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Golf Random Irritations

Makes sense to me. If the vouchers are for the club shop they’ll have the money budgeted for the expense of tour vouchers, and will coincide with the upcoming end of financial year to keep things clean and simple by balancing the books. Im sure you can spend it well within that time 😉
It happens in many shops etc for much the same reason. Budgeting. The issuers don't want liabilities outstanding for years not knowing if they will ever be 'called in'.
 
Had an email today from the course saying I had won some vouchers for winning Div2 yesterday. Chuffed with that, but it also said “ vouchers expire in 6 months “. Why? 😳
At my club you get the option of sticking it on your bar tab instead. I would probably always do that unless there was something I particularly needed.
 
I guess nobody goes to the old bog standard ranges anymore so they've had to move with the times. My local Trackman range is only £7.50 for 50 balls though, so not terrible. The only non-Trackman/Tracer range near me is not open in the evenings so I don't have much choice anyway.

Not that I go on a range very often but it is one of the things that is nice about membership where I play- we have our own range with Toptracer and the costs are very much reduced for members - half the cost of that of a visitor long time since I bought a card but I think it is about £1 for 20 balls or £15 for 20 x 20 balls.
 
Had an email today from the course saying I had won some vouchers for winning Div2 yesterday. Chuffed with that, but it also said “ vouchers expire in 6 months “. Why? 😳

I no longer play in comps - one of the reasons is that winnings always go on to the proshop credit despite the change in Amateur rules for prizes and there is absolutely nothing I need or want in the proshop. Last time I had some winnings I took Prov1 balls and sold them on.
 
That would be the biggest waste of money for me 🤣

I always keep it in the shop, free tees, bottles or water, snacks or other ancillary items for a few weeks that way.
I hardly ever buy anything in our pro shop. I bring water and snacks for my round from home. Rarely ever need to buy tees and would mostly buy them online when I do. Golf balls will be cheaper online and they don't sell many varieties in the shop anyway.
 
I hardly ever buy anything in our pro shop. I bring water and snacks for my round from home. Rarely ever need to buy tees and would mostly buy them online when I do. Golf balls will be cheaper online and they don't sell many varieties in the shop anyway.
That’s fair comment. Most pro shops now are awful unless they’re at top end clubs where there’s More free cash about or have signed into partnerships with Brands like Foremost or Affordable golf. Most shops don’t stock very good golf gear these days, surviving on ball, gloves, ancillaries, drinks and chocolate bar sales.

I know that’s a huge generalisation but in last few months I’ve played several courses and couldn’t name one of them where I’ve walked into the shop and been drawn to any of what they sell. Even the range I use has a Foremost shop and it’s extremely poorly stocked.

At least you can exchange it for something you will make use of.
 
Would love to be able to spend ours in the pro shop. Ours, as far as I can tell, just goes toward more competitions :( I have a feeling if you leave the club they arrange a deal for you. But it means that some people have a huge balance in their comp account and can't really do anything with it!
 
I hardly ever buy anything in our pro shop. I bring water and snacks for my round from home. Rarely ever need to buy tees and would mostly buy them online when I do. Golf balls will be cheaper online and they don't sell many varieties in the shop anyway.
Will they not order in for you? A lot of shops are affiliated to Foremost Folf and can get most things. Most will also prize match. You should support your pro shop or they will never stock what people need.
 
That’s fair comment. Most pro shops now are awful unless they’re at top end clubs where there’s More free cash about or have signed into partnerships with Brands like Foremost or Affordable golf. Most shops don’t stock very good golf gear these days, surviving on ball, gloves, ancillaries, drinks and chocolate bar sales.

I know that’s a huge generalisation but in last few months I’ve played several courses and couldn’t name one of them where I’ve walked into the shop and been drawn to any of what they sell. Even the range I use has a Foremost shop and it’s extremely poorly stocked.

At least you can exchange it for something you will make use of.
I would counter that most shops haven’t got the space to stock loads of stuff but if you ask, I would expect them to get it in for you. Ours certainly do.
 
