Does this seem out of the ordinary or am I upset over nothing?

We went out of town last weekend, so I looked up a golf course close to where we were that was decent and open to the public. A buddy of mine and I made a tee time, and then my girlfriend asked to come along and ride with us (she doesn't play golf... she actually read a book the entire time.)

When we went into the pro shop, the pro told us we would be charged for an extra cart because we had the third person and couldn't fit on one. That's fine. The greens fees were $29 and each cart was $21, which was fine. We each grabbed range balls and tees. My buddy's total came to $56 or so.

My total was $72 dollars. I wasn't really paying attention at the time, so I signed it and it wasn't until we were driving home that we realized mine was so much more expensive. When I looked at the receipt, I had been changed for "Cart Fee 9 holes" as well. Because we literally paid back to back, I have to imagine this was deliberate and not just a mistake. I was charged a 9-hole cart fee because my girlfriend was riding on the cart with me.

Does this seem outrageous to you? We already paid to have a second cart. She wasn't playing and never even got out of the cart. I'm never going to play there again; this seems just ridiculous to me.

Unfortunately it does happen. Some courses keep the green fees down and then sock it to you for carts, range balls etc. I guess if you played the best round of your life it's not that upsetting but then that knife cuts both ways...

Common practice if it's in season, and if this course is packed. If the course is not packed...they can pack sand. I'll take my money to another course or the local practice range.

It's common practice to charge cart fees to people who are taking an empty seat on a paid cart and aren't even playing?

Yes, at least at a few courses I've played...sadly.

Dude, thats nothing. I went down to San Francisco with my girlfriend for my birthday and she bought me a round at Harding Park as one of my gifts. Anyways, its supposedly a San Francisco law that they cant "allow" spectators. We had to pay and extra 99$ just so she could ride along with me on my frigging birthday while I enjoyed the round she'd gotten me. The guy gave us an empty bag and told me to "just put one club in it" Pretty ridiculous. What was more ridiculous was that there was seriously a walking path that went around the entire perimeter of the course! So sometimes you would kinda have to wait for like two old ladies to walk on by just in case you hit a bad shot over towards the trail. So no spectators; but feel free to mosey around out there right beside the 10th fairway old ladies!

I can understand them charging you the cart fee....but the nine hole rate doesn't make sense to me.

If I'm understanding this correctly, it sounds like they just charged you a second 18 hole cart fee. Most courses I've played charge the same cart fee whether you have 2 people in a cart or one. I don't agree with being charged a fees for your girlfriend, but I understand why since it did force them to use a second cart. I used to play by myself but my girlfriend would come along (not to play) and the course I went to did not charge me for her.

I deal with this all the time when I play with my two sons. If we don't walk (typcially on the weekend) my wife will drive the second cart. Some courses charge her a cart fee, others don't. My home course doesn't so obviously we play there more often.

Now my older son has his driver learners permit so we can sometimes talk the course into letting him drive a cart on his own.

I'm not sure I totally understand your issue. He charged your buddy for greens fees and a cart, he charged you greens fees and a cart, and a nine hole cart rate for your girl. That sounds right to me. He said he was going to have to add a cart.

Any golf course I have ever been to has a flat rate for the cart per person. You don't split the $21 cart fee, that is the individual fee. Everyone that plays, pays $21 for the cart, not $10.50 each for two people. If you play by yourself, it is $21.

It is quite common practice for guys to pay for one round & take their girlfriend out to watch. As soon as they get out of sight of the clubhouse the girlfriend starts playing. Not suggesting for 1 moment that you were doing that but it could be the courses policy to take the money in case you intended that sort of idea. Sounds totally wrong to me though. If you take a cart you pay for 1 cart for 18 holes regardless of wether you are both playing or not. you should certainly not be charged extra for not playing. Makes no sense.

Interesting question posed to those that play regularly with one other person; do you share a cart or each get a cart? Obviously the course would prefer one cart but you don't get a break on sharing one cart.

Alright, it does seem a bit sneaky what he did to you but in my experience, the courses that I play want you to have a bag to be on the course. They really don't like people on the course who aren't playing. Next time you're there, just bring it up to the guy at the desk and just ask why. You'll at least get an explanation, but maybe you'll get credited some cash which is always nice and your friendly status around the club would be preserved.

My Dad is head pro/general manager at a small country club. A few years ago one of the cart companies came in and was trying to sell the club 1 seat golf carts with the idea that it speeds up play for those that insist on riding because each player is able to drive directly to their ball. They didn't end up buying any, but the company said they have had interest and sold some courses with this concept. I have yet to actually see these anywhere, though. The downside I could see would be that the courses would have to charge more for the cart then.

This is not the common practice where I live. I've never had to pay extra for my wife to just drive the cart...

Id say if you are pissed about being ripped off then call them and explain the situation. Im sure you can get the 9 hole fee returned.

I hate Municipal courses, all i ever use them for is a cheap driving range

sounds like a bunch of crap to me. most of the courses around here, if someone is not playing at all, then they are charged the cart fee alone and nothing else. there's no reason at all that i can see why they should've charged you for another 9 hole green fee. i'd call the management there and demand a solid explanation or my money back.