Roll Ups : Entitled or Appreciative ?

[RichA]

You mean people going to a pub night that stated that there would be "mingling"? Yeah....shocking that that would happen.

Not entirely sure what you're saying there, but most pubs don't have enforced mingling.
I have no problem whatsoever with roll ups. Like others, I just object to a situation where they're allowed to block book peak weekend tee times before they're released to other members. That's all.
Fortunately, that doesn't happen at my current place. But my opinion is affected by the roll up/swindle at the 2 clubs I've been a member of, which I wouldn't have wanted to join.

 

[BunkerPlayer]

We don't have tee times, but we have some strong groups that everybody knows when they're going out and you try and get out before or after them in a slot that you know wont be busy... saying that - they have no right to all tee off together and the club rules of all players being in the queue for the 1st tee get to go off as and when they "roll up" to it.

 

[Backache]

Not entirely sure what you're saying there, but most pubs don't have enforced mingling.
I have no problem whatsoever with roll ups. Like others, I just object to a situation where they're allowed to block book peak weekend tee times before they're released to other members. That's all.
Fortunately, that doesn't happen at my current place. But my opinion is affected by the roll up/swindle at the 2 clubs I've been a member of, which I wouldn't have wanted to join.

Ours are not block booked for anyone.
The tee is reserved for anyone in the club who wishes to play in the roll up format at that time.
Those who wish to play exclusively with their own group have far more times available for booking.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Ours are not block booked for anyone.
The tee is reserved for anyone in the club who wishes to play in the roll up format at that time.
Those who wish to play exclusively with their own group have far more times available for booking.

What our Saturday rollup finds most frustrating is that my club is known for being very friendly and inclusive, and a great club to join. And one of the things that makes it great in that way is that our rollups encourage integration and getting to know and play with a wide variety and number of other members, and to turn up in advance of the draw and stay on after playing for the results, thereby putting money over the bar and into food. It is the opposite attitude to membership and playing to that of small groups of four mates joining and playing together and often just heading off to a local pub after playing.

You want that from your club; can’t be bothered with much getting to know other members? Then maybe my club isn’t for you. Seems like the club has succumbed to the wishes of that sort of member, to the detriment of the sort of members who have made the club what it is.

 

[RichA]

What our Saturday rollup finds most frustrating is that my club is known for being very friendly and inclusive, and a great club to join. And one of the things that makes it great in that way is that our rollups encourage integration and getting to know and play with a wide variety and number of other members, and to turn up in advance of the draw and stay on after playing for the results, thereby putting money over the bar and into food. It is the opposite attitude to membership and playing to that of small groups of four mates joining and playing together and often just heading off to a local pub after playing.

You want that from your club; can’t be bothered with much getting to know other members? Then maybe my club isn’t for you. Seems like the club has succumbed to the wishes of that sort of member, to the detriment of the sort of members who have made the club what it is.

Your negative assumptions about anyone who chooses not to join your roll up doesn't make you sound that friendly actually.
It's a golf club - not a cult.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We don't have roll ups but we are organised enough to have groups booked together or close together so although we don't draw balls and have laugh before hand in the bar like the "old" days but we are all in around the same time so have a great laugh and give out the cash ( and the banter). Not sure we will ever go back to booked times for roll ups now although still my preferred choice. Adapt and deal with what is presented to you or move to another club which isn't an option

 

[PaulMdj]

What our Saturday rollup finds most frustrating is that my club is known for being very friendly and inclusive, and a great club to join. And one of the things that makes it great in that way is that our rollups encourage integration and getting to know and play with a wide variety and number of other members, and to turn up in advance of the draw and stay on after playing for the results, thereby putting money over the bar and into food. It is the opposite attitude to membership and playing to that of small groups of four mates joining and playing together and often just heading off to a local pub after playing.

You want that from your club; can’t be bothered with much getting to know other members? Then maybe my club isn’t for you. Seems like the club has succumbed to the wishes of that sort of member, to the detriment of the sort of members who have made the club what it is.

If people are leaving the course to go to a nearby pub, your Clubhouse has a problem, maybe you need to look inwards first.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Your negative assumptions about anyone who chooses not to join your roll up doesn't make you sound that friendly actually.
It's a golf club - not a cult.

Did I say that they are my assumptions…I actually argued that the rollup should accept what the club was asking of it. My gripe with what the club was saying was their justification, and so was asking for the evidence of the strength of feeling. As the club ran a members survey in August/Sept that feeling should be manifest in the survey returns….but we haven’t seen any. And btw…nobody actually joins the Sat am rollup. You turn up, pay your £1, and are included in the draw. And over the last few years about 150 members have played in it at one time or another. It’s popular.

And you’ll have noted that i said how the attitude of those who play in the rollup regularly is that it is the opposite of a cult - there are some closed rollups/gatherings at times during the week…we are fully open and nobody has a ‘right’ to play in it…no matter how long standing or regular. But I accept that there are some regulars who I feel view the rollup as being a bit more critical to the ethos of our club than it probably is.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If people are leaving the course to go to a nearby pub, your Clubhouse has a problem, maybe you need to look inwards first.

We are in the process of redeveloping the bar and restaurant areas of the clubhouse…in fact the whole of the ground floor of the clubhouse. We’ve been in a marquee in the car park since June…so I guess we are currently all car park members

 

[PaulMdj]

We are in the process of redeveloping the bar and restaurant areas of the clubhouse…in fact the whole of the ground floor of the clubhouse. We’ve been in a marquee in the car park since June…so I guess we are currently all car park members

You made no mention of this in your initial post!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

You made no mention of this in your initial post!

