Compulsory entry into competitions on Saturday morning

[Numan]

My club has recently introduced compulsory entry into competitions on Saturday through until 2pm

This has caused some issues within the Club!! Most Clubs in our area operate on this basis though our ours has resisted the change for some time?

Has anyone had any experience of making this change?

 

[Orikoru]

Most clubs operate that way?? I've never heard of that. What if you're busy that day? How the hell is that policed?

At my club, if it's a major/board comp day, then I think you can't play on Saturday morning unless you are playing in that competition. But I don't think that amounts to compulsory entry. Like, you can just not enter and not play that morning.

 

[Numan]

That's probably my incorrect wording. essentially its as you say tees are reserved for completion entry so if you want to play then you must be in the comp.

 

[KenL]

That's probably my incorrect wording. essentially its as you say tees are reserved for completion entry so if you want to play then you must be in the comp.

Is that every Saturday? Sounds far too much for my liking.

 

[Imurg]

There are clubs that run like this....I wouldn't be a member at one...
I'll tell the club when I'm playing in a comp not vice versa.....
There's more to golf than playing competitions.

 

[The Squirrel]

Yes, lots of clubs do block out specific times for particular events, a calendar of events scattered round the diary seems fair enough. I accept there will be some events (ladies, juniors, low handicap, representative matches) that mean the course is effectively closed to me at some points - no issues with that at all; a club should hold a variety of events so there is something for everyone. Most of them only take a few tee times so it’s no different to it just being busy for an hour or two by chance. There’s the odd biggie, but that’s fine too.

Blocking basically all day every Sat (in all but the longest months) does seem extreme, though, particularly if it’s a new thing. Are all the reserved tee times all being used?

 

[Orikoru]

Is that every Saturday? Sounds far too much for my liking.

Yeah, this for me. As I said above, it's just for major/board comps at mine. So maybe two days per month - which could be either Saturday or Sunday. It doesn't apply to monthly Stableford / monthly medal as you can play your own groups in those. Hence, I don't have a problem with it.

If it was the situation every Saturday, I don't think that would be on. Why are there even that many competitions to start with??

 

[Numan]

Is that every Saturday? Sounds far too much for my liking.

Yes that's every Saturday!

 

[Numan]

Yes, Nearly all clubs block out specific times for particular events, a calendar of events scattered round the diary seems fair enough. I accept there will be some events (ladies, juniors, low handicap, representative matches) that mean the course is effectively closed to me at some points - no issues with that at all; a club should hold a variety of events so there is something for everyone. Most of them only take a few tee times so it’s no different to it just being busy for an hour or two by chance. There’s the odd biggie, but that’s fine too.

Blocking basically all day every Sat (in all but the longest months) does seem extreme, though, particularly if it’s a new thing. Are all the reserved tee times all being used?

We have 7 day booking and all tee times are taken for next Saturday bar for 2 between 10am and 11 am though will likely fill ahead of Saturday

Tees are only blocked until 2pm and it is only during the season essentially mid April to mid October

 

[Backache]

If we have comps on on a Saturday which we do on quite a few Saturdays there will be tee times reserved fro those competitions but there are other tee times available and if the competition doesn't fill the slots reserved for the competition are released.

 

[NearHull]

We have compulsory entry for tee times on Club Competition on Saturdays from 0700 to 1200. The intention is to maintain a steady pace of play as all players will be playing the same format. There will be two competitions running , a Ladies and Men’s, book any tee time.

 

[Numan]

If we have comps on on a Saturday which we do on quite a few Saturdays there will be tee times reserved fro those competitions but there are other tee times available and if the competition doesn't fill the slots reserved for the competition are released.

We have comps every Saturday through the season!

Currently tee times aren't released though to date that wouldn't have been very many. some people are entering the comp. as they wish to play saturday though would prefer not to enter the comp

 

[Numan]

We have compulsory entry for tee times on Club Competition on Saturdays from 0700 to 1200. The intention is to maintain a steady pace of play as all players will be playing the same format. There will be two competitions running , a Ladies and Men’s, book any tee time.

That's essentially what is happening though a yellow stableford has been introduced if the comp. is off the white tees (medal or stable ford) to cater for the more senior members

 

[Lord Tyrion]

There are number of clubs up here where this happens. Lots of members, lots wanting to play the competitions. It's the comp or you can't play.

I'd say there are probably more like that than not, it's the standard here.

My current club has that for a few situations, ladies for an hour on a Saturday morning, men for 2hrs on a Sunday morning, seniors for 2hrs on a Monday morning. Otherwise you can play in the comp, or not on a Saturday.

It's interesting that my experience is perhaps not the norm I thought it was based on initial posts.

 

[Mel Smooth]

We do this - Sunday is comp day and if you want to get on the course on Sunday morning then you have to enter the comp - pretty much every weekend there's something on.
Saturday is a roll up Stableford so you have the choice.

I don't think I've ever heard anybody complain about it.

 

[The Squirrel]

We have 7 day booking and all tee times are taken for next Saturday bar for 2 between 10am and 11 am though will likely fill ahead of Saturday

Tees are only blocked until 2pm and it is only during the season essentially mid April to mid October

If the comp slots are all filling then it seems the course is being used with maximal efficiency and best flow at its busiest time. Makes it much harder to argue against it…

I have less of an issue than some with this even as a largely non comp player. If a competition is a particular format then it does (usually!) flow a lot more smoothly if everyone is playing that format without random much faster/slower groups doing their own thing scattered within the field.

 

[The Fader]

Effectively stopping a fully paid up 7 day member from playing prime time Saturday morning unless they "comp" is totally unreasonable.

It would be a deal-breaker for me even though as gentleman of leisure I can play through the week. If I was still working I would be very vocal in my feelings.

Totally agree with @Imurg- I decide when and how I play my golf.

Competitions are great and I mostly join in - but some Saturday mornings, I like to play social golf.

OP - has your club provided an explanation for the change?

 

[Neilds]

I would hope this would have been through an AGM, if not then it should be challenged through the EGM/AGM process. Get enough aggrieved members and get it voted out (if that is what the other members want)

 

[Deleted member 30853]

We have compulsory entry for tee times on Club Competition on Saturdays from 0700 to 1200. The intention is to maintain a steady pace of play as all players will be playing the same format. There will be two competitions running , a Ladies and Men’s, book any tee time.

So ladies play at the same time?
That would be absolutely horrendous

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

In the summer months quite a lot of Saturday and Sunday mornings are block reserved for competitions, but the club avoids block reservations on both Saturday and Sunday of any weekend, and any reservation will generally only be until midday - at latest 1pm if there are no further tee reservations between noon and mid afternoon.

We have a very competitive club membership and for many competitions you can't get a time if you are a bit lax about looking to enter, but can always go onto a reserve list. This generally works fine for those on it as there are almost always drop-outs prior to the day of the comp.