Have you ever avoided paying for a round of golf?

[Pongo]

One morning last summer I went out for a round of golf before the pro shop had opened,played a decent round then had a quick pint and realised I could save a few quid by not paying. I opted for a second beer before slipping out unnoticed. My playing partner was a member and seemed unaware of my sneakiness unless he was turning a blind eye.
I'm due to return to the same club later in the week and I'm terrified I might get recognised and pulled up. I want to 'fess up but don't want to get done by the police. Is it theft, tresspass or amnesia?

 

[brendy]

Why not take a bunch of flowers and apologise profusely.

 

[imran_ali]

Last week a chap who was playing with a few members tried to pull the wool over me!!! I asked him if he was a member (I knew he wasn't) and he decided to tell me his life story and how he was a member Previously(which he was not) in the end I had to stop him moving his jaw and waggling the thing in between it and ask him AGAIN!!!!! His intentions were pretty clear as he had to borrow money from his mate for the gree fee. I think it is the equivalent of shop lifting and deserves the same punishment!

 

[Durango]

Non-paying members!

 

[full_throttle]

simply answer, NO

 

[Mark_G]

No, why would you? Especially if you want to go back, if everyone didnt pay there wouldnt be any courses to go to.

 

[Bash]

No I haven't and yes it is an offence. It's not theft but is called "making off without payment" (or commonly called "bilking") and is an offence under the theft act. It's the same offence as filling your petrol tank up and making off without paying for it.
Dunno why you're telling the forum members this (especially when it was months ago). Are we to be impressed?
I think not
Shame on you

 

[Ian_S]

I'd go straight to the pro-shop to apologise and pay up for the round. Do it before anyone can accuse you because the last thing you want is to appear to have been caught. I think so long as you do that they should be ok. Perhaps find something small but vastly overpriced in the pro shop to purchase as well, as interest on the late payment.

 

[Imurg]

In all honesty, those at the club see so many each week that they're unlikely to recognise you.
But I'd spend a tidy sum in the bar as a recompense if I were you.
Not good form.

 

[Bratty]

It's theft. But if you want to take the "easy" way out, just go in next week and when you're paying for this round, just say, "I'm so sorry, but I've been meaning to come back for months" and then explain the pro-shop wasn't open and how sorry you are.

Not so much fessing up as clearing your conscience! Mind you, I'd be amazed if anyone remembers you not paying (but that doesn't make it right!).

I've had two rounds where I've avoided paying. One was in Holland, where the pro-shop had only just opened and his card machine wasn't working. "Come back after the round", he said. So I did, and he told me not to worry about it! Second was in Cape Town recently, where I asked a lady sitting at a table that I wasn't in the competition, but where was the pro-shop? She asked if I wanted to play in the competition, space already paid for, as two peole hadn't turned up and there was a two-ball who needed at least a third. Bargain!

Neither of those are theft, though!

 

[Oddsocks]

I haven't done it yet nor to a plan on doing it...BUT.... i do wonder if some of the " your wrong, its wrong posters "... as a squeaky clean as some of the replies suggest.

 

[DCB]

Some of the smaller, more rural courses up here have honesty boxes at the first tee. I worked with a guy who having put his £10 in the honesty box, started off and after 3 holes the heavens opened. He returned to the honesty box complete with screwdriver and long-nosed pliers to get his money back

 

[Philm]

aye plenty of times.

but i usually ask the pro if he minds lol

Phil

 

[User20205]

I've played without having to pay once. At Castle Coombe, the bloke I was playing with had a courtesy four ball as he was a prospective corporate member. I felt obliged to blow some cash in the pro shop on stuff I didn't need.

What the OP did is inexcusable. I played at Hockley many times where we teed off before the pro shop opened. I always made a point of going back after the round and paying the guest fee. I'm amazed the member you were playing with didn't insist. Bratty is right, you should pay double this time, or at least buy a couple of boxes of pro v1's

 

[Bratty]

I haven't done it yet nor to a plan on doing it...BUT.... i do wonder if some of the " your wrong, its wrong posters "... as a squeaky clean as some of the replies suggest.

I am when it comes to golf.
Anything else, and my morals are more questionable... in the words of Edmund Blackadder, "I'd mud-wrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock and a sack of French porn!"

 

[thecraw]

I have said this for years. If you have the balls or brass neck you could walk onto 90% of golf courses in the UK unchallenged.

Look like a golfer and walk onto the first tee you'll probably go unchallenged by anyone.

 

[Andy]

I have said this for years. If you have the balls or brass neck you could walk onto 90% of golf courses in the UK unchallenged.

Look like a golfer and walk onto the first tee you'll probably go unchallenged by anyone.

Until they see ur swing ;-)

 

[thecraw]

Until they see ur swing ;-)

Or your dress sense.

 

[Andy]

Or your dress sense.

Still looks good but. Even you stand in admiration haha

 

[Oddsocks]

I have said this for years. If you have the balls or brass neck you could walk onto 90% of golf courses in the UK unchallenged.

Look like a golfer and walk onto the first tee you'll probably go unchallenged by anyone.

This is true, but look at the options, any increase in security as it were would mean expensive systems, which is increased overheads for clubs to maintain, which would no doubt mean an increase in subs/green fees.