No I didn’t…I didn’t consider it relevant, but since you suggested it

 

[Arthur Wedge]

No I didn’t…I didn’t consider it relevant, but since you suggested it

Of course it’s relevant

Very relevant when highlighting members going to a different establishment for food and drinks

 

[Swango1980]

At the end of the day, if a club books out 10 tee slots for a roll up, and regularly gets 40 people playing in the roll ups, then it is a sure sign it is the right thing to do. If the club books 10 tee slots, and gets 8-12 people turn up, it isn't. Although, if that was the case, then you'd like to think they'd refine the booking to 2-3 slots and leave all the rest open for whoever wants to book.

I don't think automatically leaving all the prime morning slots open to booking is all that inclusive. Typically, you'll only get members in those slots who know they have people to play with, and can commit 4 weeks in advance (or whenever those slots open). Whereas, setting slots aside for a roll up it open to everyone. It is open to all the same guys that would have booked 4 weeks in advance. It is open to people that have no one to play with. It is open to people that can only commit to a round of golf a few days in advance. Whoever organises the roll up, can still be flexible enough to allow certain players to play together who want to play together. They can give certain people an earlier tee off or a later tee off on particular weeks this is required.

I don't see a problem with it if it is run well? The only people that I can see would complain would be those that manage play the same slot every weekend because they are able to book and commit, and don't want anybody else playing in THEIR slot.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

At the end of the day, if a club books out 10 tee slots for a roll up, and regularly gets 40 people playing in the roll ups, then it is a sure sign it is the right thing to do. If the club books 10 tee slots, and gets 8-12 people turn up, it isn't. Although, if that was the case, then you'd like to think they'd refine the booking to 2-3 slots and leave all the rest open for whoever wants to book.

I don't think automatically leaving all the prime morning slots open to booking is all that inclusive. Typically, you'll only get members in those slots who know they have people to play with, and can commit 4 weeks in advance (or whenever those slots open). Whereas, setting slots aside for a roll up it open to everyone. It is open to all the same guys that would have booked 4 weeks in advance. It is open to people that have no one to play with. It is open to people that can only commit to a round of golf a few days in advance. Whoever organises the roll up, can still be flexible enough to allow certain players to play together who want to play together. They can give certain people an earlier tee off or a later tee off on particular weeks this is required.

I don't see a problem with it if it is run well? The only people that I can see would complain would be those that manage play the same slot every weekend because they are able to book and commit, and don't want anybody else playing in THEIR slot.

What about booking 10 slots and more than 40 want to play?

 

[Mandofred]

Of course it’s relevant

Very relevant when highlighting members going to a different establishment for food and drinks

It's relevant, but....why would people assume the most negative conclusion. It might be that the clubhouse isn't a great place for a drink (I don't know). It might be that those younger folks might want to go to the same place they have been hanging out at for years (I don't know).....could be other reasons. But, for some reason several people assume it's a crap clubhouse in some way.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

It's relevant, but....why would people assume the most negative conclusion. It might be that the clubhouse isn't a great place for a drink (I don't know). It might be that those younger folks might want to go to the same place they have been hanging out at for years (I don't know).....could be other reasons. But, for some reason several people assume it's a crap clubhouse in some way.

Because there are plenty of club houses that aren’t very welcoming to people - especially ones a bit younger . I see it all the time during the week , juniors avoid going upstairs because of the way some “senior” members talk to them

 

[Mandofred]

What about booking 10 slots and more than 40 want to play?

I've been at 3 clubs. The people that show up are VERY consistent. I've never seen a "bunch" of extra people just show up...the numbers for us tend to be within 2 or so of the average. Any new members.....and we have a number of new people playing in the last couple of months.....5?......usually get pointed our way through the office so we know they are coming. I've never heard of a club having a rollup where the numbers fluctuate by much at all.

 

[Mandofred]

Because there are plenty of club houses that aren’t very welcoming to people - especially ones a bit younger . I see it all the time during the week , juniors avoid going upstairs because of the way some “senior” members talk to them.

Yep, luckily haven't seen anything like that myself. Certainly heard it happens though. But the automatic conclusion that people are going elsewhere because of bad behaviour from the "seniors"....was only one possible answer that was jumped on.

 

[RichA]

Did I say that they are my assumptions…I actually argued that the rollup should accept what the club was asking of it. My gripe with what the club was saying was their justification, and so was asking for the evidence of the strength of feeling. As the club ran a members survey in August/Sept that feeling should be manifest in the survey returns….but we haven’t seen any. And btw…nobody actually joins the Sat am rollup. You turn up, pay your £1, and are included in the draw. And over the last few years about 150 members have played in it at one time or another. It’s popular.

And you’ll have noted that i said how the attitude of those who play in the rollup regularly is that it is the opposite of a cult - there are some closed rollups/gatherings at times during the week…we are fully open and nobody has a ‘right’ to play in it…no matter how long standing or regular. But I accept that there are some regulars who I feel view the rollup as being a bit more critical to the ethos of our club than it probably is.

Different strokes...
From a personal point of view, I have a full time job, domestic and caring responsibilities. The 2 rounds of golf I try to fit in at the weekend are what passes for my social life and the only opportunity my friends and I get to meet up. We might play the odd comp, if it suits us.
Hopefully, when I retire next year, my free time will increase and I'll have the luxury of being less fussy how I spend it.

 

[Swango1980]

What about booking 10 slots and more than 40 want to play?

Book up 12, 13, 14, 15, etc slots then. If you have over 40 golfers wanting to play in your roll ups, you are in a fantastic position as a club.