A marshal on the course?!

[Alex1975]

Hi all,

Going back about a month my buddy and I went to Shendish Manor, going back a few years we used to play there all the time. Its nice enough but nothing special. We had made our way round to about the 7th, chatting away and enjoying ourselves, as we tee`d up on the 8th a man appeared in a buggy, I recognised him from a few years ago, he is of retirement age and chugging around in a buggy. He asked for our tickets and I remarked how nice it was to see a marshal on the course.

"You dont see marshals on golf curses so much these days, what do you do, keep play moving and see that everyone is happy" I asked.

"well some of that" he said "but I have collected £173 in non paid green fees this morning"

I looked at my watch and it was just after eleven o'clock. I was stunned and had to clarify with him "you have taken £173 in unpaid green fees, just this morning???" "yes he said, its the same every week"


I could not and cannot believe that that amount of people are dishonest that often in the game of golf. If the club pay that old chap £100 a day to ride round in a buggy they have already claimed back £73 by eleven o'clock in the morning.


Well I am stunned!!!

 

[muttleee]

Going by the usual green fees at the course (£18.50 and £14.50), that means 7 adults and 3 juniors hadn't paid. oo:

The funny thing is, if it's 'the same every week', there are either a lot of very forgetful golfers in that part of the world, or every week there are a lot of first timers on that particular course. I assume it's a mistake you don't make twice.

 

[sydney greenstreet]

So if these golfers did not pay until the Marshall was on them did they think they got to play for nowt ? i think not, probably chancing their arm.

 

[bobmac]

I'd like to see anyone caught not paying their green fee to be given the option of paying double or leaving the course immediately

 

[Alex1975]

I'd like to see anyone caught not paying their green fee to be given the option of paying double or leaving the course immediately

This was exactly the comment my father in law made...

 

[GB72]

We have started sending people out to check bag tags in the evening. People bringing their mates, family etc out to play in the evening as thought it would go unnoticed.

 

[sydney greenstreet]

I am sure this is a criminal act is it not ?

 

[brendy]

Perhaps some are teeing off earlier than the shop opens so expect to pay during or afterwards?

 

[sydney greenstreet]

Perhaps some are teeing off earlier than the shop opens so expect to pay during or afterwards?

This might be true, but surely you would phone the day before to make sure that it was ok to pay at the end of the round, so you could say to the Marshall that you OK'd it with the clubhouse ?

 

[GB72]

Perhaps some are teeing off earlier than the shop opens so expect to pay during or afterwards?

Should be a clear policy that there is no access to the course until the payment has been made. If the plan is to go out early (as mine was the other week) I called up and paid for my guests the day before and filled in the book after the round.

 

[Fish]

Do these courses not have barriers on the exit so that any visitors would need a code to get out?

Our code is changed daily for visitors but I suppose if a member is bringing a friend, deliberately and knowingly to avoid making any extra green fee, then they are defrauding their own club out of essential revenue and personally if someone was to be found playing without paying with a member, I would bar that member immediately.

I wonder how many play at weekends when they only have a 5 day membership? Especially if they used to be a 7 day member and as such it wouldn't be unusual to see them all the time.

There are no excuses for deliberate dishonesty IMO.

 

[pbrown7582]

I think there are suspicions at my place too we have had an email reminding us to display bag tag and up todate sticker as bag check will be commencing shortly and to save embarrassment.

With regard to Early starting I have always thought you had to pay before play or wait for shop to open.

If people are blatantly trying to blag green fees are they mid counting shots too???

 

[Hobbit]

We had a marshall for two years and increased our take by an average £80 a day, apart from Saturday when the course is full of members. £320/wk comes out at over £15k.

The other benefit from this is we've driven away the shellsuit mob, and increased our bar take with people who don't slink off to the carpark trying to hang on to the greenfee...

 

[Neddy]

As a pay and play-er I've only ever been asked to prove i'd paid once in 18 months.

Admittedly I normall play after 3PM in the summer so I'm sure that figure would be higher if i played at peak time...but stil worrying to think how many people might be doing this.

Not something I'd even consider. Aside from being too honest I'd be far too worried about getting caught and facing the embaressment to focus on what i was doing!

 

[CMAC]

Might surprise you to know how many 'golfers' go on Gleneagles Kings, Queens and PGA (Ryder cup course) after 5pm who havent paid nor are members.
No-one questions them as its a resort course anyone can play.
At £155 a round (afaik as I dont pay) you can see why, plus its empty at that time and in Scotland its light till 10.45pm so its easy to get in a round.

They used to have marshals running about checking now they just have a couple at the half way house to keep play moving.

 

[6inchcup]

i played with a chap at my old club numerous times for nearly 12 months he was normally hanging around the nets near the first tee and would strike up a conversation to everyone who was teeing of and would join in to make a 2's or 4 ball,this chap new everyone and would wave and put the thumbs up to other people on the course,he would come for a coffee and a bite to eat in the club house,or use the showers and changing rooms etc etc in general a nice chap and good company,the problem was he had never been a member of the club and just came for a game everyday and after he was rumbled admitted to doing the same for years at another local club,i think his photo was posted to all other local clubs to stop him,he must have ba**s of steel.

 

[Alex1975]

Not something I'd even consider. Aside from being too honest I'd be far too worried about getting caught and facing the embarrassment to focus on what I was doing!

This is me exactly, I would just die of shame if I put myself in a position to get collared for this.

 

[FairwayDodger]

We have started sending people out to check bag tags in the evening. People bringing their mates, family etc out to play in the evening as thought it would go unnoticed.

Now this is interesting.

My OH is just starting to take up golf, had a few lessons but isn't ready for a proper game yet.

I'd hoped to ease her in gradually with a few holes on a few evenings before working up to a full round.

When it gets to the full round stage I'd obviously be paying visitor rates but for six holes some night I'd rather not. Planned to discuss it with the pro rather than just doing it but do you think that's so wrong?

Hopefully if she gets the bug she'll join the club so I'd argue it's a reasonable thing to do.....

 

[Alex1975]

Now this is interesting.

My OH is just starting to take up golf, had a few lessons but isn't ready for a proper game yet.

I'd hoped to ease her in gradually with a few holes on a few evenings before working up to a full round.

When it gets to the full round stage I'd obviously be paying visitor rates but for six holes some night I'd rather not. Planned to discuss it with the pro rather than just doing it but do you think that's so wrong?

Hopefully if she gets the bug she'll join the club so I'd argue it's a reasonable thing to do.....

I think you are doing the right thing by talking to the pro, I would not do anything like that personalty without talking to someone at the club.

I had to cancel my membership this year and have an idea that I would like to use the chipping/putting greens at our place, if I go though with it I shall enquire about how they may be able to accommodate me, maybe some money to the captains charity or whatever they feel would be best.

 

[Evesdad]

Sometimes I take my mate up to ours and in the holidays we tee off at about 630ish, normally just ring the pro the day before and tell him and pay afterwards, saves any embarrassment.

Also with my daughter starting I spoke to him about taking her up to play a few holes and her was very enthusiastic and told us to play away as long as it was quiet.