Chute versus booking system

[Bunkermagnet]

What if you have to queue for an hour or more, that is no use.

We allow starting on the 1st and 10th.
The club has had referenda on either keeping no times or having booking times. Each has resulted in the large majority wanting to keep it as it is, no tee times. And we have a waiting list to join.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Was chute until pandemic, then ‘needs must’ meant booking system brought in…and the membership have subsequently voted to keep it. Booking opens one week in advance.

 

[Deleted member 35927]

We allow starting on the 1st and 10th.
The club has had referenda on either keeping no times or having booking times. Each has resulted in the large majority wanting to keep it as it is, no tee times. And we have a waiting list to join.

How long do you typically have to wait ?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I've heard rumours of 'ball in the chute' but never seen such a beast in real life!

Assuming that's just figurative though; we do not book times at the weekend. We just turn up and it's two-tee start (used to be three-tee start but they changed it this year). Just write your name on the sheet, or ask the pro which tee is available and they'll send you out. One thing I had to get used to was that we can only tee off before 9:15 or after 11:30, due to the multiple tee start, so you don't get the pile-up of people who started on the 10th meeting people teeing off at 11 on the 1st and so on.

When we first joined we thought this was going to be awful, but we're well used to it now, and luckily we don't have a huge membership so we never really struggle to get out on the course. I usually potter along and tee off around quarter to 9. Last week we had to wait behind two groups on the tee, but this was just because we timed it badly and we were behind the 8:30 roll-up.

On week days though you book tee times in the app, so I've voted 'hybrid'. Also if there is a major/board comp on, you enter in advance and get drawn times, as you might expect.

Not figurative…literally a chute set on a tilt…you put your ball in top end and it rolled down chute to bump up against the ball put in before yours. When your ball reached the bottom of the chute it was your turn/group on the tee. In my experience all your playing group has to be on the tee when you put your ball in the chute…and you all had to stay on the tee as you waited.

I and many in my club were dead against changing from chute to book as it removed the ability to ‘just turn up’…but my experience is that while that is the case most mornings of the week - afternoons I can usually very easily find a tee time to book before I go to the club…or even to book once I get there…without too much wait.

 

[Backache]

We went from turn up to booking during COVID and never returned.
Much prefer online booking as you can easily see when it's quiet and plan your time accordingly.
It's not a busy course and it's not difficult to book on the day other than prime time weekend slots.

 

[wjemather]

We have a chute that lives near the first tee. I don't think it has ever been used, as we've always operated a booking sheet.

 

[KenL]

A turn up system would not work at my club. There would be a huge queue at the weekends.

 

[nickjdavis]

We used to run a telephone booking system up until a couple of years ago....then we switched to IG and now have an online booking system.

I dont mind the online system as, as others have said, you can see when its busy and can plan your visit accordingly.

 

[Billysboots]

We have had an online booking system for as long as I can remember. Whilst it works well, it is constantly disrupted during weekday mornings by one group, who book a time but still rock up and tee off when they want, totally disregarding those who may have booked the time they are jumping into.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

We have had an online booking system for as long as I can remember. Whilst it works well, it is constantly disrupted during weekday mornings by one group, who book a time but still rock up and tee off when they want, totally disregarding those who may have booked the time they are jumping into.

Is it foolish of me to ask why this is allowed to continue?

 

[Deleted member 35927]

Is it foolish of me to ask why this is allowed to continue?

Was wondering the very same I'd be telling them to do one if I had the tee booked

 

[Billysboots]

Is it foolish of me to ask why this is allowed to continue?

Really don’t know. It’s been raised with the manager any number of times, and whilst he assures those impacted that he’s “had words” it makes no difference.

My regular group has had any number of run-ins with said group, as we play at similar times. It’s got rather heated a couple of times, but nothing ever gets done regardless of the issues it causes with subsequent bookings.

They also play from the very back tees even when the blocks are taken in out of season, despite having been told expressly not to do it, and basically treat the club as their own personal playground. I really don’t know why they are allowed to carry on as they do, other than perhaps a club manager who is rather wary of dealing with conflict.

 

[Billysboots]

Was wondering the very same I'd be telling them to do one if I had the tee booked

Rest assured they never leap into our booking. On the last occasion they tried they got such a gob full from one of my more blunt mates, they haven’t tried since.

We were having a discussion about them pushing in and whilst we were telling them they were not going to be taking our time, one of them still chose to peg the ball up. I won’t repeat here what was said to him, or I’d have to ban myself.

 

[3 jabber]

What if you have to queue for an hour or more, that is no use.

I was at a club like that. I used to drink a lot of coffee......

 

[Orikoru]

Not figurative…literally a chute set on a tilt…you put your ball in top end and it rolled down chute to bump up against the ball put in before yours. When your ball reached the bottom of the chute it was your turn/group on the tee. In my experience all your playing group has to be on the tee when you put your ball in the chute…and you all had to stay on the tee as you waited.

I and many in my club were dead against changing from chute to book as it removed the ability to ‘just turn up’…but my experience is that while that is the case most mornings of the week - afternoons I can usually very easily find a tee time to book before I go to the club…or even to book once I get there…without too much wait.

To clarify - when I said it was figurative I meant in the case of this topic and poll to represent all kinds of non-booking systems. Wasn't doubting that it really existed, despite me never seeing it.

 

[Deleted member 35927]

Rest assured they never leap into our booking. On the last occasion they tried they got such a gob full from one of my more blunt mates, they haven’t tried since.

We were having a discussion about them pushing in and whilst we were telling them they were not going to be taking our time, one of them still chose to peg the ball up. I won’t repeat here what was said to him, or I’d have to ban myself.

I'm amazed anyone could thinks it even ok to try.

 

[Deleted member 36735]

I'm a convert to the online booking system.

Not only can you guarantee your start time with your group when it's busy, but also you can see when it's quiet and much more likely to be able to nip out for 9 holes alone after a bit of practice.

 

[sunshine]

Pros and cons of each. I've been a member at courses that have done both.

Clarity v flexibility (all other things being equal)

But the common denominator is that it will be how people behave that determines success or failure!

As you state, the pros of a booking system are clarity and flexibility.

What are the pros of chute system?

 

[sunshine]

We allow starting on the 1st and 10th.
The club has had referenda on either keeping no times or having booking times. Each has resulted in the large majority wanting to keep it as it is, no tee times. And we have a waiting list to join.

I’m guessing that the large majority are retired people

 

[sunshine]

I’ve never seen a chute, sounds a ridiculous way to manage the tee sheet. Must be horrendous when everyone wants to play at 9am on Saturday morning.

If you have a really quiet course with low membership then I could see how a booking system might not be necessary, especially if your club has 2 or more courses.