Finder of Lost Balls

09/19/2007

Nothing breaks the flow of a good round - and pisses you off quicker - than spending 10 frustrating minutes searching for your ball in the woods while the foursome behind you stares impatiently from the tee box.

Swatting your 4-iron through mounds of dead leaves, you're thinking: If golf balls were made of metal I could use one of those detectors you see old guys using on the beach. Or even better, if my balls had built-in GPS...

Now they do. The RadarGolf system uses special USGA conforming RadarGolfBalls that are embedded with Radio Frequency emitting chips. If one goes slicing off into the trees, grab the handheld locator, wave it around the area where your ball disappeared, and bars on the screen and audible (and volume-controllable), beeps guide you closer and closer to your errant ball. Even if it’s completely buried under a pile of dried leaves, hiding behind a tree, or plugged in mud. (A Shield-It pouch keeps the extra balls in your golf bag from distracting the handheld.)

Should you truly lose one - in the middle of a lake, over some guy's house - replacement balls run about $40 per dozen. About what you'd pay for typical premium balls. Now I just need someone to invent a golf ball that swims back to shore and I'll never have to buy balls again.

$199.95, includes a dozen RadarGolfBalls

www.radargolf.com