Golf Things That Gladden The Heart

[WorldHandicapSystem]

Any individual can book a tee time for up to a further three.

The club has no control over a member’s internet speed…any with slow or no broadband will ask a better endowed mate they plan to play with to do the booking.

And yes some groups try and book blocks of tee times - but the club monitors bookings, and doing so and regularly releasing tee times ‘on the day’ is very much frowned upon. The truth at my club is that most members know the times in the week that this can happen. They either ask to be included; avoid trying to book, or book a tee time and if asked to move or swap they can decide to do so or not. In general the groups that try and block book are relaxed if others grab tee times the group had been looking to book.

The issue the club is looking to address is irrespective of your concerns…indeed if anything it is aimed at preventing automated block bookings.

Rights. So the rule that a member has to personally book their tee time isn’t a rule at all?

How is asking a mate with faster internet any more or less fair? What if a member doesn’t have a mate with faster internet, or any mates?

If I had a person assistant, could they book for me? Or even my wife?

How does the club intend to police this?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

There is in my eyes a world of difference between aiming for fairness and preventing complete and almost insurmountable unfairness.

The only chance of a way for complete fairness avoiding tech is ‘in person’ booking…and that is dependent upon availability when booking opens.

As previously stated there are many “available” programs etc for anyone to use to help them book at tee time

And “in person” booking is no more fair than online booking and in fact that’s very much biased towards that can get to the club

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Rights. So the rule that a member has to personally book their tee time isn’t a rule at all?

How is asking a mate with faster internet any more or less fair? What if a member doesn’t have a mate with faster internet, or any mates?

If I had a person assistant, could they book for me? Or even my wife?

How does the club intend to police this

Oh for goodness sake - pleeeaze - my club is looking to prevent or act least minimize unfair booking behaviour...what's with trying to find holes...

But in the interests of pedantry...

Members must book tee times personally

I highlight the word 'times' as clearly this allows a member to book a tee time for others...there are restrictions on when I can book a 2nd tee time for myself in the same day and so I can only book times for others in the tee time I am booking for myself.

I'm not going to bother with not having a mate with internet...

PA or wife? - Yes if they have access to my login details.

Monitoring is done by Club Golf Services Manager working with iG (our Service Provider who can provide details on who is booking and how)

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

As previously stated there are many “available” programs etc for anyone to use to help them book at tee time

And “in person” booking is no more fair than online booking and in fact that’s very much biased towards that can get to the club

1. There my well be and their use is specifically not allowed
2. Indeed

 

[Lord Tyrion]

What if, what if, come on, I mean . A club can only do its best to level the playing field. They can take reasonable actions and after that it is up to individuals. You can not allow for the 1% who don't have a phone or don't have internet coverage. They have to work something out with someone who does.

What you don't do is allow the 1%, or less, who decide to use a program to rig the game. Well done to Hogie's club, sad that they had to do it.

What if, what if,

 

[Arthur Wedge]

1. There my well be and their use is specifically not allowed
2. Indeed

As I was saying why is that use not allowed when other things to provide quicker access is allowed ?

And the club also can’t prove someone is using a “bot” etc

Bots are available to all

And using a “bot” is still someone personally booking a tee time

Good intentions but near impossible to police

 

[Bratty]

Maybe the title of this thread needs changing!

 

[IanM]

There's a world of difference between your prevailing quality of kit and connection, and the use of additional "tools" to gain an edge over other members.

If you resort to that, in the old vernacular..."you sir, are a bounder and a cad!"

"In person" booking went out with square wheels! But virtually everyone has an ability to get online.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

With AI etc there are going to be lots of ways and means to get tee times as they open and it’s near impossible to stop it happening and very very hard to prove etc

It’s the same with websites that get concert tickets or driving tests when they come online

 

[WorldHandicapSystem]

Oh for goodness sake - pleeeaze - my club is looking to prevent or act least minimize unfair booking behaviour...what's with trying to find holes...

But in the interests of pedantry...

Members must book tee times personally

I highlight the word 'times' as clearly this allows a member to book a tee time for others...there are restrictions on when I can book a 2nd tee time for myself in the same day and so I can only book times for others in the tee time I am booking for myself.

I'm not going to bother with not having a mate with internet...

PA or wife? - Yes if they have access to my login details.

Monitoring is done by Club Golf Services Manager working with iG (our Service Provider who can provide details on who is booking and how)

That bit in bold does not clearly mean what you say. It means that a member must book a tee time or times for themselves.

And this is the problem with silly or badly written rules. I dread to think how long it took the committee to agree on the wording. Which more than likely came from chat gpt in the end.

There is absolutely no way a club committee could tell if it was me or my lovely assistant that booked my tee time.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

That bit in bold does not clearly mean what you say. It means that a member must book a tee time or times for themselves.

And this is the problem with silly or badly written rules. I dread to think how long it took the committee to agree on the wording. Which more than likely came from chat gpt in the end.

There is absolutely no way a club committee could tell if it was me or my lovely assistant that booked my tee time.

There is no ambiguity whatsoever given the wording is in a rule specifically and solely addressing the issue of ‘automated’ booking technologies. Plus the rule also states that bookings must be made in accordance with the club’s published booking rules and these are quite clear in respect of all the who, what and when.

My club is not trying to introduce anything NEW towards creating a fairer booking system…rather it is trying to address and close a door on the unfairness that automated booking technologies, apps and programs can provide to a very small minority. If any member wishes to knowingly break this club rule and is rumbled, they know that there will be consequences

 

[SatchFan]

I booked online for 06:40 tomorrow morning and I'm very happy.

 

[Bratty]

I booked online for 06:40 tomorrow morning and I'm very happy.

That gladdens my heart!