Chute versus booking system

[D-S]

I can't wait until I've got all the time in the world to play golf and turn up and see how many are hanging around in front of me. Having a young family time is always limited so I'll only ever go to a club where I can pretty much work out when I'll be home.

Again if this was the case the club would scrap the system as this is patently not workable. It only exists because it does work for the members of the club who cover the whole spectrum of golfers, including those with young families. If it didn’t the club would quickly go out of business, but way before that they would have altered the system - the mere fact that such systems exist means that they do work.

 

[Canfordhacker]

I recognise those words - I'm a member at that very club
Chute works fine for 90% of the year and never has more than 3-4 balls in it even during peak times
Where it does fail is on weekend mornings during Jan & Feb when everyone wants a game and daylight is short. The chute holds 16-18 balls. I`ve seen it full on a few occasions - that's a 2-3 hour wait!!!

Full disclosure as the OP. I also recognise them, as I am also a member there. The reason for my post was exactly because of what you describe and the impacts it has had over the least three months. I was interested to understand what a wider group of golfers thought.

A review is being considered, but like so many things change is not something that is necessarily easy to achieve when things are so well established. I don't want to go into the politics of it all in a public forum, but your views have been most informative, so thanks.

 

[Robster59]

Again if this was the case the club would scrap the system as this is patently not workable. It only exists because it does work for the members of the club who cover the whole spectrum of golfers, including those with young families. If it didn’t the club would quickly go out of business, but way before that they would have altered the system - the mere fact that such systems exist means that they do work.

Full disclosure as the OP. I also recognise them, as I am also a member there. The reason for my post was exactly because of what you describe and the impacts it has had over the least three months. I was interested to understand what a wider group of golfers thought.

A review is being considered, but like so many things change is not something that is necessarily easy to achieve when things are so well established. I don't want to go into the politics of it all in a public forum, but your views have been most informative, so thanks.

Beware of apathy. There are lots of clubs and member who won't change it because that's the way it has always been or we're happy with it.
What they should do is carry out a vote of the membership to see what they say.

 

[Orikoru]

Join a club with a booking system. Like I said, I've been a member at clubs with both systems. The club with the chute had a vote at the AGM for a booking system and it was overwhelmingly voted out. The members never had a problem, they new the busy/quiet times and worked around it. Saturday mornings were obviously the busiest time. Our rollup would arrive around 8am, we put the required number of balls in the chute once everyone was there then have go into the clubhouse for a coffee/breakfast. Worst case ever was about a 40 min wait till the first group tee'd off but it was typically less than 30 mins. Unless you are the type that arrives at the club and rushes onto the 1st tee it isn't a problem.

This was the same at ours. We had to go booking system during Covid, then when that was all relaxed a vote went out, and it was voted to go back to no bookings on the weekends. Roll-ups go out at 8am and 8:30, I tend to just tee off at 9am, and usually get straight off, occasionally have to wait behind one group or at most two groups teeing off. I guess we don't have enough members for it to be a problem.

 

[Robster59]

Join a club with a booking system. Like I said, I've been a member at clubs with both systems. The club with the chute had a vote at the AGM for a booking system and it was overwhelmingly voted out. The members never had a problem, they new the busy/quiet times and worked around it. Saturday mornings were obviously the busiest time. Our rollup would arrive around 8am, we put the required number of balls in the chute once everyone was there then have go into the clubhouse for a coffee/breakfast. Worst case ever was about a 40 min wait till the first group tee'd off but it was typically less than 30 mins. Unless you are the type that arrives at the club and rushes onto the 1st tee it isn't a problem.

That is dependant on who is at the AGM as, if it is like ours historically (before we went to video AGM with online voting), everything was voted for by the same people who attend every AGM and some are more interested in looking after their own interests rather than what is best for the club. I think that's what would have happened at ours otherwise.

 

[hambugerpete]

This was the same at ours. We had to go booking system during Covid, then when that was all relaxed a vote went out, and it was voted to go back to no bookings on the weekends. Roll-ups go out at 8am and 8:30, I tend to just tee off at 9am, and usually get straight off, occasionally have to wait behind one group or at most two groups teeing off. I guess we don't have enough members for it to be a problem.

What if you want to go out earlier? Like 815?

 

[Orikoru]

What if you want to go out earlier? Like 815?

I could probably get out before the 8:30 roll-up at 8:20 or 8:25-ish. With a two-tee start most of the 8:00 roll-up can get out by then. Either that or I just go out with the roll-up, but I'd have to find some pound coins from somewhere.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

This was the same at ours. We had to go booking system during Covid, then when that was all relaxed a vote went out, and it was voted to go back to no bookings on the weekends. Roll-ups go out at 8am and 8:30, I tend to just tee off at 9am, and usually get straight off, occasionally have to wait behind one group or at most two groups teeing off. I guess we don't have enough members for it to be a problem.

