A question of golfer safety versus the desire of the clubhouse in times of severe weather

[Gator Hazard]

Good evening Gentlemen and Ladies,

I have a question, and will preface the situation.

We just got in not too long ago, decided to play some quick twilight holes beginning at 5:15 here in Tampa Florida.

We are/were aware that there may be weather issues and decided to play the back nine as I live on 13 and partner lives on 15 of semi private course.  We pick up cart, start on ten, good weather, overcast.  I am a new golfer for those who may not know.  On 13th green, the weather began to catch up very fast.  We have seen weather skirt us and blow bye a few times.  The rain literally starts up hitting the house 60 yards from the green while it is completely dry on the green.  We putt out and get in the cart with some drizzle. Head over to 14, tee off and the rain turns and catches up to us, so we pick up our balls, and begin driving towards the clubhouse which is probably a little over a mile away.  As we are driving the lightning starts going buck wild right in the direction we need to go in order to get to the clubhouse, and it starts raining pretty good so we park the cart at his place near 15th, go inside, make a drink and immediately try and contact the clubhouse.  No one answers on any of the extensions and the system pushes you back to the "reception" line which is also not being picked up.  I tried calling 4 times.  We decide to wait it out, eat a couple of hot dogs with our wives and kids.  Eventually the rain and lightning stop and we drive the cart back to the clubhouse, only to find they are closed up (it is 8:05 pm, still technically there would be 20 minutes of light left).  So we empty the cart, dry it off and park it near the garage where the golf carts are kept.

It was a slow day on the course and we only saw one guy jump ahead of us playing as a single when we were on 13 putting out.  My question is, did we breach any type of etiquette and or not do anything we should have done?  Having called the clubhouse multiple times around 6:30ish and not wanting to get electrocuted I thought we did the right thing and tried to do what we should have.  Had we been closer we would have just gone in.  We didn't try and play it out in the rain or try and play afterwards.  I am just concerned because I don't want to show up next week or so, and have them take the direction of "oh yeah,, you are the guys that didn't bring the cart back until after we closed".

Thoughts?

[SavvySwede]

Sounds like you did the right thing to me. Though I am surprised the cart guy locked up without realizing there were two carts missing. They typically keep track of that sort of thing.

[Gator Hazard]

I was surprised as well, last weekend we were on 17 at about 815 putting out and knowing full well that we would not be able to play 18 when the guy came up and told us to bring it in.  He was really cool about it and two other carts also pulled in after us so it is not like we were the last people on course.  We only had the one cart but I was amazed that no one was answering the phones.  The only thing I can think of is the two or three people still there (not a big staff) were probably outside busy wiping down and bringing the carts in when I was trying to call.

[Patch]

Yeah I think you did the right thing. I know a guy who lives on a golf course that basically faced the same conditions, only he kept the cart at his house over night.

About 30 some years ago I was walking a late round at a course called Winterwood/Desert Rose in Vegas. When I made it to the 19th the place was locked up, and so was the gate to the parking lot. No big  deal since it's a short gate. I drop my bag over the gate, and as I was climbing over a police car rolled into the parking lot. Took about 45 minutes of explaining, and waiting before the officers let me go. They thought I was stealing a few, after hours holes.

[newtogolf]

If you brought the carts back at the earliest opportunity to do so safely then you did the right thing.  Most courses track the cart number to the golfer so they likely knew you had the carts, I'm sure you'll find out tomorrow if they were not happy with your decision.

[Gator Hazard]

Hey Patch, sounds like my kind of luck.  Ha-ha.   Vegas is my hometown, born and raised before moved after college.

Newtogolf, this course is pretty laid back in general about that, they have all the carts lined up, keys in them in two big rows in front of the clubhouse.  When you check in and pay they just tell you to take any cart; the carts are numbered, but that is probably the extent of their tracking.  I think there is a chance they will remember us if only because there probably were not that many people on the course.  Like you said, we will see, hell, if I have too, I can show them my call log that proves I tried calling multiple times.

[Braivo]

I'm curious, have you been back to find out how it all turned out?

Every Tuesday night I play twilight and push the darkness as far as I can. I've gotten to know the kid who works the clubhouse and he can't leave until every cart is accounted for and parked. There has been a few times that I was the only one he was waiting on.  Felt bad, sort of.

Maybe they knew you well enough to assume you parked it at home for the weather and trusted you to bring it back?

[Gator Hazard]

I'm curious, have you been back to find out how it all turned out?

Every Tuesday night I play twilight and push the darkness as far as I can. I've gotten to know the kid who works the clubhouse and he can't leave until every cart is accounted for and parked. There has been a few times that I was the only one he was waiting on.  Felt bad, sort of.

