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Proper tipping??


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We had a group lesson with the head pro at a private course, it cost a few(tongue in cheek)dollars for all of us. The guy in our group that coordinated the lesson said that we should tip him $10 to $15 each. Some of us were for it some against. Some were saying that he doesn't need the extra money, he's the head pro at this nice club, other thought that he may be offended. We ended up tipping him. What is proper in this situation?

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We had a group lesson with the head pro at a private course, it cost a few(tongue in cheek)dollars for all of us. The guy in our group that coordinated the lesson said that we should tip him $10 to $15 each. Some of us were for it some against. Some were saying that he doesn't need the extra money, he's the head pro at this nice club, other thought that he may be offended. We ended up tipping him. What is proper in this situation?

I suspect this is like tipping the manager at a restaurant. You tip the waitress (greenskeeper) and maybe the hostess if you get a nice table with little wait (starter who goes out of his way to get you a good tee time). They then "tip out" the busboy and chefs (assistant greenskeeper).

-- Michael | My swing! 

"You think you're Jim Furyk. That's why your phone is never charged." - message from my mother

Driver:  Titleist 915D2.  4-wood:  Titleist 917F2.  Titleist TS2 19 degree hybrid.  Another hybrid in here too.  Irons 5-U, Ping G400.  Wedges negotiable (currently 54 degree Cleveland, 58 degree Titleist) Edel putter. 

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I may be wrong about this, but a golf pro seems too high up in the food chain to be scrounging for tips. I would never think of tipping my golf pro for the same reason I would not tip the sales rep at the store where I bought my clubs.

I tip waitresses, bag boys and cab drivers. Not golf pros who make more money than I do.

It may be that you were at a high class club where that sort of thing is expected. Kind of like Vegas where everyone is running around with their hand out. But I would not think that the average pro at your local muni makes a significant amount of his income from tips.
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The only people that should be tipped at a golf course are the bag boys. Also. consider tipping the starter if you show up without a tee time and get worked on. Other than that noone else should have their hand out. tipping the pro is ridiculous. He gets all the money from the lesson itself.

Danny    In my :ping: Hoofer Tour golf bag on my :clicgear: 8.0 Cart

Driver:   :pxg: 0311 Gen 5  X-Stiff.                        Irons:  :callaway: 4-PW APEX TCB Irons 
3 Wood: :callaway: Mavrik SZ Rogue X-Stiff                            Nippon Pro Modus 130 X-Stiff
3 Hybrid: :callaway: Mavrik Pro KBS Tour Proto X   Wedges: :vokey:  50°, 54°, 60° 
Putter: :odyssey:  2-Ball Ten Arm Lock        Ball: :titleist: ProV 1

 

 

 

 

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I was thinking along those lines,but I really didn't know so I just threw a couple of extra ducats in the pot for this pro that drives an Infiniti or something like. I guess in retrospective I should have keep my $10-$15 and got a bucket of balls!

Driver:TaylorMade R580 XD Stiff
3 Wood:Wilson FY-brid 15*
Hybrid:Adams A3 Boxer # 3
Irons:Titleist Square Toe 4
Irons:Callaway X-20 5-PWWedges:Adams Tight Lies GT SWPutter: Ping Anser 2Ball: Wilson Ultra or Precept Lady IQ180 or Bridgestone e6+

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When I went to ESPN's 3 Club Tour I asked our instructors about tipping. They said that they don't expect tips and will refuse them if offered. If the customer is really persistent, they will direct them toward the local course's greenskeeper - starter - or concierge.

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Just for the heck of it, I found a "tipping etiquette" website http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php . Under "country club", this site lists recommended tip % for golf cart "girls", bag guys, caddies, restaurants, and golf/tennis pro lessons. The site does recommend tips for all expept the golf/tennis pro lessons. It says the tip for the golf/tennis pro lessons should be nothing.
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Woah!!! I'm a little suprised by the answers to this question. Having worked at multiple golf courses, and having many, many friends who are assistant and head pros, it is somewhat customary to tip your instructor. I find it laughable that people are saying that head pros are 'high enough up the food chain', because most pros don't make all that much money. They are providing a service directly to you, so using an analogy about restaurant managers is innapropriate.

I would say that, unless your lesson was a bad one, you should definitely tip the pro. Its no different than any other situation in which you tip, especially since you are focusing on developing a relationship with this person, unlike a waiter or valet.

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Woah!!! I'm a little suprised by the answers to this question. Having worked at multiple golf courses, and having many, many friends who are assistant and head pros, it is somewhat customary to tip your instructor. I find it laughable that people are saying that head pros are 'high enough up the food chain', because most pros don't make all that much money. They are providing a service directly to you, so using an analogy about restaurant managers is innapropriate.

Yikes man. Now I need to find where I read about not tipping the pros... I could've sworn I read it in GD at some point.

-- Michael | My swing! 

"You think you're Jim Furyk. That's why your phone is never charged." - message from my mother

Driver:  Titleist 915D2.  4-wood:  Titleist 917F2.  Titleist TS2 19 degree hybrid.  Another hybrid in here too.  Irons 5-U, Ping G400.  Wedges negotiable (currently 54 degree Cleveland, 58 degree Titleist) Edel putter. 

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Wow you guys in the States are out of control when it comes to tipping , if I pay $100 for a golf lesson why should I also tip? What am I paying $100 for ? My wife and I booked some massages at a spa in Colorado and were asked at reception any problem with us adding a 20% gratuity ! Now these massages were $150 for 50 minutes which is already expensive I feel , when I asked why we should be expected to pay an additional $30 on an already inflated price the staff looked at me like I wad mad!
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Woah!!! I'm a little suprised by the answers to this question. Having worked at multiple golf courses, and having many, many friends who are assistant and head pros, it is somewhat customary to tip your instructor. I find it laughable that people are saying that head pros are 'high enough up the food chain', because most pros don't make all that much money. They are providing a service directly to you, so using an analogy about restaurant managers is innapropriate.

I currently work at a golf course and so I asked several of the pros there about tipping. They all said the same thing, it is not neccessary nor is it expected. They don't mind taking your money, mind you, but since the entire fee they charge for the lesson goes directly into their pocket (the course does not get a piece) they don't expect you to give more.

Danny    In my :ping: Hoofer Tour golf bag on my :clicgear: 8.0 Cart

Driver:   :pxg: 0311 Gen 5  X-Stiff.                        Irons:  :callaway: 4-PW APEX TCB Irons 
3 Wood: :callaway: Mavrik SZ Rogue X-Stiff                            Nippon Pro Modus 130 X-Stiff
3 Hybrid: :callaway: Mavrik Pro KBS Tour Proto X   Wedges: :vokey:  50°, 54°, 60° 
Putter: :odyssey:  2-Ball Ten Arm Lock        Ball: :titleist: ProV 1

 

 

 

 

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Many years ago when I was going through the trainee scheme here in Australia to become a pro one of the pros I was working under gave me a nice piece of advice. He told me that when it comes time to buy a car to drive to work in, buy a new Ford or Mazda and use that. If you ever get in a position to buy a sports car or a big Mercedes by all means do so, but don't drive it to work, leave it at home and drive it after hours or on your day off.

His point was this, don't let the members think that you are making lots of money or sooner or later they will start to complain.

As for tipping, I'd never tip a golf pro for giving me a lesson. If he was doing a good job I'd keep on coming back to him for lessons, I'd recommend him to friends and buy equipment from his shop etc so he'd be making more from me anyway.
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Note: This thread is 6232 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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