An apparatus for locating a golf ball during play of a golf game includes a golf ball having a passive transmitter and a mechanism for sensing environmental conditions positioned therein. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for determining and providing a location of the golf ball. A hand-held unit is further provided. The hand held unit includes a mechanism for enabling at least one of the passive transmitter and the environmental sensing mechanism contained within the golf ball. A receiver is contained within the hand-held unit for receiving a location signal from the determining and providing mechanisms. A mechanism positioned on the hand-held unit for indicating to a golfer the location of the golf ball. Upon the location being indicated, the environmental sensing mechanism is able to selectively determine conditions corresponding to the location and provide the conditions to the hand-held unit for further indication to golfer.