Poor from Close House GC

[bozza]

Booked for 4 of us to play Close House on Monday through TeeOffTimes.

Got it for £80 cheaper so thought it was a cracking deal, booked it, money taken from my account, checked the app this morning to see it had been cancelled. Emailed Teeofftimes to ask why, no reply so rang them this afternoon.

Apparently Close House cancelled it as the course is full booked all day even though on the app there was loads of times available, apparently it's the clubs job to notify TeeOffTimes when tee times become unavailable which they clearly haven't.

So now I've had to rush round last minute trying to find a alternative course for us to play and I'm also £120 out of pocket till the end of next week as it takes 4-5 working days to refund me.

I emailed Close House to complain about the poor service but they haven't even had the courtesy to reply.

Are they at fault or am I just moaning about nothing?

 

[Wayman]

From what I've heard its poor any ways not worth the money

Enjoy brancepeth!!!
I'm playing there a week today worth the trip. Would join it if I lived on other side of Durham

 

[Deleted member 17920]

They are totally at fault and you have every right to be disappointed with them, they use tee off times to sell spare tee times and if they don't update it then tee times will just get booked as normal. I bet it's not the 1st or last time this will happen with them.

It makes tee off times look bad as well and it's not their fault either.

Hopefully they will do something for you to keep you sweet.

 

[bozza]

They are totally at fault and you have every right to be disappointed with them, they use tee off times to sell spare tee times and if they don't update it then tee times will just get booked as normal. I bet it's not the 1st or last time this will happen with them.

It makes tee off times look bad as well and it's not their fault either.

Hopefully they will do something for you to keep you sweet.

Yeah it looks bad on Tee off times, it seemed a little strange that there was so many times available but didn't expect the course to be full booked all day with not 1 tee time avaialble all day.

Plus the fact they can't even be arsed to reply to my email is poor, a more strongly worded one will be sent tomorrow afternoon if I still don't get a reply.

 

[NorfolkShaun]

Tee off times was used but Dunston Hall when I was a member there, you could phone up to book a tee only to get told it was full, then go on TOT and then be able to book a tee.

Left there in the end...

Seems to me the club is at fault somewhat here, however I think you should be able to get an instant refund.

 

[bozza]

From what I've heard its poor any ways not worth the money

Enjoy brancepeth!!!
I'm playing there a week today worth the trip. Would join it if I lived on other side of Durham

Heard a couple of mixed reviews but for £30 thought I'd give it a go as I've never been.

Playing Brancepeth for £15 with a bacon sandwich and coffee so got a a cracking deal.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Yeah it looks bad on Tee off times, it seemed a little strange that there was so many times available but didn't expect the course to be full booked all day with not 1 tee time avaialble all day.

Plus the fact they can't even be arsed to reply to my email is poor, a more strongly worded one will be sent tomorrow afternoon if I still don't get a reply.

Give it till monday before you send another one, my guess is a manager wont be working over the weekend. I am sure they will sort something for your inconvenience.

 

[Maninblack4612]

You've had a lucky escape. I've played there twice and wouldn't go back. It's built on the steep slope going down to the river Tyne & every hole is either steeply up or downhill or severely sidehill. Two of our club champions have played it and hated it. The owner, Graeme Wylie treats it as his own personal course & has been known to close it to members if he's got guests coming.

Brancepeth is a lovely course, in great condition this time of the year & really picturesque, with the castle in the background.

Enjoy & spend what you've saved on a nice meal & a few drinks.

 

[bozza]

You've had a lucky escape. I've played there twice and wouldn't go back. It's built on the steep slope going down to the river Tyne & every hole is either steeply up or downhill or severely sidehill. Two of our club champions have played it and hated it. The owner, Graeme Wylie treats it as his own personal course & has been known to close it to members if he's got guests coming.

Brancepeth is a lovely course, in great condition this time of the year & really picturesque, with the castle in the background.

Enjoy & spend what you've saved on a nice meal & a few drinks.

Ah well, still might be able to get something out of them for being completely useless!

 

[moogie]

At £30 each, are you sure you weren't just paying for the Filly course....??
Either way
Poor form on close house behalf
It's just a corporate golf venue now to be honest
Often members can't play their own course, or their choice of course from the 2 there

 

[bozza]

At £30 each, are you sure you weren't just paying for the Filly course....??
Either way
Poor form on close house behalf
It's just a corporate golf venue now to be honest
Often members can't play their own course, or their choice of course from the 2 there

Aye it was just the Filly course we were supposed to play.

Sounds like it's a good thing it did get canceled now.

 

[North Mimms]

I still think that 4 to 5days to refund is unacceptable, if they can debit immediately

 

[bozza]

I still think that 4 to 5days to refund is unacceptable, if they can debit immediately

Yeah it's too long but it is in Tee off times T&C so I'm kinda stuck.

My biggest gripe is with Close House for advertising a full days worth of tee times they clearly didn't have.

 

[Hobbit]

I'd be tempted to ring them and ask if they have any tee times available. If they say yes, ask them why they can't honour the booking you made?

 

[Smiffy]

I'd be tempted to ring them and ask if they have any tee times available. If they say yes, ask them why they can't honour the booking you made?

This

 

[bozza]

I'd be tempted to ring them and ask if they have any tee times available. If they say yes, ask them why they can't honour the booking you made?

Hmm, might give that a try this afternoon and see what they say.

 

[moogie]

Aye it was just the Filly course we were supposed to play.

Sounds like it's a good thing it did get canceled now.

Maninblack has described the newer Colt course
The Filly is flatter, and much preferred by a few members that I know
I played filly on 2nd August
Was in great condition and it's a decent course

I too would cut out the middle man and phone them direct, they do have decent customer services, you need to at a set up like this anyway
If you do get to play, prepare to pay through the nose for food and drink afterwards if you choose to order
Good luck

 

[Beezerk]

I run past it quite a bit and it does look nice from "over the fence" but I've never really seen it busy, even on Sunday afternoons the place looks deserted.

 

[DCB]

The joys of using a third party to book the tee times . Last boys weekend I arranged, I contacted all the clubs direct rather than use tee of times or the like. Managed just as good if not better dealing direct.

 

[Khamelion]

From what In understand of Close House, a few years back when then upgraded the course, adding the newer Colt course, renumbering the old Filly course and adding the bespoke 19th Hole club house, membership prices went through the roof. As a result a lot of members left for the surrounding courses, Hexham, Prudhoe, Westerhope etc...

More recently after listening t people say the Filly was boring, CH spent a lot over the close season to add water features, more bunkers and once again renumbered the Filly course. what was the 2nd is now the 18th, no idea what direction the course plays now.

Members used to get free range balls to warm up before playing, not any more they don't and unless you have played or you're with a member, you are not welcome in the club house bar. Myself and Kraxx used to use the range on Sunday morning and then have breakfast in the bar, until one morning Kraxx got refused entry.

The food in the 19th hole was really good, and people used to go for sunday lunch but that has all stopped. The main mansion house used to do weddings, but no longer. It's all about golf and the 19th hole, the colt course and corporate days.

I've heard that the club only has 200 members, which will explain why the course looks so empty, but not why tee times got refused.

The last time I was there, while the staff are friendly enough, but I got the feeling of not being welcome, the filly is a nice course, but it's not one I would rush to go play, I may be biased, but my club, Whichkam GC, is far better than Close House, maybe not as modern but a darn sight friendlier.