Golf Courses that conduct the 'No check-ins, until we call your name'...

[Beachcomber]

There are several courses in the Southern California market that employ this tactic.  It is one of the most frustrating things... And the question I have is why do they do this?

For those that are unfamiliar with this type of protocol... Basically you get to the course, go into the Pro shop and walk up to the counter... Check-in.  Only to hear, "Sir, we can't check you in until we call your foursome."  Uggghhhh, Ok!?!?

"Well can I purchase a bucket of range balls, a glove, or a sleeve of balls?"  "Sure thing.  Which bucket size would you like?"

I see this all over the place here in Socal... So you can pretty much buy anything in the Pro shop, but you cannot pay for your round until they call you.  Talk about an inefficient practice.  What ends up happening is you'll be sent out to the practice green, or hitting balls on the range.... Then you get called over the loud speaker, and you have to drop what you are doing and go directly into the Pro shop to check-in.  Then go from the Pro shop, directly to the first tee.  It just seems like a really bad procedure to handle the flow of customers? Why the hell do courses do this?

Why can't we just pay - and sign in when we arrive?  Can't the Pro shop keep track of who is coming and going?  It is a cluster...  Something I'd like to see fixed given all the emphasis on courses trying to speed play, and make their operations better.

I've had times where I showed up 10 minutes before my tee time, went into the Pro shop to pay... To find out that I couldn't pay until they called our foursome.  Then minutes later, be called in to pay!

[France46]

Very inefficient indeed! I guess it is not just France that has stupid red tape to deal with, although I have never encountered what you are experiencing anywhere in the world.