Captains right of way!

[Hobbit]

I will go against the grain on this one and say that I think it is a good rule. It is a lot of effort to be the captain of a club if you do it properly and it should come with a few perks, one of which being able to play when you arrive at the tee rather than wait.

Of course, that does not necessarily mean that the captain should immediately take advantage of this on every occasion and you would think that jumping to the front of a 40 minute queue would be one of those times when discretion would be the better part of valour.

Sits fine with me. There are reasons (in my mind) that this unwritten rule should be there....

The captain may well be entertaining people from other clubs, sponsors, potential sponsors, new members, potential new members etc etc.

A quick nod to them and the question "do you want to go?" I've yet to see a capt abuse this and just jump in with their regular 4ball.

I don't have a problem of an unwritten rule that the Capt has priority on the first tee. He gives hours of his time every week, surely its not the end of the world to give him 10 mins of yours.

A decent Capt would only accept an invitation to play through if he has guests. He wants the club to be seen in the best light, and I dare say most club members would want the same.

A question; did you or your partners not know of the club "rule?"

 

[Robobum]

I agree, so what's the point in raising it and challenging me whilst on the 2nd tee whilst I'm trying to keep focused.

I was in a medal comp, as they came off around the 12th they must have only been playing a winter league of friendly so I had right of way anyway as I was in an official comp, did they ask if I was playing in that days medal on the 1st or when challenging me on the 2nd, NO!

Why should medal comps have priority?

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Wouldnt know our captain from Adam unless he carried a placard with the word "Captain" on it

Does sound a bit old school and quite rightly would wind many folk up the wrong way.

If he was "entertaining" either the captain or a lackey should have come up to you and said " Sorry chaps, captains showing a potential corporate sponsor round the course, and it would be great if we could nudge in ahead of you, Is that OK?

Then you may have said OK, but to barge in is out of order in my book

 

[Fish]

I don't have a problem of an unwritten rule that the Capt has priority on the first tee. He gives hours of his time every week, surely its not the end of the world to give him 10 mins of yours.

A decent Capt would only accept an invitation to play through if he has guests. He wants the club to be seen in the best light, and I dare say most club members would want the same.

A question; did you or your partners not know of the club "rule?"

Brian, He was not with any guests, only an ex-captain and 2 other club members.

There is nothing in our local club rules, I have scoured them this morning.

http://www.kenilworthgolfclub.co.uk/assets/files/Membership/Rules of Play Amended.pdf

If the ex-captain felt so strongly about it, why didn't he mention it on the 1st tee as they arrived as we were waiting with them for a couple of minutes for the fairway in front to clear.

Surely it is poor etiquette from him/them to raise it on the 2nd tee once I'm into my medal comp round, surely it could have been raised in the clubhouse afterwards, however, I can't find it written anywhere so how are you supposed to know about it?

 

[Fish]

Why should medal comps have priority?

Its in our local rules that all Official Comps have right of way above general play and certain unofficial comps.

 

[CMAC]

couldnt even tell you who our cptn is or what he looks like.

However, I'm all for 'perks' if you hold office and unpaid, it's a small and respectful benefit for the work done to keep the club going, it should be a benefit and not a right.

For ppl like me and many others who dont know him by face yet, then the starter or pro should make anyone round his tee time aware of the courtesy but not to abuse or enforce it.

 

[Robobum]

Its in our local rules that all Official Comps have right of way above general play and certain unofficial comps.

I did presume that was the answer, pretty standard at a lot of places.

The reason I asked was that if you don't have tee blocks for comps it's just another rule regarding priority that is no different to one regarding the captain.

I don't think it's the rules that are the issue, its if they are applied without common sense or thought for fellow members.

 

[Hobbit]

Brian, He was not with any guests, only an ex-captain and 2 other club members.

There is nothing in our local club rules, I have scoured them this morning.

http://www.kenilworthgolfclub.co.uk/assets/files/Membership/Rules of Play Amended.pdf

If the ex-captain felt so strongly about it, why didn't he mention it on the 1st tee as they arrived as we were waiting with them for a couple of minutes for the fairway in front to clear.

Surely it is poor etiquette from him/them to raise it on the 2nd tee once I'm into my medal comp round, surely it could have been raised in the clubhouse afterwards, however, I can't find it written anywhere so how are you supposed to know about it?

It should have been raised with a quiet word afterwards. Some committee men, past and present, could do with brushing up on their people skills, and don't do themselves any favours by being confrontational. Or as you say, a polite "are you going to offer the Captain the tee" whilst you were waiting...

Sorry but I'm old school (read brainwashed) and don't have any problem with many of the old traditions.

 

[duncan mackie]

you should have offered (courtesy), and he should have declined unless there was good reason (consideration) - as Snelly/Robo/Hobbit/CMAC allude.

if he'd accepted, I would also have expected the steward to advise you that there wasaa a round paid for back in the clubhouse when you finished

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Our captain(s) have always been as good as gold even though I assume we have something in the rules giving them some kind of precedence. We just tend to go out in first come first served order unless its a comp. I feel this rule is antiquated and I dislike anyone using their office to effectively bully their way onto the course.

