Course Closed at the Height of the Season.Selfish or Fair

[GB72]

I am a weekend golfer, cannot play in the week so rely on my 1 or 2 rounds at the weekend. I pay full whack for this and there have been a fair few threads on whether it is fair to pay for days that you cannot use. Anyway, my rant is about not being able to use the course on the days when I can play during the height of the season.

Over the last few weeks we have had the course closed for the club championship (only open to lower handicappers), the ladies club championship, captains weekend (tees must be booked and can only be used to enter comps in 4 balls), lady captains day, the club open, the ladies club open and on bank holiday monday we have the club mixed open. All of these close the course for most of the day. Taking into account that alot of full members can only play at weekends, is if fair to have days when the course if not open to everyone who wants to play. I know the importance of these events but you are looking at the course being effectively shut for about a third of the days that I could have played over the last few months.

Surely some, if not all, of the opens should be during the quieter days in the week and not closing the course to members.

This is probably me being selfish but is it unreasonable to at least expect events that close the course to be split between week days and weekends.

 

[MarkA]

You could of course try entering the comps!

 

[GB72]

You could of course try entering the comps!

I enter a comp every chance I get. Club championship is restricted by handicap and even those at the top end of the limit have to be balloted to get in. Captains weekend requires you having a suitable 4 ball ready to book in and with many of my group also playing cricket that is not easy (you cannot book a slot on your own and let others sign in along side you), I cannot enter the womens' events as I am not golfing in drag for anyone, the mixed events tend to be a majority of women playing with their husbands etc.

My point was that the course was shut for events that I could not enter (and I would love to take part as I really enjoy comps) rather than that it was closed for events that I did not want to enter.

 

[USER1999]

I think all clubs have similar issues. We have been closed for the mens invitation, the Herts cadet open, the Pro am, the West Herts open is coming up, as is the scratch gold (h/cap limit 5), and Finals day. Every bank holiday there is a mixed event, so you have to get out on the course early to miss it (so much for a lie in).

That's golf clubs for you.

 

[DCB]

What a bummer.... imagine that, people wanting to play on the golf course during the summer

It happens everywhere, weekends from June to August are the busiest weekends of the year. The weather is supposed to be good, course is usually in good condition by then, so the course is busy.

Although our card is busy, general play can take place from around 3.30 or 4pm on Competition days, so you still get a chance to go out and play.

It's just the way golf works in this country

 

[Ethan]

At our place, Captain's Day was a 1pm shotgun, so they set up another shotgun, a roll-up at 8 am, for those who didn't want to play in Captain's Day or had to finish earlier. Worked great.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm sorry but it's going to happen. Surely you can find a 4 ball for Captains Day? We have club champs but its open to all, ladies club champs (fair enough), Captains Day with an AM and PM shotgun, members guest day and Masters Day all of which close the course. These dates are published in the diary each year and so if you can't play the course either find a range to practice at, book an awayday somewhere else (always nice to play other courses), or have the day off.

 

[HRC99]

Entirely fair.

These competitions are part of the fabric of any golf club and have been around far longer than you have been a member and will be around long after you've moved on.

Don't you have divisional opens in your area that you could enter?

 

[Doh]

Our club championship is also handicap limited two rounds on the same day usualy on Saturday they have fixed slots am and pm. so anyone can play as long as they are not taking those slots.Any open comps are played during the week be they mixed, seniors or what ever members comps still take place at weekend.On Bank Holidays there is always a mixed comp in the morning so the course is free from 1pm for other members.

I think i would be a bit peved if the club did not do all it could to accommodate other members needs. Personaly i dont think you are being unreasonable about this.

 

[Dodger]

Picture this one...my club cancelled an open recently because they wanted the Saturday to maximise green fee income as it would obviously potentially make more cash for the club in the short term...fair enough.

Now they have stuck a mixed open on that day in the prime time slots that could have captured visitors and got them their maximised green fee income they were so craving...this mixed open was postponed recently due to it raining so now we have gone from the scenario of 2 days of potentially reasonable income and word of mouth coverage (the 2 x opens)or 2 days of fairly low and 1 possibly good day income (the original mixed open and the day of the cancelled open making way for visitors income) to 1 day of fairly low income 1 and 1 of none (the 2 x mixed opens)......go work that one out if you can.

 

[USER1999]

I can't, I got lost half way through reading it.

 

[Dodger]

I can't, I got lost half way through reading it.

You're an Englishman so I understand.

 

[chiv]

GB
speak with your pro;get an idea what the reasons are. If there's room for a proper whinge put it in writing to The Committee (especially if you have any 7 day supporters). Maybe they need to spread comps out where possible...and you need a partner.

 

[Alex1975]

I never care if its a club comp as I will play in it or after it, I do take exception when it is a comp against another club though. I feel that should be done during the week. It is not something I would make a fuss about but it does tweek me as we seem to have a hell of a lot of members this year!

In the main I am happy with what I play and what I get.

 

[sev112]

Easy = transfer all those women's comps to Tuesdays

 

[sev112]

Seriously though

Put your name down for all 4 spots on a 4 ball an see who you can subsequently get to join you

Or i do think that handicap limit comps should also have a numer of spaces for those in the next category perhaps to be drawn

 

[GB72]

Actually not an unfair point. The women have the tee all morning on a Wednesday, represent less than 10% of the overall membership yet over the last month or so have closed the course for most of the day at a weekend 3 times. One or 2 of those could have been played on ladies day in the week.

 

[chris661]

I can see both sides of the argument but what really rips my knitting is when there is a classic on and it might be €30 a man. FFS I pay my subs to be able to play at the weekend and now I have to pay stupid amounts

 

[bladeplayer]

Our captains is the one comp you cant pick your own playing partners, you put your name down in one of any one hour block of times & there is a draw for partners ,,

 

[fundy]

I think its mainly fair, but clubs have to get the balance between members rights and income generation right.

I think at ours they get it right nearly all the time albeit I know of other clubs where the balance seems out to me.

Sounds as though yours is slightly borderline to me.

If you know of any of the dates you cant play and dont mind travelling more than welcome at ours for the day (assuming we dont have a comp on!)