I did enjoy sneaking it to many a local sporting or music event and last time I looked (a while back so may be different now) Tresspass is generally looked at as a civil mater, exceptions are mass tresspass which were changed to a criminal act. This was more to cover illegal raves, mass demonstrators and so forth.

If you were caught you would likley be asked to politely leave, I expect most of us would just accept the game was up and do so. If you refused I would expect the police may be called but you would not be arrested as such. I think the worst repercutions would be if you were a handicap carrying club memeber and people got wind you may be repremanded by your local golf union for your actions.

To be honest I dont live close enough to anywhere that exclusive sneaking on would be worth doing, but if I were to be playing one of those places I think I'd rather pay and soak up the whole experience rather than be looking over my shoulder the whole time.