We had a vote after Covid

Was voted in favour to stay with tee bookings by over 80%

 

[Imurg]

Yes, breeds entitlement in my opinion. Seen it at clubs before where established groups feel a given time belongs to them.

Oh, belive me, some still feel like that.......

 

[3 jabber]

That is dependant on who is at the AGM as, if it is like ours historically (before we went to video AGM with online voting), everything was voted for by the same people who attend every AGM and some are more interested in looking after their own interests rather than what is best for the club. I think that's what would have happened at ours otherwise.

I'm afraid I can't help you with membership apathy. If they get the option to vote for change but don't bother then they really can't complain.

 

[The Fader]

See what you like but a ball chute is pretty black or white. If my ball is ahead of your ball I tee off first.

Say what you like but if I've booked 8.30am on Wednesday it's pretty black and white. I tee off at 8.30am on Wednesday

 

[Backache]

Say what you like but if I've booked 8.30am on Wednesday it's pretty black and white. I tee off at 8.30am on Wednesday

Not round here with the weather we've been having.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

So those that have bookings for tee times, how does your club deal with weather conditions such as a course closure for very wet underfoot or fog where in both instances the course may open up.

 

[hambugerpete]

So those that have bookings for tee times, how does your club deal with weather conditions such as a course closure for very wet underfoot or fog where in both instances the course may open up.

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[jim8flog]

That is dependant on who is at the AGM as, if it is like ours historically (before we went to video AGM with online voting), everything was voted for by the same people who attend every AGM and some are more interested in looking after their own interests rather than what is best for the club. I think that's what would have happened at ours otherwise.

I had to smile at this one.

At one time having a booking system was put to an advisory a vote by the members to see the feelings about it. When it came in it was by unanimous vote on the Captain's committee. One group of seniors was very vociferous about it. At the next AGM they had just on turn up who tried to bring it under AOB he was given a few minutes but no further discussion took place and the booking system remained in place.

After it was brought in this group tried booking more spaces than they needed which was met with very short shrift by the club manager and it very quickly became one slot in a tee time to one member with any 'anonymous' bookings in a slot being removed the day afterwards. This group still got the tee times that they had previously and very quickly stopped complaining.

PS Where I play AGM votes are only considered advisory on the management and committee. For something to be brought in by the members as a procedure against club policy there has to be an EGM.

 

[sunshine]

Certainty of booking a tee time using an online (or even phone in) system versus travelling 30mins to see if its an hour or more wait?

I wonder which is the better option?

The idea that there might be other lived experiences outwith their own appears not to occur to them

 

[Imurg]

Seems like the fertiliser hit the rotary air device on Saturday.....
A Scratch Foresomes match was scheduled to start at 8.45 with then1st closed between then and 9.15...the 10th then closed 10.45 to 11.15...
According to reports it was utter carnage...so many people wanting to play that the course was flooded, 3 or 4 groups on each hole...pace of play down to a snail's pace.
Several groups walked off and a lot of people were, let's say, mildly miffed.......
If only there was a way of controlling the number of people on the course..........if only

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Seems like the fertiliser hit the rotary air device on Saturday.....
A Scratch Foresomes match was scheduled to start at 8.45 with then1st closed between then and 9.15...the 10th then closed 10.45 to 11.15...
According to reports it was utter carnage...so many people wanting to play that the course was flooded, 3 or 4 groups on each hole...pace of play down to a snail's pace.
Several groups walked off and a lot of people were, let's say, mildly miffed.......
If only there was a way of controlling the number of people on the course..........if only

Why would that game take such a priority that the whole system was thrown up in the air? You either have booking or you have walk up and play (on the same day). Trying to force once into the other was a recipe for disaster, which I guess you would have foreseen but others in charge somehow could not

 

[3 jabber]

If only there was a way of controlling the number of people on the course..........if only

There is, it's called common sense. People tee off soon as the group in front is out of range which causes bunching at the next pinch point. If they waited a couple of minutes......
We have 10 minute 3 balls on competition days, very rarely get any waiting.

 

[Imurg]

Why would that game take such a priority that the whole system was thrown up in the air? You either have booking or you have walk up and play (on the same day). Trying to force once into the other was a recipe for disaster, which I guess you would have foreseen but others in charge somehow could not

It was a league match so it would take priority and the tee was only shut for 30 minutes each side..
The issue was the sheer number of people wanting to play....everyone turned up and the queue started growing...happens on Bank Holidays too.....that's why me and Fragger tee off as early as possible....
Numbers are uncontrollable without a booking system...as everyone else we had to have a booking system during Covid but reverted to roll up as soon as they could.
An EGM was called as some wanted to stay with the booking....seems like a 3 line whip of the , shall we say, more experienced members defeated the call to reinstate...
Love playing there but sometimes the politics does my head in.....