Maybe they knew you well enough to assume you parked it at home for the weather and trusted you to bring it back?

I have not,too scared to go back and get chewed.  I am playing on Sunday but at a different course with an old neighbor of mine and not my usual playing partner.  I asked my playing partner if we are doing anything golf related this weekend but he may be working most of it so we will see.  If he can get out we may go play real early Monday if there are any tee times, If not, depending on how I feel I might just try and go out and play some twilight on my own.

I have two thoughts on my glorious return:  My first thought is to say nothing, do nothing, and just go play golf there and hope they do not say anything to me.  I would guess there is a better than average chance they do not know it was me/us or will think it was us.  My second thought is to just address it immediately with the guy who is usually there by asking about the golf cart and explaining what happened, our reasoning, and asking for what they suggest is the proper course of action.  I am sure he will tell me the proper course of action is to bring the cart back in immediately when think it is going to get bad but this is Florida and weather can be crazy.  We usually judge it well (my partner works outdoors for a living), last weekend was an anomaly  The rain alone would have been one thing, but the lightning that came with it out of almost nowhere is what made us decide to pull into his place and hang with the wives and kiddos.

All I want is to be able to play my course with a clear conscience and be a good golf customer of theirs (and any other place where I may play).

[flopster]

I don't think you did anything wrong and I would think the course agrees with how you handled it, safety is first and foremost when it comes to the players, a cart is insured for theft so I don't think they were all that worried.

[Braivo]

All I want is to be able to play my course with a clear conscience and be a good golf customer of theirs (and any other place where I may play).

I am big on being completely honest always, so I think the best strategy then is to be up front with them the next time you play. They likely know what happened and will brush it off, either way your conscience will be clear.

[flopster]

I have not,too scared to go back and get chewed.  I am playing on Sunday but at a different course with an old neighbor of mine and not my usual playing partner.  I asked my playing partner if we are doing anything golf related this weekend but he may be working most of it so we will see.  If he can get out we may go play real early Monday if there are any tee times, If not, depending on how I feel I might just try and go out and play some twilight on my own.

I have two thoughts on my glorious return:  My first thought is to say nothing, do nothing, and just go play golf there and hope they do not say anything to me.  I would guess there is a better than average chance they do not know it was me/us or will think it was us.  My second thought is to just address it immediately with the guy who is usually there by asking about the golf cart and explaining what happened, our reasoning, and asking for what they suggest is the proper course of action.  I am sure he will tell me the proper course of action is to bring the cart back in immediately when think it is going to get bad but this is Florida and weather can be crazy.  We usually judge it well (my partner works outdoors for a living), last weekend was an anomaly  The rain alone would have been one thing, but the lightning that came with it out of almost nowhere is what made us decide to pull into his place and hang with the wives and kiddos.

All I want is to be able to play my course with a clear conscience and be a good golf customer of theirs (and any other place where I may play).

Then you need to tell them what went down so you can have that clear conscience, just show the phone calls so they see you made an effort to notify them.

[Gator Hazard]

Uuugh.  I used to like you guys, now I don't know. Ha-ha.

I know, pretty much already planned on it, that way I have the knowledge for future use. Maybe it can also benefit them by bringing to light that busy as they may or may not be, its a good idea to listen for the phone or have the phone forwarded to the manager in an instance like that towards the end of the day during summer.

[Gator Hazard]

Well, we may find out sooner rather than later.  The boss told me to pack it up and get out of here.  Thinking of playing some twilight tonight.  See if they will let my daughter be a ridealong since I have to pick her up from daycare.  Could be fun, will keep you posted as to the outcome.

[Gator Hazard]

The verdict is in.  I got out of work early, picked up my daughter and asked if she wanted to caddy for me (she had no idea what I meant until I told her).  She was excited.  I told her that she may see someting unusual, her old man getting a chewing because of the golf cart issue.  When we got there I left her in the car however and went to pay, discuss the happenings and take my lumps.  I asked if they got the cart and if everything was okay.  The guy I usually deal with had no idea what I was talking about.  I explained the situation and said I wanted to make sure I am doing the right thing in the future.  He was more concerned with the fact that no one was here at 8:15 to count all carts in and that no one picked up the phone.  I told him I was not trying to get anyone in trouble that I just wanted to make sure we didn't bend or break any rules and he told me we were all good, no worries at all.  Hell,  he even didn't charge me for my daughters soda and the beer I bought before we started play.

