Friendly Welcome

[sweatysock41]

At present I am on a business trip to the US and to save money on airfares we were sent out a couple of days early (Can't get my head around a £1000 difference in the fare for one day). Anyway I thought that I would see if there ware any courses local to where we were staying that could offer a round with rental clubs as I couldn't be bothered to lug mine to the states for a couple of days.

I happened to find one 20 minutes away from where we were staying that had the same name as my home club. So I contacted them - no problem, come along $80 for 36 holes, buggy and club hire with free lunch and a memento thrown in. The course itself Oak Ridge in Massachussetts is very much a proprietory course but was in reasonable condition given it was hit by a major storm in October and over 80 trees were uprooted. During the round we as a two ball were quicker than several groups in front and every one allowed us to play through - a pleasant experience.

The welcome received was wonderful, the owner made a point of being there for our tee time and made us feel that we were as important as the members. I have made a point of emailing the owner to let him know what a pleasure it was to visit.

I would like to think that my club would give the same welcome but am not sure that would be the case.

Fellow forummers do you believe that we in this country can learn from this in our attitude to visitors.

 

[harvey4banger]

Sounds good, always felt welcome where ever I've played in the States

 

[CMAC]

The Americans have got the 'service' industry tied up, they are miles ahead of us and we could all learn from it, look how you felt with a simple courteous greeting, you're emailing them and posting on the no1 Golf mags forum for us all to know.

Even if they dont mean it, the fact they say "have a nice day" or "your welcome sir" is far better than the 'no eye contact grunt you get with your change put on the counter in front of you' from many service oriented places here.

God Bless America.............if it didnt exist we'd have to invent it.

 

[bobmac]

I've never been to the States but have played several USAF courses and the welcome is always good.
We in Britain could learn a lot from the septic.....I mean our American cousins.
I would imagine it can get a bit OTT on some ocassions though.
PS They even say please and thank you

 

[Aztecs27]

Fellow forummers do you believe that we in this country can learn from this in our attitude to visitors.

Yes. Unless you're paying mega money, you don't get treated nearly as good at golf clubs over here.

Love them or hate them, the American way of customer service is second to none. I've played expensive and cheap courses in the US and my experience at all of them was EXACTLY the same. The only places I've played over here which come close is Woburn and Blackmoor.

 

[mareksoultrain]

Definitely feel we can take a leaf out of their book. Too many times I've felt like I'm inconveniencing the pro shop or alternative, to the point I almost want pack up, turn around and head off home. Some experiences make me want to name, names. On the flip side there are those in the UK where the welcome and service has been awesome. I find this occurs more north of the border.

 

[harvey4banger]

I tell you another thing we can learn from our Yank Cousins

BEER BABES