Florida Golf - Tipping

[HawkeyeMS]

I'm

Thanks for all the replies. I already knew that 15% was the going rate in restaurants, but never had a clue when it's for something entirely trivial that is part of their job (eg. carrying luggage in hotels).

As for what courses we will play - it depends on what deals we can get on golfnow.com. A few that are conveniently close are Mystic Dunes, Orange Lakes, Falcons Fire, Highlands Reserve, Panther Lake, Crooked Cat, Grande Pines, Kissimmee Bay, Remington. Any of those we should avoid, bearing in mind that we aren't keen on long carries over water?

The in-laws have a timeshare at orange Lake so I know both courses well. The Reserve has the potential to be a great course but they don't put as much time into maintaining it as they perhaps should. It is playable but a bit scruffy which is a shame. Be prepared to lose a few balls on the first few holes if you're not on your game though.

The Legends is a nice course, well kept and GPS on buggies which you don't get on the reserve (that wouldn't be so bad if they did a course guide, but they don't and some of the yardage markers are a bit suspect, and in places different to the scorecard). As a holiday golfing experience the Legends is much more pleasant, but there is something about the Reserve that, despite what I have said above, still makes me think it is a better test of golf if played from the back tees.

 

[MadAdey]

We had 18% added everywhere we went, and sometimes 20% - study the check carefully (you can reduce the gratuity).

You never have gratuity added in, unless normally you are in a party of 8 or more. On most bills you will see a guideline to how much to tip for people that aren't very savvy when it comes to mental arithmetic. The only added extras you see will be state tax which varies between 6-10% depending on where you are.

Here, unlike the UK people are relying on tips as there is no real welfare system where they get income support or social housing. Somebody earning minimum here will make around $1600 before tax in the service industry, but they do not get that made up to minimum poverty guidelines like the UK. Without the tips they can't afford to live, but the service you get anyway is worth the tips.

also, anyone coming over here should always leave a tip in a bar too. Just drop a buck or 2 down depending on how many drinks you get. Then when it gets busy you will not find your self being ignored, but getting served ahead of non tippers.

 

[Hacker Khan]

I'm

The in-laws have a timeshare at orange Lake so I know both courses well. The Reserve has the potential to be a great course but they don't put as much time into maintaining it as they perhaps should. It is playable but a bit scruffy which is a shame. Be prepared to lose a few balls on the first few holes if you're not on your game though.

The Legends is a nice course, well kept and GPS on buggies which you don't get on the reserve (that wouldn't be so bad if they did a course guide, but they don't and some of the yardage markers are a bit suspect, and in places different to the scorecard). As a holiday golfing experience the Legends is much more pleasant, but there is something about the Reserve that, despite what I have said above, still makes me think it is a better test of golf if played from the back tees.

Sweet, very jealous. We stayed there for a week earlier this year and loved the place. Heard a few nightmare tales of how they pressure you into taking timeshare presentations that last hours, but we cunningly avoided it by walking straight to our car and then to the apartment once we had checked in. instead of going to the desk they told us to go to. And then taking the phone off the hook all week. And was never bothered at all.

Having said that if I was in the market for a timeshare in Florida then this seemed a very nice place to have one.

 

[Break90]

See I don't understand this - giving people money just because they are doing their job ?

Obviously if the service they provided was very good or went beyond just doing their job then yes would give a tip but only then

It relates more to the way certain jobs are taxed in the US.

Think of it on the premise that that 15% is what you should tip if they 'just do their job'. If they exceed expectation tip them 18%, 20% or whatever you feel is right.

eating out in the US generally is way cheaper than the UK, you won't end up bankrupt by tipping at the recommended level.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Sweet, very jealous. We stayed there for a week earlier this year and loved the place. Heard a few nightmare tales of how they pressure you into taking timeshare presentations that last hours, but we cunningly avoided it by walking straight to our car and then to the apartment once we had checked in. instead of going to the desk they told us to go to. And then taking the phone off the hook all week. And was never bothered at all.

Having said that if I was in the market for a timeshare in Florida then this seemed a very nice place to have one.

This year was the first time they have tried to sell one to us. They started at reception by saying that as we were guests of the owners they wanted to give us $60 to spend in one of the restaurants and all we had to do was go to another desk. It turned out that in order to get the $60 we had to do the tour. Mrs H said she would go on her own while I was playing golf but they said we both had to go so we didn't bother.