Would love to be able to spend ours in the pro shop. Ours, as far as I can tell, just goes toward more competitions :( I have a feeling if you leave the club they arrange a deal for you. But it means that some people have a huge balance in their comp account and can't really do anything with it!
That’s absolutely mental! Seems such a waste of money just sat there not being used by either the club or the member. Can this not be addressed with the committee at your AGM
I would counter that most shops haven’t got the space to stock loads of stuff but if you ask, I would expect them to get it in for you. Ours certainly do.
Most shops do tend to be small but they rarely have anything at all, in the last month I’ve played 3 different courses , only 1 had anything other than coffee, tea, gloves and balls. It had a small selection of TM gear and Under Armour as they were the affiliates of the club pro. Another only did balls, gloves, tees and snacks. The last one didn’t even do that, it did tees and snacks not a single golf item.

Of those 2 shops neither were run by the Pro but by the club so had no affiliates and no order contacts. Both of those clubs the Pro was basically affiliated purely for teaching seems an odd model but one I’m coming across a lot around here and back home.
Will they not order in for you? A lot of shops are affiliated to Foremost Folf and can get most things. Most will also prize match. You should support your pro shop or they will never stock what people need.
How do you find Foremost, I’m not really a fan I find them very over priced and not easy to deal with. Had a recent incident at one of the ranges I used that are a Foremost shop asked if they’d order something in for me as part of the larger brand basically got told where to go by the guy running the shop.
 
That’s absolutely mental! Seems such a waste of money just sat there not being used by either the club or the member. Can this not be addressed with the committee at your AGM

Most shops do tend to be small but they rarely have anything at all, in the last month I’ve played 3 different courses , only 1 had anything other than coffee, tea, gloves and balls. It had a small selection of TM gear and Under Armour as they were the affiliates of the club pro. Another only did balls, gloves, tees and snacks. The last one didn’t even do that, it did tees and snacks not a single golf item.

Of those 2 shops neither were run by the Pro but by the club so had no affiliates and no order contacts. Both of those clubs the Pro was basically affiliated purely for teaching seems an odd model but one I’m coming across a lot around here and back home.

How do you find Foremost, I’m not really a fan I find them very over priced and not easy to deal with. Had a recent incident at one of the ranges I used that are a Foremost shop asked if they’d order something in for me as part of the larger brand basically got told where to go by the guy running the shop.
Never dealt with them directly but when i have asked the pro shop to order stuff - OGIO stand bag, adidas shoes recently, they have ordered them and they arrived in a couple of days.
Our shop also has a good range of clothing from various brands (some club logos) and a range of clubs as well. I think we are a bit spoilt with our pro shop and staff.
 
That’s absolutely mental! Seems such a waste of money just sat there not being used by either the club or the member. Can this not be addressed with the committee at your AGM

Most shops do tend to be small but they rarely have anything at all, in the last month I’ve played 3 different courses , only 1 had anything other than coffee, tea, gloves and balls. It had a small selection of TM gear and Under Armour as they were the affiliates of the club pro. Another only did balls, gloves, tees and snacks. The last one didn’t even do that, it did tees and snacks not a single golf item.

Of those 2 shops neither were run by the Pro but by the club so had no affiliates and no order contacts. Both of those clubs the Pro was basically affiliated purely for teaching seems an odd model but one I’m coming across a lot around here and back home.

How do you find Foremost, I’m not really a fan I find them very over priced and not easy to deal with. Had a recent incident at one of the ranges I used that are a Foremost shop asked if they’d order something in for me as part of the larger brand basically got told where to go by the guy running the shop.
Yeah our pro shop is also affiliated with Foremost I believe, but I've had very little dealings with their site - used them once when I got a free £50 voucher from somewhere. Generally their stuff doesn't seem very cheap by comparison.
 
