I am done trying to get people together to play golf

[oakdale]

Sorry in advance for the rant.

Seriously. I've been trying to put together 8 people to go out and play a round of golf. We planned it almost a month in advance. Then one by one people dropped out until there was only me. This happens all the time.

Every time i see people they're always like "yeah we should get together and play" or "that was fun that time we all got together, lets do it again" so i try to put it together and everyone backs out. I know people have busy lives and what not, but don't say you're going to show up and then back out. Just say you can't make it.

I give up. From now on i'm playing as a single. No more making plans.

[JonnyFive]

Ill golf with you

[oakdale]

hah. thanks.

I have no problem playing as a single, i do it all the time, i just hate the frustration that comes with trying to make plans with people.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Same with everything in life my friend. You lay out great plans and everyone gives it the thumbs-up but then their girlfriends get ill, the baby needs to be bathed, their house was blown away by the big bad wolf etc.

The only sure way of doing it is to get them to agree to a date and to pay their green fees to you up front and for you to book a tee time. Even then they may pull out but the money outlaid ahead of time is a bit more of an incentive not to.

[rsamsing]

As long as you still go regardless, that's what happens.  I usually ask a couple of people, but if they're not reliable I always go by my schedule.  I am going to set the time and pick the course that I want to play on.  I'm a calm guy but I'd be pissed driving 45 minutes or more to accomodate others to have them cancel.  If it's someone reliable I'll play wherever.  I've actually met playing partners by playing as a single.  Either way it's a lack of respect to set any appointment and not cancel with adequat notice if you know you can't make it.

[mathews42]

I understand the frustration.  I like the Idea of getting greens fee's up front next time to book a tee time.

[uttexas]

Finding a reliable golf friend is a challenge, and I have experienced multiple situations such as you described. A couple of years ago, I found two golfers on this website and played 18 with them regularly. One just had a baby and the other has left town, so I was back to being solo walk on for a while. However, I've recently been lucky enough to find a fellow golfer that likes to tee off at 0630 on the weekends (my preferred time due to children and honey does). I randomly met this person when my threesome had a walk on added to our group.

[oakdale]

i suppose i should be thankful they cancelled ahead of time. I have one friend who either shows up late or backs out at the very last minute. He doesn't get invited anymore. Nothing's worse than making a tee time reservation and waiting around at the golf course for someone to show up, missing the time, or getting charged for no shows.

[Topper]

  oakdale said:

Originally Posted by oakdale

Sorry in advance for the rant.

Seriously. I've been trying to put together 8 people to go out and play a round of golf. We planned it almost a month in advance. Then one by one people dropped out until there was only me. This happens all the time.

Every time i see people they're always like "yeah we should get together and play" or "that was fun that time we all got together, lets do it again" so i try to put it together and everyone backs out. I know people have busy lives and what not, but don't say you're going to show up and then back out. Just say you can't make it.

I give up. From now on i'm playing as a single. No more making plans.

Golf is time consuming and unfortunately people (especially families) are pulled in a lot of different directions.  Eight people is a lot.  You could try a foursome and have others identified as "alternates".   Or better yet, maybe you can identify one other person who has similar availability.

I golf by myself or with strangers most of the time.  I squeeze golf into my schedule as opposed to others' schedules.  Today I only have time (if I'm lucky) to get 9 holes at a local Par 3 after work before picking up my daughter from Thai boxing lessons at 6:45.  On Sunday, I was lucky to get 9 holes in just before dark with my brother-in-law after a birthday party.  For me, 9 holes is the "sweet spot" in terms of time.  I can fit 9 where fitting 18 holes is often not possible.  I bet a lot of others are in the same boat.

[Yuri Gadow]

I feel your pain (or rather, felt) since I got so frustrated with the hassle of getting rounds together a while ago I ended up, metaphorically, disappearing into the garage for over a year to build a web app to help: Teeboxer . I'll shoot you a PM with a free year to give it a go; hopefully it'll help.

It's a pretty new app so I don't expect it'll fit the way you want to plan perfectly just yet: so let me know where it does and doesn't help your planning and I'll work on getting your approaches (and pains) with planning covered...

[acetoolguy]

Our group started off with some guys in the same boat, singles looking for a game. Now we have about 24 guys with 3 standing tee times. On any given day there is going to be 12 and the course is flexable if we need to slip in another foursome.

[meenman]

I've had to dump 2 friends for not being able to tell time.

The final straw was me telling them the tee time was an hour earlier than it actually was, and one had the nerve to get mad at me when I checked in saying we were there for our 12:30 (i told him 11:30) at 12:45.

[evan01]

Can you post a picture 1st?

[Inebriated]

I feel you... I am at the point of just playing alone whenever I want to play, and if everyone makes a plan, I'll go. I'm not being the planner anymore. Especially when I have to put my name down for a foursome next Thursday, and then Thursday comes and it's just me. It's not like it matters to the club, but it doesn't look good on my part.

[wmiller]

I have one friend that I play with every other Sunday. On the other Sundays (and occasional Saturdays) I get a tee time for a single, and play with whoever they fill the slot with.

Some people play golf to socialize, I play golf to play golf. With whom I play with is secondary. And my friend knows this...  :)

[XMScott]

I work nights so i just go out alone. If not alone with someone either retired or ditching work. A stranger.

I have one friend who is a free lance artist who plays with me sometimes. Not a huge fan of going out on the weekends either. I met great people.

[irfan]

same frustrations... damn "jobs" keep people from being in town or free when I am.

apparently they cant all make their schedules like i can!

[Doctorfro]

I don't even bother to try.  Unfortunately, the one guy I can count on to play at the drop of a hat is leaving for college in two weeks.  Gonna miss my son!