Invited to play at a private club -- Etiquette?

[Shorty]

Having the staff know you is also very nice.  They see you and grab your clubs, get you a wet towel whatever your idiosyncrasies are.

I would like to add that respecting the course is important, divots and ball marks ... The caddie will probably handle it but keep an eye out.

That said, I hate tipping it is a hassle to me.  I go the other way at my club.  Periodically I go around with a hand full of $20's and hit everyone.  Less periodically I go around and hit a few people with $100's (lockroom guy and starter).  I am treated very well and I think people remember the bigger tip.

This makes me want to vomit.  Unless it's a joke.

I can handle my own clubs and get a towel myself. I don't need servants to do it for me.

I also "handle" my own divots and ball marks. I'm not disabled.

At my club you don't have to give people money to have them treat you nicely.

This is a great example of someone LITERALLY big noting himself. You feel so guilty you have to bribe people to treat you well?

Yuk.

[Golfingdad]

This makes me want to vomit.  Unless it's a joke.

I can handle my own clubs and get a towel myself. I don't need servants to do it for me.

I also "handle" my own divots and ball marks. I'm not disabled.

At my club you don't have to give people money to have them treat you nicely.

This is a great example of someone LITERALLY big noting himself. You feel so guilty you have to bribe people to treat you well?

Yuk.

What's the big deal?  Tip $1 every day or tip $20 once a month.  Seem like a 6/half dozen thing to me.

[Shorty]

What's the big deal?  Tip $1 every day or tip $20 once a month.  Seem like a 6/half dozen thing to me.

Play where you don't have servants. Imagine someone giving you a towel and you liking that.

You don't find it distasteful reading about someone telling us how he goes around "hitting" people with 20s and 100s? Like Santa Claus?

The poster also has to tell us how generous he is - and even acknowledges that he is treated well BECAUSE he tips well.

Quite sad, when you think about it.

[isukgolf]

Play where you don't have servants. Imagine someone giving you a towel and you liking that.

You don't find it distasteful reading about someone telling us how he goes around "hitting" people with 20s and 100s? Like Santa Claus?

The poster also has to tell us how generous he is - and even acknowledges that he is treated well BECAUSE he tips well.

Quite sad, when you think about it.

Shorty, you care why??  (Edit: I do not really care why)  You live in another country with what I assume is different customs ...

If you have ever worked for tips in the US, then you know what $20 or $100 means to some of the people.

My assumption is tipping in the US is different than Australia.

But debating how a person personally decides to tip (hitting people with 20's/100's like Santa Claus) is not really the topic here ...

[Spyder]

Play where you don't have servants. Imagine someone giving you a towel and you liking that.

You don't find it distasteful reading about someone telling us how he goes around "hitting" people with 20s and 100s? Like Santa Claus?

The poster also has to tell us how generous he is - and even acknowledges that he is treated well BECAUSE he tips well.

Quite sad, when you think about it.

LOL. @inthecup this is you, isn't it?

[Big C]

It's been said many times already but it bears repeating: bring some cash - at least $60-80. Your member may not expect you to tip and the club may be a "no tipping" zone, but it's better to be over prepared than under-prepared.

I still remember the embarrassment of being invited to really nice private course in OC and having $3 bucks cash in my wallet when the member asked me if I wouldn't mind covering the tip for the attendants who cleaned our clubs after the round. I feebly muttered something about being short that afternoon and opening my wallet as proof. The guy didn't say anything, just opened his wallet and passed the attendants 10 bucks. After having him treat me to a round plus beers and food at the turn, it was all I needed to feel like scum.

Moral of the story - don't be that guy.

[RJH999]

You don't find it distasteful reading about someone telling us how he goes around "hitting" people with 20s and 100s? Like Santa Claus? The poster also has to tell us how generous he is - and even acknowledges that he is treated well BECAUSE he tips well. Quite sad, when you think about it.

I see nothing wrong with this.

[WUTiger]

tip everyone, especially the caddie, also the guy who pulls them out of the trunk, puts your clubs on the tee, cleans clubs, shoes etc.

In upscale clubs, this is often against the rules . The members generally sign for things on their account, and no money changes hands.

If it's a "no cash" culture, you should talk to your host about reimbursing him (or her) for the greens fees.

