What Priority Would You Give to These Golf Buddies?

[PeaceFrogg]

I am mostly a weekend player, due to profession constraints. I have about 3-5 other guys interested in playing then, all of us are between 7 and 15 handicaps. We have 5 courses in our county and I primarily book the tee times. Player A I have known the least amount of time (1 year).  But, he just wants to play any time, any place (but only Sundays due to work), is the best of the lot and is the only one I can talk in-depth golf with. Additionally, he will come up with a time outside of county at good courses if it's just me and him. Player B, whose game closely matches mine, I have known about 10 years, shares fandom of a few local sports teams with me, but can only play in a window, before 8:00 on either Saturday or Sunday because his wife wants him home early. He doesn't book times, except when it suits him and will therefore play the worst course. For example, if I get an 8:20 on the 1st or 2nd best course in the county, he will then log on and get a time for the only executive course (and last choice)  at 7:40. Player C I have known the longest  (20 years) and he and I crack each other up on the course over a variety of topics (classic movies, politics, etc.). He has a great swing, but scores the poorest due to lack of interest. He doesn't book tee times, ever. But, he accepts whatever I book, and if it doesn't work for him he simply declines, telling us to have fun. Both players B and C refuse to play the same 2 courses in the county due to cost and distance of commute, respectively. Player D is actually an employee of mine that I've known for 3 years and is an aspiring golfer looking to get better. Doesn't book times but plays whenever he is available, which can be sporadic, but wherever.  Player E only plays occasionally and comes because I ask  Player C to invite him, but I've known him the 2nd longest (since 2005).

So my question is, how would you prioritize these players considering that, for the most part, I control the tee times? I apologize for the long winded post, but this has really been eating at me and I would like informed feedback from posters here. 

[dennyjones]

Player B would not be in my rotation. 

[Darkfrog]

If it were me, A and C would be top priority, then D, then E, and finally B.

Good of you to try and arrange times to play with your friends. I have a few friends who golf, but trying to get them to commit to anything, let alone golf, is impossible. I've booked tee times for them and then had them flake 10 minutes before teeing off, making me look like an idiot. Now I just make a tee time that suits me, and then tell them when/where and they can book themselves and join me if they want to.

[Double Mocha Man]

Book your tee time for a foursome.  Sounds like you're the guy with a plan. Put out an email or text to all your golf buddies letting them know the first 3 responses are in!  To the other laggards, too late, I'll check with you next week.  Early bird gets the tee time...

[uitar9]

Damn, I thought swing thoughts were difficult.

I think I'd be booking for the times I want, letting the guys know, and golf with whoever shows up.

[Double Mocha Man]

  On 3/22/2021 at 11:55 PM, uitar9 said:

Damn, I thought swing thoughts were difficult.

I think I'd be booking for the times I want, letting the guys know, and golf with whoever shows up.

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"Whoever shows up" can be problematic.  Some courses will ding you if the full group you reserved a tee time for doesn't show up.  So make those guys (gals) commit.  It's not like it's a marriage proposal!

[Vinsk]

  On 3/22/2021 at 11:29 PM, PeaceFrogg said:

 I apologize for the long winded post,

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Paragraph breaks can do wonders.😉

[PeaceFrogg]

  On 3/23/2021 at 12:00 AM, Double Mocha Man said:

"Whoever shows up" can be problematic.  Some courses will ding you if the full group you reserved a tee time for doesn't show up.  So make those guys (gals) commit.  It's not like it's a marriage proposal!

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That's exactly it. You can't just book a foursome in my county and show up with whoever. You must book the 10 days in advance to get anything good, then cancel anything less than a foursome. It's not as easy as that other poster suggests.

  On 3/23/2021 at 12:06 AM, Vinsk said:

Paragraph breaks can do wonders.😉

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So can reading the "how to Influence Friends and Win People" book. Maybe anger management classes too.

[PeaceFrogg]

  On 3/22/2021 at 11:50 PM, Darkfrog said:

If it were me, A and C would be top priority, then D, then E, and finally B.

Good of you to try and arrange times to play with your friends. I have a few friends who golf, but trying to get them to commit to anything, let alone golf, is impossible. I've booked tee times for them and then had them flake 10 minutes before teeing off, making me look like an idiot. Now I just make a tee time that suits me, and then tell them when/where and they can book themselves and join me if they want to.

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Exactly the order my wife put on it. And, just so you know, she is someone who appreciates golf, watches it on TV with me all the time and used to play before children (and can still shoot in high 90s playing once or twice a year).

[ncates00]

  On 3/22/2021 at 11:52 PM, Double Mocha Man said:

Book your tee time for a foursome.  Sounds like you're the guy with a plan. Put out an email or text to all your golf buddies letting them know the first 3 responses are in!  To the other laggards, too late, I'll check with you next week.  Early bird gets the tee time...

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100% here. 

[PeaceFrogg]

  On 3/22/2021 at 11:36 PM, dennyjones said:

Player B would not be in my rotation. 

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I have thought about that. thank you.

  On 3/23/2021 at 12:31 AM, ncates00 said:

100% here. 

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Doesn't work that way.

[PeaceFrogg]

  On 3/22/2021 at 11:52 PM, Double Mocha Man said:

Book your tee time for a foursome.  Sounds like you're the guy with a plan. Put out an email or text to all your golf buddies letting them know the first 3 responses are in!  To the other laggards, too late, I'll check with you next week.  Early bird gets the tee time...

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Don't you think I do that already? My question was who to lend the most credence to.

[Double Mocha Man]

  On 3/23/2021 at 12:59 AM, PeaceFrogg said:

Don't you think I do that already? My question was who to lend the most credence to.

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I think your first order of business is to fill out your foursome.  Give credence to certain guys by texting them first.  Wait 10 minutes, then move on to the next guy.  Hey, I'm trying to be diplomatic here!

[StuM]

A-D-C-E-B (maybe skip B and just have a twosome or threesome). 

[PeaceFrogg]

  On 3/23/2021 at 1:06 AM, StuM said:

A-D-C-E-B (maybe skip B and just have a twosome or threesome). 

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Thank you. Not the exact order I was thinking of, but the exact feedback I was looking for. And confirms that  B appears to be (no pun intended) a problem, based on yours and prior responses.

[Double Mocha Man]

  On 3/23/2021 at 1:16 AM, PeaceFrogg said:

Thank you. Not the exact order I was thinking of, but the exact feedback I was looking for. And confirms that  B appears to be (no pun intended) a problem, based on yours and prior responses.

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Peace Frogg... I would not show "B" this thread...

[ncates00]

  On 3/23/2021 at 12:59 AM, PeaceFrogg said:

My question was who to lend the most credence to.

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He answered your question by saying whoever signed up first. Credence is given to the person who demonstrates the commitment to play by signing up. Pretty simple. 

[StuM]

  On 3/23/2021 at 1:16 AM, PeaceFrogg said:

Thank you. Not the exact order I was thinking of, but the exact feedback I was looking for. And confirms that  B appears to be (no pun intended) a problem, based on yours and prior responses.

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It just seems A&D are easy going and will simply say “I’m In” of “I’m Out” without drama so they were easy top two for me.  

B seems less interested in golfing with you and wants to do it his way of the highway so last priority.

E only comes to play with C, he really does not seem to want to golf with you, not as much drama as B so he gets 4th.  C gets 3rd by default since B & E went to the bottom of the list.