Foremost will be the standard prices you see in most golf shops , where a pro shop orders from will depend on who he has contracts with - most have the links to Titleist etc and will depend on if they price match etc

A good pro shop will do whatever they can for their members and a good pro shop will be supported by the members etc

I get all my shoes , clothing and balls from our pro shop or other clubs pro shops when I visit - they provide a valuable service for us
 
Give me a big standard range everytime. Luckily I have one close to me that’s £4 for 50 balls, which is what I do. The TT ranges near me are £9 for 50 balls.

I see no value in the TT ranges for why I go to a range. If I want to get yardages etc or I’ll go to an indoor studio that has a GC quad and is £20 for an hour
 
Never dealt with them directly but when i have asked the pro shop to order stuff - OGIO stand bag, adidas shoes recently, they have ordered them and they arrived in a couple of days.
Our shop also has a good range of clothing from various brands (some club logos) and a range of clubs as well. I think we are a bit spoilt with our pro shop and staff.
Sounds like the ideal set up and decent value if you’re getting that level of service. Sadly everywhere I’ve been lately Pro shops have been woeful for stock levels and ability to assist you. I think it’s largely down to the area where we are. We’ve got some really nice clubs with decent courses and friendly members but being in the commuter belt everyone seems to be in a rush to spend money elsewhere so shops aren’t utilised.
Yeah our pro shop is also affiliated with Foremost I believe, but I've had very little dealings with their site - used them once when I got a free £50 voucher from somewhere. Generally their stuff doesn't seem very cheap by comparison.
That’s issue I’ve had with the ones I’ve used not found them very well stocked and found the prices to be above market average and when you ask about that price or items that may not be in stock they’re more interested in losing your custom to go elsewhere than trying to give a level of service that would bring you back.
Give me a big standard range everytime. Luckily I have one close to me that’s £4 for 50 balls, which is what I do. The TT ranges near me are £9 for 50 balls.

I see no value in the TT ranges for why I go to a range. If I want to get yardages etc or I’ll go to an indoor studio that has a GC quad and is £20 for an hour
Don’t have that luxury there’s only one range near me that doesn’t have TT and it’s not open past 6pm so that’s instantly a no go. Even the one near work that isn’t TT is only a £1 cheaper for a 100 balls so makes no real difference.
 
Knocking it round on Thursday 2 over after 9. Parred 10 and 11. Then got held up by the wandering clowns (five four balls, I gave them an hour head start!). I was wondering where to get my two birdies from grrrrrrrrrrr. Gave up. Hacked down 12 /13 then joined first group on 18 to finish with a par (almost birdie) Grrrrrrrrrr
 
Knocking it round on Thursday 2 over after 9. Parred 10 and 11. Then got held up by the wandering clowns (five four balls, I gave them an hour head start!). I was wondering where to get my two birdies from grrrrrrrrrrr. Gave up. Hacked down 12 /13 then joined first group on 18 to finish with a par (almost birdie) Grrrrrrrrrr

Shame, but an hour isn't enough gap for a single to play 18 behind a4 ball and not expect to catch them
 
Does it not just get added as pro shop credit?
No the vouchers are for the club shop only which is owned by the pro not the club.
The pro has a lease on the shop for X number of years. So the vouchers could last forever. The sad thing is at one time the pro shop was very very competitive re prices. Now it’s not and a lot of lads do County golf etc. which for some reason I don’t think I ever have.
I always wait for the sales and as I type am just putting some
Older vouchers in my bag for spending Tuesday. Never really been a problem for me as I don’t usually win owt 😂her from somewhere. Generally their stuff doesn't seem very cheap.
Yeah our pro shop is also affiliated with Foremost I believe, but I've had very little dealings with their site - used them once when I got a free £50 voucher from somewhere. Generally their stuff doesn't seem very cheap by comparison.
oddly enough our pro shop is affiliated to Foremost golf but I have never really looked at the site.
 
Playing WGT I’m a “master” drawn against a hack.

Don’t normally get drawn against them in my divisions

If giving 120 yards on a 370 yard par 4 wasn’t bad enough, he gets 8 ft gimmies.

Got flipping slaughtered, despite me getting 3 pars

Hurumph 😬
 
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