 

[Snelly]

Our captain(s) have always been as good as gold even though I assume we have something in the rules giving them some kind of precedence. We just tend to go out in first come first served order unless its a comp. I feel this rule is antiquated and I dislike anyone using their office to effectively bully their way onto the course.

What about the Captain bullying his way into his / her reserved car parking space near the clubhouse? Do you also all think that this courtesy should be removed? I can't see much difference between the two? Why should the captain have the perk of a premium reserved space in the car park? Captains have two legs, surely they can walk the few extra yards from the car park?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

What about the Captain bullying his way into his / her reserved car parking space near the clubhouse? Do you also all think that this courtesy should be removed? I can't see much difference between the two? Why should the captain have the perk of a premium reserved space in the car park? Captains have two legs, surely they can walk the few extra yards from the car park?

Captains do a lot of work for a golf club and IMO should be able to have at the very least a couple of perks. Parking space is one and reserves tee times is another.

Shouldn't have priority on the tee though.

 

[Fish]

Captains do a lot of work for a golf club and IMO should be able to have at the very least a couple of perks. Parking space is one and reserves tee times is another.

Shouldn't have priority on the tee though.

I agree, they have this at my club, all comps on the HDID website are accessible by ALL committee members for about a week before they are open to the general membership so they can book preferred tee times with their friends (non-committee), I don't agree that it should be rolled out to NTR days when people have been waiting in a queue and they or the even just the captain, can expect to go to the front..

 

[3565]

Why should medal comps have priority?

Are you serious?

i don't mind traditions at clubs that have been around for years and giving your Captain right of way can be one of them. They do give a lot of time up for the club and expense so they have privileges. But for a captain to exorcise his privilege when your in a medal comp is out of order. The comp takes priority over anything in my opinion. Personally there would be a letter of complaint winging its way to the committee by now. You as a member and especially a members club have rights to voice your opinion and disgust about anything.

 

[chrisd]

I'm at private members club and agree with Snelly, Robobum that the (unwritten) rule that the Captain can have priority on the tee is correct and I further agree that a good Captain only take advantage of this perk on certain occasions. Over approximately 15 years at my club I've probably stood aside 6 times and am happy to do so considering the work that he guy puts into the club and the crap from members he puts up with.

I wouldn't be happy at being accosted on he course in a comp that I hadn't offered this right of passage and would expect, if anything had to be said, for it to be done later after my round and fairly to all in my group equally!

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Sorry but I don't buy into this at all, The Captain of the club shouldn't get a priority on the tee. Yes he or she may have given the extra hours but its their choice to do this and why should they just expect to jump to the front of any queue on the tee. I know its tradition but clubs need to get out of the dark ages as they are not going to attract new members with things like the that annoy golfers that have been on the tee for 20-30 mins already.

 

[chrisd]

Sorry but I don't buy into this at all, The Captain of the club shouldn't get a priority on the tee. Yes he or she may have given the extra hours but its their choice to do this and why should they just expect to jump to the front of any queue on the tee. I know its tradition but clubs need to get out of the dark ages as they are not going to attract new members with things like the that annoy golfers that have been on the tee for 20-30 mins already.

I never did an interview for new members where any asked whether Captains get this privilege and certainly cant imagine anyone leaving, or not joining, because of it alone. Golf is played predominately by people averaging mid 50's in age and I think most would accept this rule (if it is a rule) much more readily than the younger generation will do

 

[Deleted member 17920]

I never did an interview for new members where any asked whether Captains get this privilege and certainly cant imagine anyone leaving, or not joining, because of it alone. Golf is played predominately by people averaging mid 50's in age and I think most would accept this rule (if it is a rule) much more readily than the younger generation will do

Read GB72's quote, He had it and it was a final straw for him so left so that club lost out for another old school rule, I am sure there was more to it but some clubs need to change very quickly.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Read GB72's quote, He had it and it was a final straw for him so left so that club lost out for another old school rule, I am sure there was more to it but some clubs need to change very quickly.

Don't judge all private courses on the experience of one - I would suggest that incidents of Capts "barging" through quoting unwritten rules are more in the minority ( very small minority ) and that maybe more down to the personality and attitude of the "ex captain" etc as opposed to the make up of the club and it's "old school rules "

 

[Fish]

I wouldn't be happy at being accosted on he course in a comp that I hadn't offered this right of passage and would expect, if anything had to be said, for it to be done later after my round and fairly to all in my group equally!

This was my main gripe TBH Chris, not the unwritten rule itself, although I think those that felt the need to exercise it knowing members had been standing in a queue for 20 minutes or more are simply on a power trip with no thought of the general membership, which they will return to in 12 months!

For the ex-captain to confront me on behalf of the captain in his company in any manner and then expand on it at the 2nd tee when competing in a medal far outweighs the original offence, if indeed it can be called that!

When they arrived on the 2nd tee and saw us still waiting, I pointed out that their handicap secretary who was on the green at the 2nd did not call us down! Our 2nd is a courtesy hole, a 209yd par3 and when everyone is on the green you are requested to call down those on the tee and then putt out, they didn't, so it would seem that our committee members do not run by the same rules, written or unwritten that they like to preach when it suits only them!