Jumping on someone else's booking?

rudebhoy

Q-School Graduate
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
4,918
Location
whitley bay
Visit site
None of my regular PPs are around tomorrow, had a look on BRS this morning and saw there was a free tee time at 8am, so booked that for myself. Got a couple of 4 balls in front of me, so the intention was to take my time and have a little potter around.

However just got an email from BRS saying that 3 guys I've never heard of have jumped onto my booking. Had a look on the members' list, and they are all very low handicappers (2, 4 and 5). There is a comp on tomorrow, which they are bound to be in, so that means playing off the whites instead of the yellows, so all in all, my nice little knock around is kyboshed.

Is it wrong to be narked by this? I know it's a busy time, but (rightly or wrongly) I would never think of putting my name down to play with a stranger, particularly if I had 2 mates in tow. (I do make a point of asking single players if they want to join us when letting them play through, but it's always their choice).

Is there any kind of etiquette around this? I know that if, for example, a mate and myself put ourselves down to play with 2 women members, they would be very likely to take umbrage.
 

HomerJSimpson

Hall of Famer
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
73,206
Location
Bracknell - Berkshire
Visit site
At the moment at my place you take pot luck. We have a whatsapp group for the weekend roll up (Pre-Covid) and so I tend to book a time and ping it out on the app and see if anyone fancies a game. I'll happily jump into an empty booking with people I know but I wouldn't put myself in with strangers but if I end up having people I've never played with joining me I'll still turn up and be sociable. If they are decent players it's always good to see what they do.

I think you have several options. You can pull out and not play which seems to be cutting your nose to spite your face. You can suck it up and enter the comp and try and enjoy it or ask them if they don't mind if you play off the yellows if you just want to knock it round. If they get funny point out it was they that joined you but as long as pace of play is decent and they can focus on their competition they shouldn't mind
 

rudebhoy

Q-School Graduate
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
4,918
Location
whitley bay
Visit site
I like playing on my own sometimes but if it's busy there's no way you can expect to take a whole tee time on your own.
We have to do that in the evenings.

Just my view.

Don't disagree with you.

We have an ongoing problem with people blocking out all 4 spots by putting down "guest" or mates who don't turn up, just so they can have the slot to themselves. I wouldn't do that and wouldn't complain if it had been just one guy who added himself, the fact that there are 3 of them makes me feel a bit ganged-up on. I'm probably just being a bit over-sensitive!
 

BubbaP

Occasional Player of Golf
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
5,708
Location
Oxfordshire
Visit site
It's tricky, if you were a new member people suggest what you did to meet people. Are there other tee times a little later?
If there are already 4 balls in front, it sort of seems sensible to keep with 3 or 4 balls.
 

Beezerk

Money List Winner
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Messages
13,538
Location
Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
Visit site
I'm the opposite, comp on Saturday and the lads I know at my new course are already booked in a 4 ball. I've put myself in a time on my own in the hope someone takes pity on me :cry:
At my last course you generally just stuck your name down with anyone and the pro would juggle a few things to make sure everyone had a playing partner in comps, I'm not sure if its the case here as it seems to be the same names playing with each other week in week out.
 

TheJezster

Tour Rookie
Joined
Jan 5, 2011
Messages
1,510
Location
Surrey
Visit site
That's the point of the booking system isn't it? It's great for new members, they can put their names down with others already booked and get to meet people.

I picked up my new driver and 3 wood last week so put my name down to try them out. Within a short while 3 others had joined me, 2 new members who I'd never met or heard of. It was a nice round and I learnt that one of them could be a good addition to one of the teams.

Golf is social, go with it and enjoy the round ?
 
D

Deleted member 3432

Guest
None of my regular PPs are around tomorrow, had a look on BRS this morning and saw there was a free tee time at 8am, so booked that for myself. Got a couple of 4 balls in front of me, so the intention was to take my time and have a little potter around.

However just got an email from BRS saying that 3 guys I've never heard of have jumped onto my booking. Had a look on the members' list, and they are all very low handicappers (2, 4 and 5). There is a comp on tomorrow, which they are bound to be in, so that means playing off the whites instead of the yellows, so all in all, my nice little knock around is kyboshed.

Is it wrong to be narked by this? I know it's a busy time, but (rightly or wrongly) I would never think of putting my name down to play with a stranger, particularly if I had 2 mates in tow. (I do make a point of asking single players if they want to join us when letting them play through, but it's always their choice).

Is there any kind of etiquette around this? I know that if, for example, a mate and myself put ourselves down to play with 2 women members, they would be very likely to take umbrage.

I have put my name down with 3 fellas I don't know tomorrow. More fun than playing with the same group every week if you mix it up a bit.

Most folk are fairly decent, very rarely you find yourself playing with a bunch of clowns.

At the same token you can't expect to have a booking to yourself when courses are as busy as they are currently.

Nothing to say you have to play in the comp with, just play off the same tee.
 
D

Deleted member 3432

Guest
Why? ?‍♂️
He should play off any tee he wants.

Obviously he can play off any tee he wants (y)

Just thought it would be more socialable to play off the same tees as the others and still have a knockabout.
 

bladeplayer

Money List Winner
Joined
Mar 6, 2011
Messages
9,145
Location
Emerald Isle
Visit site
None of my regular PPs are around tomorrow, had a look on BRS this morning and saw there was a free tee time at 8am, so booked that for myself. Got a couple of 4 balls in front of me, so the intention was to take my time and have a little potter around.

However just got an email from BRS saying that 3 guys I've never heard of have jumped onto my booking. Had a look on the members' list, and they are all very low handicappers (2, 4 and 5). There is a comp on tomorrow, which they are bound to be in, so that means playing off the whites instead of the yellows, so all in all, my nice little knock around is kyboshed.