If unsure, bring $5, $10 and $20 bills with you just in case.

I would suggest you look on the club's web site. Many clubs now have a link for guests so that they can see what the local rules are. And,  you can sometimes call the club manager and ask for advice on what is - and is not - proper.

Some common rules at upscale clubs:

• Don't change shoes in the parking lot. You'll get a guest locker to use to change clothes, and then clean up afterward.
• Not allowed: cargo shorts or cargo trousers, or denim. Wear a shirt with a collar and sleeves. No swimwear on the course or the main part of the clubhouse.
• A blazer (and sometimes dress shirt and tie) must be worn in the formal dining room.
• Use of cell phones is severely restricted on club property.

Good luck, and enjoy!

[Golfingdad]

Play where you don't have servants. Imagine someone giving you a towel and you liking that.

You don't find it distasteful reading about someone telling us how he goes around "hitting" people with 20s and 100s? Like Santa Claus?

The poster also has to tell us how generous he is - and even acknowledges that he is treated well BECAUSE he tips well.

Quite sad, when you think about it.

I usually do play where I don't have servants.  However, there are plenty of courses around here that label themselves as either "resort" or "country club for a day" that do have "servants." Personally , I would prefer that the "servants" weren't there.  I clean my clubs after every shot so I don't need you to clean them after my round because THEY'RE NOT DIRTY.  That said, if he does it, I'm not going to be "that guy," as @Big C mentioned, and not tip him.  I also usually just go park myself and skip the bag drop area because, again, it doesn't really serve much purpose.  I'm not going to go out of my way to create a situation where I have to tip a guy for doing something so asinine as carrying my clubs 10 feet when I can carry them 50 feet to get to the pro shop myself.  But, again, if I pull up to a course I'm not familiar with and I accidentally end up at the bag drop, I'll give the guy a tip.

And when you consider a private club, where you're dealing with the same people so frequently, it doesn't seem out of the ordinary that somebody would wait and occasionally tip them more rather than frequently tip them less.  Its convenient.

No comment on the part about his opinion of his treatment and how it relates to his tipping though.

Also, for the record, I googled "tipping guide Australia" and it appears as though the service industry culture is simply different there.  And just like your handicap system, it's not better, it's not worse, it's just different.

[Shorty]

Shorty, you care why??  (Edit: I do not really care why)  You live in another country with what I assume is different customs ...

If you have ever worked for tips in the US, then you know what $20 or $100 means to some of the people.

My assumption is tipping in the US is different than Australia.

But debating how a person personally decides to tip (hitting people with 20's/100's like Santa Claus) is not really the topic here ...

I do understand that in some workplaces people rely on tips and I have heard that waitstaff even pay to work in some restaurants.

I have an issue with a culture where people pay others so that they treat them well. That's not the same as payment for services rendered.

And I certainly don't need someone fixing my pitch marks or giving me a towel in the hope that I will shower them with cash at a later date because it happened before.

Also not a fan of someone describing  their own generosity.  But hey, that's just me being grumpy.

Lovin' those Youtube clips. Hilarious. :-)

[RJH999]

I know this may be wildly OT, but it has to do with tipping and it's from an amazing movie...LOL....Shorty is Steve Buscemi ;-)

[Moppy]

Never saw that movie, now I am going to have to.

[inthecup]

This makes me want to vomit.  Unless it's a joke.

I can handle my own clubs and get a towel myself. I don't need servants to do it for me.

I also "handle" my own divots and ball marks. I'm not disabled.

At my club you don't have to give people money to have them treat you nicely.

This is a great example of someone LITERALLY big noting himself. You feel so guilty you have to bribe people to treat you well?

Yuk.

Well, I think you are looking at it all wrong.  These are all great kids most working themselves through college.  They do not get paid well, they are the ones there late when I play until dark.  That's how they make a living.  They are not servants, they are not treated like servants.  They are providing a service trying to make a buck.  I do not bribe people to treat me well.  Do you tip waiter and waitresses or is that insulting to you?   I was simply pointing out that I find tipping in this situation a PIA so I do it infrequently and  make up for that with a bigger tip.  Honestly it is just easier for me.  The locker room manager provides a locker room stocked with everything you need (at his expense) and takes care of your shoes.  I do not tip him every time he does my shoes, mostly because I usually don't see him.  So I make it a point to find him once and a while and settle up.

