Foxholer
Blackballed
Thought you might be interested with the attitude of the Manager of Sutton Green Golf Club after the incident I had on Wednesday.
Here's the body of the correspondence:
<Me to him>
Hi,
As I have done several times recently, I contacted your Pro Shop with a view to playing a round as a visitor this evening.
Having been assured the course was 'not busy' I rolled just after 5 to be faced with quite a queue for the first tee. However, the 10th seemed fairly free and I wandered there along with a couple of members (Wayne and Simon) who kindly let me join up.
Unfortunately, we then experienced that most hated of experiences - the slow 4-ball that won't let quicker groups through and won't even acknowledge the group behind's existence! This one comprised 3 elderly gentleman and a lady and we were waiting on every shot bar 3!
There was absolutely no need to hold us up the way they did! It took 2 hrs 20 to play our front 9 and 1 hr 40 to play the back - and we only just managed to finish before dark. The ignorance of these members has left a distinctly poor taste and I shall certainly be considering carefully visiting again! If I do, I would like some assurance that the message that such poor golfing etiquette is unacceptable has been relayed to those responsible.
Regards
<His Reply>
The course was not busy by comparison to many courses like hoebridge, we just had a few groups out.
Starting at the 10th put you behind golfers more than half way round, who had organised a golfing day.
It is a shame not all golfers call faster matches through, but i disagree with many of your comments and the position you feel Sutton green should adjust for you.
Many thanks
Bernard White
Sutton Green GC
<Me to him>
Bernard,
I am a little surprised with your response!
I don't expect SGGC to adjust to suit me - simply to stress the Etiquette area of The Rules to visitors (and members). You could check with the members I had the pleasure to play with and they will confirm that there was never another group within several holes in front of the offending group.
The Pro Shop could also confirm the situation, as I commented similarly after playing the 15th (didn't have my phone with me, otherwise I would have deemed it appropriate to call from the course!). Even after doing so, we still had to wait for them to leave the 17th Tee and they were so slow that we had to wait to Drive on the 17th (and 18th like all the other holes) as well!
Now I have no real issue with slow players - as long as they let quicker groups through. Your response gives me no confidence that that is likely to happen should a similar situation arise. It is the difference between having a pleasant 3 hour round and a decidedly unpleasant nearly 5 hour one!
It is, indeed, a shame that some golfers don't apply the specified Etiquette, but very disappointing to observe that your attitude seems to be to simply shrug this scourge! You have cost your club money by doing so!
Which of my comments did you disagree with - and why?
Regards
<his Reply>
I have many members and visitors to look after – most adhere to etiquette and speed of play. They did not this time, but your attitude is out of context to the problem in my opinion.
Bernard White
SGGC
<me to him>
Bernard,
Thanks for your reply, which I somehow missed for a couple of days.
I've estimated that in the last 6 weeks or so, I've spent around £100 as a , 'low maintenance' visitor - you haven't had to 'look after' me at any time.
It restricts/inconveniences me slightly, but I shall be selecting one of your 'competitors' for future Golf expenditure this year.
I shall also be loading the bodies of our correspondence onto a couple of Golf forums, so that others are aware of the way you 'look after visitors'.
<his reply>
You correspondence is out of context for the incident – you got held up on the golf course, it happens at every golf club every day – thank you for the threats about online and I trust you will encounter no one holding you up ever again at other courses.
Bernard White
Sutton green gc
<end of correspondence>
As far as I can recall, this has been the first time I've written to a club with anything other than positive comments. I never expected to be offered compensation - though had mentioned that I'd be demanding my money back, if we failed to finish before dark, when I nipped to the Pro Shop to notify them of the problem.
Seems to show that at least 1 club seems to consider slow play 'par for the course' and not something that should be specifically chased!
Here's the body of the correspondence:
<Me to him>
Hi,
As I have done several times recently, I contacted your Pro Shop with a view to playing a round as a visitor this evening.
Having been assured the course was 'not busy' I rolled just after 5 to be faced with quite a queue for the first tee. However, the 10th seemed fairly free and I wandered there along with a couple of members (Wayne and Simon) who kindly let me join up.
Unfortunately, we then experienced that most hated of experiences - the slow 4-ball that won't let quicker groups through and won't even acknowledge the group behind's existence! This one comprised 3 elderly gentleman and a lady and we were waiting on every shot bar 3!
There was absolutely no need to hold us up the way they did! It took 2 hrs 20 to play our front 9 and 1 hr 40 to play the back - and we only just managed to finish before dark. The ignorance of these members has left a distinctly poor taste and I shall certainly be considering carefully visiting again! If I do, I would like some assurance that the message that such poor golfing etiquette is unacceptable has been relayed to those responsible.
Regards
<His Reply>
The course was not busy by comparison to many courses like hoebridge, we just had a few groups out.
Starting at the 10th put you behind golfers more than half way round, who had organised a golfing day.
It is a shame not all golfers call faster matches through, but i disagree with many of your comments and the position you feel Sutton green should adjust for you.
Many thanks
Bernard White
Sutton Green GC
<Me to him>
Bernard,
I am a little surprised with your response!
I don't expect SGGC to adjust to suit me - simply to stress the Etiquette area of The Rules to visitors (and members). You could check with the members I had the pleasure to play with and they will confirm that there was never another group within several holes in front of the offending group.
The Pro Shop could also confirm the situation, as I commented similarly after playing the 15th (didn't have my phone with me, otherwise I would have deemed it appropriate to call from the course!). Even after doing so, we still had to wait for them to leave the 17th Tee and they were so slow that we had to wait to Drive on the 17th (and 18th like all the other holes) as well!
Now I have no real issue with slow players - as long as they let quicker groups through. Your response gives me no confidence that that is likely to happen should a similar situation arise. It is the difference between having a pleasant 3 hour round and a decidedly unpleasant nearly 5 hour one!
It is, indeed, a shame that some golfers don't apply the specified Etiquette, but very disappointing to observe that your attitude seems to be to simply shrug this scourge! You have cost your club money by doing so!
Which of my comments did you disagree with - and why?
Regards
<his Reply>
I have many members and visitors to look after – most adhere to etiquette and speed of play. They did not this time, but your attitude is out of context to the problem in my opinion.
Bernard White
SGGC
<me to him>
Bernard,
Thanks for your reply, which I somehow missed for a couple of days.
I've estimated that in the last 6 weeks or so, I've spent around £100 as a , 'low maintenance' visitor - you haven't had to 'look after' me at any time.
It restricts/inconveniences me slightly, but I shall be selecting one of your 'competitors' for future Golf expenditure this year.
I shall also be loading the bodies of our correspondence onto a couple of Golf forums, so that others are aware of the way you 'look after visitors'.
<his reply>
You correspondence is out of context for the incident – you got held up on the golf course, it happens at every golf club every day – thank you for the threats about online and I trust you will encounter no one holding you up ever again at other courses.
Bernard White
Sutton green gc
<end of correspondence>
As far as I can recall, this has been the first time I've written to a club with anything other than positive comments. I never expected to be offered compensation - though had mentioned that I'd be demanding my money back, if we failed to finish before dark, when I nipped to the Pro Shop to notify them of the problem.
Seems to show that at least 1 club seems to consider slow play 'par for the course' and not something that should be specifically chased!
