GolfNow Etiquette?

[Valleygolfer]

I think the only times GN sets the price for are the Hot Deals. The courses control everything else.

I think this is partially true. I have noticed that prices vary on the hot deals from course to course regardless of what their normal tee times cost. Deals have been pretty crazy this year and I am concerned that they will be pulled for next year.

[Dave2512]

I think this is partially true. I have noticed that prices vary on the hot deals from course to course regardless of what their normal tee times cost. Deals have been pretty crazy this year and I am concerned that they will be pulled for next year.

When I've talked to the local pro, he sets the prices at our course, he doesn't mind the Hot Deals. He often changes fees day to day depending on how busy the course is. Some get crazy low and I'm sure some courses aren't crazy about it but I assume GN brings a lot of golfers in. The convenience is more than the cost it's being able to shop multiple courses on one site for what works best any given day. Many times I'm not looking for a deal as much as a course with gaps in times so I can get out there and blaze through before or after work. I would rather spend $50 to play in three hours than $15 to be out there five hours.

[David in FL]

I think the only times GN sets the price for are the Hot Deals. The courses control everything else.

Correct. The Hot Deal times are given to GN as payment for their service. GN owns those times and can do with them as they wish. All other pricing/times are set by the course.

[jamo]

Correct. The Hot Deal times are given to GN AS THEIR COMPENSATION FOR THE WERVICE . GN owns those times and can do with them as they wish.

Is that a new word for "web service?"

[David in FL]

Is that a new word for "web service?"

You're too fast. Got me before I could edit my screwed up post!

[jamo]

You're too fast. Got me before I could edit my screwed up post!

To be fair, I'm honestly surprised no shitty social media website marketing departments have cooked up "wervice" yet.

[flopster]

I find it really troubling how some people act towards having to play with someone they don't know to the point of some people making complete asses out of themselves over it. I remember our starter had a group of a two and 2 singles, well the course policy is unless unavoidable no single riders in golf carts, this one guy threw an absolute bitch fit because he will have t ride with someone else and that the cart was already checked out so he was going to be a passenger, he wound up paying the extra money no problem for his own cart, what a complete ass hat. I used to go on by myself quite a bit back in the day and never came across the behavior you see now, people used to be generally happy to meet and play golf along with someone they never knew before,  I just don't get the generation today with the everyone else is an ******* mentality. But back to the OP yes you made the right choice to book, and screw them if they don't like having a fourth join.

[Harp stein]

I'm looking forward to it, should be fun and I play the course in a league so pretty comfortable out there.

Since we appear to have a couple GN "experts" on the thread, I'm curious if they require that courses not give discounted rates to folks not booking through GN?

I've played a certain course a couple times on weekdays for $20 and every time when I pay they give me a $20 coupon to play again without having to book through GN. It's actually $20 for 4 people which seems kind of insanely cheap, but whatever. The pro shop guy even says "It'll save you the $2.50 booking fee" when he hands it to me.

But then another course I've played a few times, I tried to call them on Friday and ask if I could go off on my own early Sunday morning before their first tee time. They were booked until 9a on GN and no way am I playing a 4 hr round. So anyway, they said yeah but then wanted to charge me the full $40 price instead of $25 which is what their 9a tee time was offered at on GN. She was not letting me get out of paying full freight, just kept saying that if I wanted the GN price I had to book through GN and use the tee time I booked through GN.

Didn't really make sense to me, but then thought maybe they can't discount it b/c that would be competing with GN? Pretty much all of their tee times are on GN. But if that's the case, how can that other course offer me a discount and cut out GN?

[David in FL]

GN isn't really in a position to "require" anything.  They desperately want the courses business.  You'll find pricing all over the board.....and there are other, generally less extensive on-line services similar to GN that the same course may be on as well.....Golf 18 is one example, though GN is the 800 lb gorilla in the room and has the largest stable of courses and times, by far.

Courses generally release about half of their times to GN at a time so they have plenty of times that they manage on their own for golfers that simply call in for a time.  In a lot of cases the times available through GN aren't back-to-back times.  But, if you need two back-to-back times, you'll find that if you book an available time, another adjacent time will "appear" on the booking page once you've booked the first one.

Remember, you only pay the booking fee for the first 10 rounds you book.  Once you do that, as long as you book at least 10 rounds (not 10 tee times) in a year, you don't ever pay it again.

[Slice of Life]

If they didn't want to play with someone they didn't know, they should have booked a foursome. That's pretty much the bottom line.

If I book a threesome, I expect them to throw a single in with us if it's busy...and I've never had a bad time playing golf with a stranger...young, old, male, female...etc.,

[David in FL]

If they didn't want to play with someone they didn't know, they should have booked a foursome. That's pretty much the bottom line.

If I book a threesome, I expect them to throw a single in with us if it's busy...and I've never had a bad time playing golf with a stranger...young, old, male, female...etc.,

A very good point.  As long as you're in a position where you're not paying the booking fees (no fees ever after you've booked your first 10 rounds as long as you continue to book at least 10 rounds per year), there's no charge from GN to book a 4-some but show up with fewer players.  Some (generally very high-end) courses will charge you for the missing players though, so know your course.

I have no problem with others joining our group.  In fact, on busy days, it's preferable, especially if you're a two-some on a busy day, you're going to spend more time waiting than if you have 4 to even things out a bit.

The only caveat I'll make is that, if the course is fairly open, we'll warn anyone joining us that we're very fast, and intend to play in under 3-hours.  If they're uncomfortable with that pace, they may want to wait for another group to join.  That has nothing to do with not wanting to play with other people, but rather, is a courtesy to them.....

[Valleygolfer]

One course here told me to call and he would give me the golf18 price. He said that they weren't happy with the service. Idk if that is because of the percentage golf18 takes or that they get all the money as payment for their service of advertising the course. This course also uses round up in the run off areas.... Seems shady.

[Strandly]

I booked myself into groups quite a bit when I was in Denver but that's usually because it was the best or soonest time I could play, and no, nobody ever seemed to mind.