A woman has been reunited with her favourite golf ball – three years after it was stolen by a cheeky seagull.
Elizabeth Picton lost the ball on a frustrating day of golf and thought she would never see it again.
She chased after the thieving bird when it initially swooped down during a putting competition three years ago.
The pensioner was competing at The Himalayas course at St Andrews’ West Sands when the bird made off with the peach-coloured ball.
Elizabeth said she had never seen another one like her Volvik Crystal number 7 but was left stunned when she spotted at a charity shop.
She said: “I started to chase after it, brandishing my putter and shouting at it.
“Everyone around me on the course was collapsing with laughter at the sight.
“The seagull headed off towards a bunch of spiky reeds at the side of the beach and
I am not sure if that was where it maybe dropped it, but when I checked around after the competition was finished I couldn’t see it anywhere.
“It and it was one of my favourites because it was a lovely peach colour which I expect the seagull thought was something nice to eat.
“I could never play with white balls, so this was my lucky one which I always kept in my putting bag. I had used for about two years.
“It was a Volvik Crystal number 7 and was pretty distinctive. I have never seen another one like it.”
Mrs Picton, who only took up putting as a hobby after retiring and moving to St Andrews in 2002, said was quite upset about the loss of her favourite ball.
But she was given two coloured replacement balls from the clubs she is a member of – the St Rule putting section and the St Andrews Ladies Putting Club – and had used them instead.
The retired solicitor said she eventually gave up looking for her lost ball and didn’t expect to ever see it again.
But recently she spotted it while walking past a Save The Children charity shop among a basket of golf balls.
She said: “There on the top of the pile was my old golf ball. I couldn’t believe it.
“I rushed into the shop and asked the lady if I could see the golf ball, she must have thought I had gone mad.
“I bought it back right away for 30 pence.
“I couldn’t believe my old ball had turned up all that time after it was stolen by the seagull.
“My husband said how could I be sure it is that one, but I am 99 per cent sure it is the one I had because it is quite distinctive and I’ve not seen one with the same number before.
“People often go around the courses and the area around about looking for stray golf balls and I am sure someone must have picked it up in the long grass where the seagull dropped it.
“I am really glad to have it back again and I am looking forward to playing with it again in many more competitions.”