So, with a clear conscience we teed off on 1. I hammered it and it started going right, figured OB so played a provisional.  Unfortunately  my provisional went the same route, and was identically marked as my first ball so was ecstatic that I found it, but didn't know what one it was.  Took stroke and distance and played on.  I played my best round today by far, was hitting my driver very well, hit some approach shots very well, my short game was not so great.  I messed up a lot of shots but all in all was head and shoulders above any round I have ever played.  I gave my card to my daughter and went to return the cart.  She lost the card.  hahahaha.  I figure I played in the mid 120s which would be a minimum of 10 strokes improvement from first time I kept score and almost 20 better than last round I kept score.

It was a good day.  Had the best caddy ever, hit the ball pretty well, and enjoyed some great bonding time with my wonderful daughter.

Edit that I left my daughter in the car because I didn't want to show up with her by my side and have the person not tell me what they really thought about the situation.  I didn't want to take the cowards way out and have them be nice because my daughter was right there.

[Braivo]

The verdict is in.  I got out of work early, picked up my daughter and asked if she wanted to caddy for me (she had no idea what I meant until I told her).  She was excited.  I told her that she may see someting unusual, her old man getting a chewing because of the golf cart issue.  When we got there I left her in the car however and went to pay, discuss the happenings and take my lumps.  I asked if they got the cart and if everything was okay.  The guy I usually deal with had no idea what I was talking about.  I explained the situation and said I wanted to make sure I am doing the right thing in the future.  He was more concerned with the fact that no one was here at 8:15 to count all carts in and that no one picked up the phone.  I told him I was not trying to get anyone in trouble that I just wanted to make sure we didn't bend or break any rules and he told me we were all good, no worries at all.  Hell,  he even didn't charge me for my daughters soda and the beer I bought before we started play.

So, with a clear conscience we teed off on 1. I hammered it and it started going right, figured OB so played a provisional.  Unfortunately  my provisional went the same route, and was identically marked as my first ball so was ecstatic that I found it, but didn't know what one it was.  Took stroke and distance and played on.  I played my best round today by far, was hitting my driver very well, hit some approach shots very well, my short game was not so great.  I messed up a lot of shots but all in all was head and shoulders above any round I have ever played.  I gave my card to my daughter and went to return the cart.  She lost the card.  hahahaha.  I figure I played in the mid 120s which would be a minimum of 10 strokes improvement from first time I kept score and almost 20 better than last round I kept score.

It was a good day.  Had the best caddy ever, hit the ball pretty well, and enjoyed some great bonding time with my wonderful daughter.

Edit that I left my daughter in the car because I didn't want to show up with her by my side and have the person not tell me what they really thought about the situation.  I didn't want to take the cowards way out and have them be nice because my daughter was right there.

Glad it worked out just fine, I had a feeling it would. No way the workers should have left for the day with carts unaccounted for.

Sounds like an awesome day on the course with your daughter, great story.

[Gator Hazard]

Glad it worked out just fine, I had a feeling it would. No way the workers should have left for the day with carts unaccounted for.

Sounds like an awesome day on the course with your daughter, great story.

It did, better than expected.  Just feel kind of bad because somebody is going to get their arse chewed for that one.

[Duff McGee]

One of my pet peeves is how courses demand carts be in early for twilight golfers yet charge full price for the carts and let you be out until dark. One hour or a half hour later for closing would be a simple fix for this but they would rather send the poor cart guys to come after the 10 plus carts out there while everyone ignores them. One course started refusing to rent carts out after a certain time and I guess that is one way to handle it....I'm sure they would make more money having a cart person stay behind for the late golfers coming in at dark, especially bc those workers are likely making about minimum wage.

[Braivo]

It did, better than expected.  Just feel kind of bad because somebody is going to get their arse chewed for that one.

Well, sometimes they deserve it, no worries. Bet it won't happen again.

One of my pet peeves is how courses demand carts be in early for twilight golfers yet charge full price for the carts and let you be out until dark. One hour or a half hour later for closing would be a simple fix for this but they would rather send the poor cart guys to come after the 10 plus carts out there while everyone ignores them. One course started refusing to rent carts out after a certain time and I guess that is one way to handle it....I'm sure they would make more money having a cart person stay behind for the late golfers coming in at dark, especially bc those workers are likely making about minimum wage.

I am thankful that my twilight course does not call them in early. The college kid that works the evening is easy going and encourages you to stay out as long as possible.

The course next to my girlfriend's house calls them in early and locks the gates to the course fairly early in the evening. Thankfully they've gotten to know me, and since I am a walker, they will lock the gates with me inside. I'll have the course completely to myself for an hour or so until it gets dark. It's a blast. Then I just jump the fence to my girlfriend's house.