Reserving a Tee Time for 3 or 4 When You Have 2

[saevel25]

  On 7/25/2023 at 12:54 PM, NM Golf said:

I work at the busiest golf course in New Mexico. We do over 150,000 rounds a year. We take tee times 7 days in advance we will be booked solid from 6:30-10:00am by 8:00am the week before. 

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Yea, course in NE Ohio will not get that amount of play. Even though we have a big metro area in Cleveland, there are like dozens of decent public courses to play. 

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There is a golf course near me, that put how much they got in a year in terms of rounds for a news article. I can't find the article, but I thought it was like 70K to 90K rounds per year. I would say the courses in our area do 50K to 100K rounds per year. 

 

[StuM]

  On 7/25/2023 at 12:54 PM, NM Golf said:

I work at the busiest golf course in New Mexico. We do over 150,000 rounds a year. We take tee times 7 days in advance we will be booked solid from 6:30-10:00am by 8:00am the week before. 

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  On 7/25/2023 at 1:22 PM, saevel25 said:

Yea, course in NE Ohio will not get that amount of play. Even though we have a big metro area in Cleveland, there are like dozens of decent public courses to play. 

2021 Northern Ohio Golf Top-25 Best Public Course Rankings

---

See which public course earned the top spot in our inaugural Top-25 rankings, along with the rest of the 2021 contenders who made the list.

There is a golf course near me, that put how much they got in a year in terms of rounds for a news article. I can't find the article, but I thought it was like 70K to 90K rounds per year. I would say the courses in our area do 50K to 100K rounds per year. 

 

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A big part of the different in rounds per year would be the length of the Golf Season.  I am in SE Michigan and the muni I play for league indicated @ 52,000 rounds per year but the bulk of those rounds would be between Easter and Labor Day so call that 5 months.  They are open year round but the number of rounds golfed in the winter would be minimal.  If we assume 52,000 over 5 months that annualizes to @ 124,500 per year.  That course is often packed and I could not imagine annualizing @ 150,000 per year.

 

[mcanadiens]

There aren't many good reasons to lie and golf tee times sure as heck aren't one of them. 

When I have had that maybe third player, I'll tell the guy on the phone exactly that. "Definitely two. Maybe three" The guy books my tee time or he doesn't. Most of the courses near me don't have a problem letting pairs schedule and go out unless it is a weekend morning. 

Even if you are paying for a third and/or fourth empty player, being honest and asking directly is the better policy. 

[ChetlovesMer]

  On 7/25/2023 at 5:22 PM, mcanadiens said:

There aren't many good reasons to lie and golf tee times sure as heck aren't one of them. 

When I have had that maybe third player, I'll tell the guy on the phone exactly that. "Definitely two. Maybe three" The guy books my tee time or he doesn't. Most of the courses near me don't have a problem letting pairs schedule and go out unless it is a weekend morning. 

Even if you are paying for a third and/or fourth empty player, being honest and asking directly is the better policy. 

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I think this is a good policy. 

I always try to tell them the truth, mostly because I'd have to pay for "the guy" who doesn't show up. 

The other reason is when I only have a twosome, I would prefer to be paired up with another twosome on a crowded course. Otherwise it can be painful waiting all the time. Plus I like to meet people and I find playing with strangers will often improve my game. 

Lastly, I will often call the course at the last minute. "My afternoon meetings just got cancelled I suddenly have time to play." By then the course is already nearly fully booked. I appreciate the folks who've told the truth about how many they have and that way the clubhouse guy can squeeze me in with a twosome or a threesome. 

As far as I can remember there's only been one time when I got paired up with a threesome where the guys I got paired up with were jerks to me. It was as if I was ruining their lives by joining them. Far more often, I've enjoyed the company. 

[Shindig]

It's one thing to book a larger tee time and then cancel appropriately, with enough space that a busy course can fill the spot.  But expecting them to just not charge you and not fill the spot?  Problem for both reasons.

 

Er, I want to clarify that statement I started with.   It's okay if you legitimately think you'll get someone else.  My group has players who will often book a foursome, then email 8-10 of us and ask who wants to play;  first three responses get in.  In the rare case that fewer than three respond, the appropriate number of slots are cancelled well in advance. 