Is it wrong to be narked by this? I know it's a busy time, but (rightly or wrongly) I would never think of putting my name down to play with a stranger, particularly if I had 2 mates in tow. (I do make a point of asking single players if they want to join us when letting them play through, but it's always their choice).

Is there any kind of etiquette around this? I know that if, for example, a mate and myself put ourselves down to play with 2 women members, they would be very likely to take umbrage.
I apologise in advance here because i must be missing something ..
U book on to a line of 4 as a single and are put out a bit by 3 joining u ? Firstly its not ur line or booking only 1 space is . Secondly if 10 ppl had same idea as u should it stay as 10 singles and not other groups should join a line ? Even during my reply i feel ive read OP wrong ive just re read it and still dont get it . .
If any line is not full its open to any member r members to book alongside u .

Ive no idea why you could b narked to be honest .. again apologies if ive missed the point
 

rudebhoy

Q-School Graduate
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
4,918
Location
whitley bay
Visit site
That's the point of the booking system isn't it? It's great for new members, they can put their names down with others already booked and get to meet people.

I picked up my new driver and 3 wood last week so put my name down to try them out. Within a short while 3 others had joined me, 2 new members who I'd never met or heard of. It was a nice round and I learnt that one of them could be a good addition to one of the teams.

Golf is social, go with it and enjoy the round ?

The social bit is important to me, I love a good blether as we go round.

Like I said, I don't know these guys at all, but looking at the names, I'm guessing they are all young kids.

The thought of playing with 3 kids 40 years younger than me, and them bombing their drives 60 yards past me every time doesn't really have me buzzing.
 

Shooter McPowick

Head Pro
Joined
Apr 2, 2016
Messages
1,271
Location
Surrey
Visit site
I wouldn’t just jump on someone else’s booking without asking.
I’d also be a bit peeved, our club is strictly 2 balls until 10am. If someone asked via WhatsApp I’d be happy to accommodate.
 

rudebhoy

Q-School Graduate
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Messages
4,918
Location
whitley bay
Visit site
I apologise in advance here because i must be missing something ..
U book on to a line of 4 as a single and are put out a bit by 3 joining u ? Firstly its not ur line or booking only 1 space is . Secondly if 10 ppl had same idea as u should it stay as 10 singles and not other groups should join a line ? Even during my reply i feel ive read OP wrong ive just re read it and still dont get it . .
If any line is not full its open to any member r members to book alongside u .

Ive no idea why you could b narked to be honest .. again apologies if ive missed the point


Totally get that. I'm more put off than put out tbh.

Like I said, I wouldn't dream of doing it with 2 of my mates to a stranger, was genuinely curious whether it was considered a reasonable thing to do.
 

Papas1982

Tour Winner
Banned
Joined
Jan 21, 2013
Messages
8,556
Location
Canterbury
Visit site
I can see the op's POV. Having someONE join you would be a good thing, but if the 3ball are all good mates, they could make things uncomfortable for you, as was me tioned on a different thread this week.

Realistically though, if the system allows others to join you. Solo golf isn't a realistic option during the prime slots.

Not everyone wants to socialise though, I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen groups book seats at cinemas and leave one gap. It can mean screens run at like 60% capacity...
 
D

Deleted Member 1156

Guest
Don't disagree with you.

We have an ongoing problem with people blocking out all 4 spots by putting down "guest" or mates who don't turn up, just so they can have the slot to themselves. I wouldn't do that and wouldn't complain if it had been just one guy who added himself, the fact that there are 3 of them makes me feel a bit ganged-up on. I'm probably just being a bit over-sensitive!
This time tomorrow you might have 3 new mates.
 

Siolag

Active member
Joined
May 7, 2019
Messages
349
Location
Bridge Of Allan, Scotland
Visit site
I apologise in advance here because i must be missing something ..
U book on to a line of 4 as a single and are put out a bit by 3 joining u ? Firstly its not ur line or booking only 1 space is . Secondly if 10 ppl had same idea as u should it stay as 10 singles and not other groups should join a line ? Even during my reply i feel ive read OP wrong ive just re read it and still dont get it . .
If any line is not full its open to any member r members to book alongside u .

Ive no idea why you could b narked to be honest .. again apologies if ive missed the point

Especially given most club’s tee times are at a massive premium at the moment.

To the OP you can be as annoyed as you like but you don’t have a leg to stand on.
 

chellie

Tour Winner
Joined
Mar 23, 2013
Messages
4,924
Visit site
None of my regular PPs are around tomorrow, had a look on BRS this morning and saw there was a free tee time at 8am, so booked that for myself. Got a couple of 4 balls in front of me, so the intention was to take my time and have a little potter around.

However just got an email from BRS saying that 3 guys I've never heard of have jumped onto my booking. Had a look on the members' list, and they are all very low handicappers (2, 4 and 5). There is a comp on tomorrow, which they are bound to be in, so that means playing off the whites instead of the yellows, so all in all, my nice little knock around is kyboshed.

Is it wrong to be narked by this? I know it's a busy time, but (rightly or wrongly) I would never think of putting my name down to play with a stranger, particularly if I had 2 mates in tow. (I do make a point of asking single players if they want to join us when letting them play through, but it's always their choice).

Is there any kind of etiquette around this? I know that if, for example, a mate and myself put ourselves down to play with 2 women members, they would be very likely to take umbrage.


How sad if true. Have you ever tried it? I added myself to two single figure male golfers the other week so I could get a game and the next day three men added to my booking. Yesterday tee time I added myself to three men and tomorrow I've had three men add to mine. As long as I don't have to mind my p's and q's it doesn't bother me.
 
Top