The current starter has worked his way up from cart kid.  He is working his way through school and going to medical school.  Great kid works hard is very respectful.  Hardly a servant.

Relax, I think you have a big misconception.  If you went to my club you would find it very relaxed and the people that work there are treated with respect.  I know them all by name and for the most part I know what it going on in there lives.

One of the questions asked by new members is how do I tip and how much is appropriate.  I tell them what I wrote above.  Perhaps I over shared.

My club is more of a men's golf club then a country club.

[inthecup]

No you are way, way off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyder

LOL. @inthecup this is you, isn't it?

[jetsknicks1]

I do understand that in some workplaces people rely on tips and I have heard that waitstaff even pay to work in some restaurants. I have an issue with a culture where people pay others so that they treat them well. That's not the same as payment for services rendered. And I certainly don't need someone fixing my pitch marks or giving me a towel in the hope that I will shower them with cash at a later date because it happened before. Also not a fan of someone describing  their own generosity.  But hey, that's just me being grumpy. Lovin' those Youtube clips. Hilarious. :-)

It's not a culture where we tip in order to be treated well, it's a culture where we give people in certain jobs a little something extra for doing a good job. There is a distinction.

[jetsknicks1]

I know this may be wildly OT, but it has to do with tipping and it's from an amazing movie...LOL....Shorty is Steve Buscemi ;-)

Great scene.

[dfreuter415]

I know the caddie fee is $100 right there.  Honestly, the money is not an issue. The ratty golf bag, on the other hand....

I agree with David in FL that caddies don't have to take your club out of the bag. Here are some other recommendations about the caddies:

• Good caddies can be very valuable to you game, but let your caddie know on the first hole exactly what you expect from them. Ii you need help when a caddie gives you the distance to the pin, ask them if it plays longer or shorter. Many good caddies will know the appropriate adjustment in distance, but a caddie should not recommend clubs unless you ask them. On the other hand, if you just want the number to the flag and can figure out the conditions on your own, let the caddie know that, too. The same thing applies on the green. If you prefer reading your own green, on the first hole, simply tell the caddie that you will read your own greens and then will ask them when you need help. This is a trust process between your caddie and yourself and makes for a more pleasant round.

• Find out what the minimum or regular caddie fee is, and then tip accordingly. If you have a caddie that carries two bags, as a general rule, the tip should be less than if you have a single caddie that has no other golfer than you, simply because a single caddie will be devoting the entire round to you and your game. A "double bagger" is running around trying to take care of two golfers and cannot devote as much attention to you. However, having said that, there are "double baggers" who do a tremendous job, and actually deserved a bigger tip than a mediocre single caddie, so as I said, tip accordingly.

• If you play in inclement weather, add a little extra to the tip, especially if there is a rain or lightning delay.

• Also concerning the tip, judge the caddie on how quickly they get to your ball, proper distances they give you to the pin, green reading, and demeanor on the course. Every caddie knows the three rules of being a caddie: show up, keep up, and shut up . I don't always agree with the "shut up" part of a caddies job. Caddies can be interesting people, too, and often have wonderful stories that they are more than willing to share. So, engage the caddie to the level that you are comfortable. You should dictate the level of interaction, not the caddie.

• If you happen to have a caddie carrying two bags, offer to rake some of your bunkers, especially when his other player is on the other side of the fairway or in another bunker.

Enjoy your day at the club

[NotPortlyNJ]

I'll never forget playing Ardsley last year.  Classic Westchester NY country club.  Member sends me and a friend ahead to the clubhouse, says grab a beer and lunch on the terrace.  My friend is in cargo-like shorts (should have had more appropriate clothes since he was out here on our annual golf outing -- this was a pre-outing round) and sandals.  Member figures he'd get away with the shorts, but I lend him sneakers.  Member also says "tuck your shirts in", my friend kind of snickers under his breath.  Member repeats "really, tuck your shirt in".

Other than my friend looking like a refugee there, had a good round at a beautiful course.  First time I played with a forecaddie as well.  Great experience.