 

  On 7/25/2023 at 2:37 AM, NM Golf said:

As someone who works at a golf course, this practice is extremely irritating. It causes us to miss out on revenue and it also makes it so others miss out on the opportunity to play.

Side note: I really enjoy adding people from the waiting list to groups that do this. 

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I likewise really enjoy that you do this.  I had trouble getting on courses when I started, and if it weren't for starters and this practice, I'm not sure how often I'd have gotten out -- this was back when just about every regulation public course near me didn't take tee times for singles. 

Edited July 26, 2023 by Shindig
See edit

[Maroon88]

The course could easily fix this problem by making the 2-some wait, let other 4-somes go in front of them until they have other others walk up to fill the spots.

 

I voted "maybe/depends" because I usually book a 4-some knowing only 1-2 others will make it for sure, but we always try to fill it or are happy to let others join us.

[dennyjones]

I was reading about a course near Port Huron, MI, and decided to look at it.   Their policy is straightforward and explicit.   Every golfer should read the fine print because this course has consequences for such no-shows.

"Group Golfers who book a tee time before 12 noon on weekends/holidays, will be charged the rack rate and we will not take your voucher on this particular day.  As the voucher clearly states, the voucher is to be used after 12 noon on weekends/holidays.  If you booked a tee time and no-show, your voucher(s) will be marked as redeemed. 

Please be considerate and cancel or call 48 hours prior to tee time if you need to add or cancel any tee times.  If you fail to drop times or cancel, this costs the course lost revenue and doesn't allow other players the chance to play when the course is booked.  If you are a no-show, we will mark your account as a no-show, bill your credit card on file if necessary and next tee time made may require a credit card to hold your reservation.   If you book for 4-players and only two players show up to play, you could be charged for the two no-show players."

[StuM]

  On 8/18/2023 at 4:34 PM, dennyjones said:

I was reading about a course near Port Huron, MI, and decided to look at it.   Their policy is straightforward and explicit.   Every golfer should read the fine print because this course has consequences for such no-shows.

"Group Golfers who book a tee time before 12 noon on weekends/holidays, will be charged the rack rate and we will not take your voucher on this particular day.  As the voucher clearly states, the voucher is to be used after 12 noon on weekends/holidays.  If you booked a tee time and no-show, your voucher(s) will be marked as redeemed. 

Please be considerate and cancel or call 48 hours prior to tee time if you need to add or cancel any tee times.  If you fail to drop times or cancel, this costs the course lost revenue and doesn't allow other players the chance to play when the course is booked.  If you are a no-show, we will mark your account as a no-show, bill your credit card on file if necessary and next tee time made may require a credit card to hold your reservation.   If you book for 4-players and only two players show up to play, you could be charged for the two no-show players."

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I have no problem with that. 

[roejye]

I voted yes unless they're willing to pay, but I would say it depends on time they booked it too. Early morning weekend tee time it's a completely selfish jerk move. Mid afternoon on a Wednesday, just pay the course. 

[jlbos83]

I voted yes.  If you book the time, and have no shows, you should pay.  But that's only the course end of it.  (And there is still the issue of not purchasing anything else in the shop, or any food, or any beverages, etc.)  If it is an in demand course, and you book with no intent of every spot you book having a golfer in it, your selfishness is preventing someone else the opportunity to play.  

[StuM]

  On 8/23/2023 at 7:09 PM, jlbos83 said:

(And there is still the issue of not purchasing anything else in the shop, or any food, or any beverages, etc.)

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I will usually buy a drink but I do not feel “obligated” to buy anything from the shop. I do not feel that is an issue.

[Nave]

I voted "YES" because intentionally booking a tee time for more players than you know you will have is wrong and impolite. This behavior remains unacceptable even if you pay for the "empty spots." Instead, consider choosing a more upscale course with a different tee time management system - often providing better spacing between tee times.

I once found myself added to a group that had intentionally overbooked a tee time. Upon arrival, they awkwardly greeted me, adding that they expected a private round. Playing alongside them was uncomfortable, and the experience was further marred when one of them resorted to urinating in the bushes.

[jlbos83]

  On 8/23/2023 at 10:51 PM, StuM said:

I will usually buy a drink but I do not feel “obligated” to buy anything from the shop. I do not feel that is an issue.

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Of course.  But a group of two, on the whole, will not match the spending of a group of four.  If you never had the opportunity to make the tee time, you obviously won't be buying anything.