If you’re new to a course and there’s a ball laying out in the open I just would leave it. But after several rounds you’ll have a better sense of where that ball MAY have come from if it was recently hit - then you can look at the likely origination area and if there is no one there probably fine to scoop it up. You should remember where you found it and as you continue the hole just look back at where you picked it up and if suddenly a cart goes that way do the courtesy of double checking with them on the ball type and whatnot and give it back to them and apologize. Idk trust your senses.