Just kidding.My real question is:When somebody in the group behind you tries to put one in your back pocket, how do you criticize him/her?Do you hit the ball back at him/her?Do you step on it and bury it?Do you throw it hard...into the rough?What is the protocol for this problem?
ADD:It is funny how many of you...probably all...assume l am a male.I am woman, but you wo not hear me roar on the course....l would not really hit the ball back, bury it, or throw it...that was just a feeble attempt at levity.Also, you assume l could even reach the group in front and thanks, but not likely.

shoot the other group

Never happened to me.

But I'd turn around, smile, and say ''Thanks for the free ball''

wtf ?!*&?$%

I'd say it depends on if it was a one time thing or not. This kind of thing happens everyday around he country...let it slide its not worth the aggravation.

That is extremely rude of the player behind u but there could be a valid reason. For example he genuinely may not have thought he could reach - this sort of thing does happen.
If u were playing slow - remember it is up to u to keep up with the four ball in front of u & not stay ahead of the fourball behind u - he may have been frustrated. But then he should have asked u to play faster or asked to play through.
If u were playig too slow u should let them through.
The correct way to handle it is to report it to the committee. Do not touch his ball.

one time thing, let it go. if it continues ask them to hold back a bit. If you've been courteous and it still happens. Keep the ball, throw the ball, hit the ball back to them, step on it. You tried to be nice and they want to be jerks, tell them to step up to the tee box.

There will come a time, that we will take a shot with the intentions of just laying up. We guage our limits on distance & feel safe to bring the ball up, & then it happens.

The perfect relaxed swing results in a sweetspot shot & the ball takes off.it goes farther than we ever expected.the ball rolls up & even passes the player in front of you.would that person understand what just happened to you? how would u prefer that person to react? with anger? having a cloud over ur head knowing that ur going to have to confront that person sooner or later? r u so deserving to get such an ass chewing to the point of humiliation in front of others?

On the other hand.so a ball rolled up & passed you.were u in danger of serious injury? or is this a perfect opportunity to break out ur alpha male side to show that u will tolorate such actions form anyone? this is ur chance to dig ur heals into them, to make them feel really sorry for invading ur air space?

Golf.this is a game of character.how we handle ourselves with our own faults of the game defines us a who we really are.If this actions from another golfer causes a temper of such magnatude to erupt.you need to find something else to do, cus, u have no idea my friend.that the person that hit into you, has a temper worst than yours, & can make both ur day a bad one.

Be of good character, because one of these days, u will do the same when u least expect it.

If they warned you with a shout of 'Fore!' then as an isolated incident l would just let the moment pass. Sometimes we all hit the ball a bit better than we expected to or the wind gives us extra carry. If its a continued issue with the same player then report to it but dont do anything to their ball, its not worth the aggravation.

It is the wrong thing for them to do, as well as being very annoying, but just let it go, if you were to get angry at them who knows what they could do. There are some pretty violent people in the world.

Phone the pro shop or tell the course marshall what is going on. People have been brutally injured by getting into confrontation after one group hits into another, etc.

Politely talk to the group; it is entirely possible that the guy did not know how far out you were.

Again.politely. Calmly.

Make sure you keep up with the group in front of you to eliminate the ''we were trying to play through'' argument.

If it happens again, talk to a marshal or someone at the course.

If people r hitting in to you, call the pro shop & have the ranger come out & warn them. Hitting their ball, stealing it, or stomping it into the ground is a far worse breach of golf etiquette than hitting into somebody. They probably thought u were farther away than u really were, or they didnt think they could hit it that far. If they continue to hit into u after being warned by the ranger, then u might go back & have some words with them..but leave their balls alone. Keep ur hands on ur own balls.