Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Has anyone ever hit a golf ball off MW summit?

That's what I'm talking about BobK. So if I have cottage cheese legs then I can sail up to the summit easier? Lets hear it for cellulite.

Perhaps “idiot” was a bit harsh. Just with all the objective hazards to contend with wondering if I’m going to get hit in the head with a golf ball is not comforting. I guess this might make a good case as to why one should wear a helmet. The FS could place a sign as you approach the scree slope below Ice Berg warning hikers/climbers of incoming golf balls. This all maybe tongue-in-cheek, but you can bet that someone is thinking, “That would be cool”. And as far as “quirks about celebrating a successful summit” hurling projectiles off a summit is not one I would expect from a responsible mountaineer.

BobK--I remember that summit driving range enterprise from way back. In fact, if you're ever up there when a ranger is around, just ask him to open the the other side of the hut. I think there is still an old bucket of balls in there.

Hey, I'm not a golfer, but if there is enough interest in this, I'll design a driving head attachment for your trekking poles (in conjunction with the Trek Talonz, of course)

Wouldn't it be more appropriate to yell "Fourteen!"

Good one HikeOYL. I may "borrow that one" That is funny.

Artist's conception of a par 3 hole on the proposed course.
A golfer carrying his putter has an easy class 2 climb to the green. When the path to the green is snow covered, the putter can double as an ice axe.
If your tee shot misses the green, there's a drop area near the green. (One stroke penalty.) If you fall off the green, there's also a drop area when the helicopter retrieves you or your body. (No penalty.)

That is some good stuff BobK.

Well..I hope no one ever really would do that..especially a real golf ball..they are hard as a rock almost. I would hate for a flying golf ball to maybe hit a poor innocent animal!!

Man..the Tyrolean traverse to the green would be awesome...

Hang on guys, I can comfirm a visual right now of Tiger Woods pulling up to the Mt. Whitney Motel in Lone Pine. I see the head of a Stubai ice axe in his golf bag and he is decked out in forest green lederhosen with a yellow floral velvet trim. He looks road weary but smiling for the Inyo Register reporter....

How about other sports, for example, hang gliding? Would they have a place there? Has it been done?

I'm not sure but hang gliding from Mt. Whitney may be like a sick bird........ill eagle.

Aw, C'mon, seh, this is a great thread!

Sorry to bust your bubble, DocRod, but is was Cmdr. Alan B. Shephard who hit golf balls ("miles and miles and miles") on the surface of the moon.

And BK, while those dimples do, indeed, reduce drag, it is the backspin on the ball imparted when struck by the clubhead that produces the Magnus effect (lift), just like an airfoil, resulting in the distance of flight.

Now, for extra credit - who knows what club Shephard used?

67Brickie

Rules and regulations limit visitors to this "National" wilderness...tell you how and where to take a dump...require you to carry a bear proof trash can on your back...and you think they will allow you to smuggle a golf ball into this wilderness???

Who ever is coming up with this stuff, striking such fear in hikers and enforcing it should be working for Homeland Security to save and protect the entire country.

Wasn't it a 5 iron he smuggled onto the spacecraft?

I am heading up to Whitney on Wednesday and I am thinking of hitting a golf ball off the summit of mt. Whitney. To bad it has already been done.

Well, I gotta say I can't see where the thrill would be to do this since you don't get the payoff of how far you actually hit it. Last summer I played a round at Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis and the second hole is a straight par 5 of 580 yards from the tips. I hit driver, 5 iron to about 15 feet and proceeded to three jack for a par. My pain was assuaged by the fact that my drive through the thin air at 7,500 ft. flew through the air with a gentle draw, ran down the fairway and rested at 380 yards. I'm sure Tiger would have gone driver, sand wedge but who cares? Anyway, I just think it's more satisfying to hit the big stick at altitude where you can actually find out how far it went.

I would do just to piss the hypocritical enviromental people.
These are the same Idiots that talk the talk but forget to follow there own words.
Like the Morons that leave all of the trash and tanks on Everest.

Not golf balls. Frisbees.

There's a ledge on the East Face called "Frisbee Ledge". The first ascensionists of a route (Hairline) found four frisbees when they reached the ledge. They had to go back to complete their route a year later and when they did they found two more frisbees!

Shephard used a 6 iron head fastened to the end of one of the titanium probing rods carried on board The Eagle......

surprising no marketing ploy was ever done by whichever club maker's iron head he used.....