 

[MadAdey]

It relates more to the way certain jobs are taxed in the US.

Think of it on the premise that that 15% is what you should tip if they 'just do their job'. If they exceed expectation tip them 18%, 20% or whatever you feel is right.

eating out in the US generally is way cheaper than the UK, you won't end up bankrupt by tipping at the recommended level.

When paying the voluntary contribution for employees an employer will work out tax on the tips. It is basically worked out like this:

$500 worth of custom for the waitress that night should equal $75 of tips. Employer takes say 20% tax out of their wages, that is $15, but if people haven't been tipping and they only got $30 then they are getting stiffed for 50% in tax now.

 

[cliveb]

This year was the first time they have tried to sell one to us. They started at reception by saying that as we were guests of the owners they wanted to give us $60 to spend in one of the restaurants and all we had to do was go to another desk. It turned out that in order to get the $60 we had to do the tour. Mrs H said she would go on her own while I was playing golf but they said we both had to go so we didn't bother.

I've been to Florida before (about 10 years ago - not to play golf that time). My wife and I agreed to go to a timeshare presentation in exchange for free theme park tickets. They are *very* persuasive sales people. They somehow manage to make you think you're stupid to say no. But we held our nerve and got out intact. We concluded that if you can survive an American timeshare hard sell, you can resist any scam going.

 

[Hacker Khan]

I've been to Florida before (about 10 years ago - not to play golf that time). My wife and I agreed to go to a timeshare presentation in exchange for free theme park tickets. They are *very* persuasive sales people. They somehow manage to make you think you're stupid to say no. But we held our nerve and got out intact. We concluded that if you can survive an American timeshare hard sell, you can resist any scam going.

It's not so much the pressure sales for me but the waste of 3 or 4 hours of your holiday time. I'd have happily sat through 3 hours and just said no for a free round of golf or a day pass to Sea World if I had the free time, but I figured I'd rather pay the going rate and spend those 3 hours having fun.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I went to Florida for the first time this year. I have issues with tipping, you are just doing your job, same as me, so that aspect of America filled me with dread. My wife knew this and so did a bit of quiet research. Before we went she sat me down and explained how the waiting staff pretty much survive on tips as do many other people in the service industry. When you get to the US you will see how over staffed places are, a good way of keeping unemployment numbers down. Eating out is cheap and so she told me, whatever price you see on the menu, add 15%. Do it automatically and accept it. You can't change the US culture of paying poorly so that waiter is surviving on tips whatever your opinion is. Not tipping that person is not going to change the situation. Once you get past that, add the 15% in your mind on the menu not via the bill, then it stops being an issue.

I found the service in Florida impecable, a different league to the UK, so I never felt as though I should not tip. Let's face it if you only earn a wage through tips then you are really going to look after people.

I still don't like the idea of tipping for doing your job, I really hate a service charge being added in the UK when quite often the service is below minimum at best, but if that is how the US works you have to go along with it. If you can't handle it then go elsewhere on your holidays. As Florida is great fun, suck it up, pay the tip and enjoy yourself.

 

[Val]

I went to Florida for the first time this year. I have issues with tipping, you are just doing your job, same as me, so that aspect of America filled me with dread. My wife knew this and so did a bit of quiet research. Before we went she sat me down and explained how the waiting staff pretty much survive on tips as do many other people in the service industry. When you get to the US you will see how over staffed places are, a good way of keeping unemployment numbers down. Eating out is cheap and so she told me, whatever price you see on the menu, add 15%. Do it automatically and accept it. You can't change the US culture of paying poorly so that waiter is surviving on tips whatever your opinion is. Not tipping that person is not going to change the situation. Once you get past that, add the 15% in your mind on the menu not via the bill, then it stops being an issue.

I found the service in Florida impecable, a different league to the UK, so I never felt as though I should not tip. Let's face it if you only earn a wage through tips then you are really going to look after people.

I still don't like the idea of tipping for doing your job, I really hate a service charge being added in the UK when quite often the service is below minimum at best, but if that is how the US works you have to go along with it. If you can't handle it then go elsewhere on your holidays. As Florida is great fun, suck it up, pay the tip and enjoy yourself.

Wise words, have a LIKE


When in Rome and all that

 

[Foxholer]

....I really hate a service charge being added in the UK when quite often the service is below minimum at best

I'm the same and have no qualms about scrubbing the 'service charge' when service is not up to scratch. But I've also been happy to add more when service has been 'proper'.