Starters - what's the point of them?

[Orikoru]

Playing at Wexham on Saturday, with 15 mins to go til tee time, we went in the pro shop to pay, planning to have a few putts and warm up swings / stretches then tee off on time. After paying though they said "You can go straight away, Jeff* will get you started now" and this bloke walked us out to the first tee, and basically watched us both tee off then said have a good round and buggered off. Naturally I fluffed my drive a bit as I felt rushed into it and wasn't warmed up properly at all. Perhaps we could have said something but we're not used to being marched onto the tee so we just went along with it and said nothing. In fact I made a mess of the first three holes and didn't feel properly warmed up til the 4th.

I've heard of 'starters' before so I'm guessing this must be common at other courses. What's the point though? The first tee was about 70 yards from the pro shop, we were quite capable of getting there and teeing off without someone walking us there. And if there was a timing issue we could have easily been told by the pro shop when we paid whether we can tee off early/late or on time.

*his name wasn't Jeff, I forgot what it really was.

 

[ExRabbit]

Just say that you aren't ready yet and always arrive a bit early to have a bit of a practice before the tee time you had booked.

 

[Slab]

Yeah the shop staff & starter probably thought they were doing you a good turn getting you away a few mins early & would’ve expected you to speak up if it didn’t suit you
(I do think it’s funny that ‘walked you to the tee’ became ‘marched you to the tee’. I can think of a few players who need to stop faffing and be marched to the tee)

 

[inc0gnito]

Maybe you looked suspicious and they wanted you out of the pro shop

 

[IanM]

On busy courses it can help ensure proper spacing, tell you about markers, facilities and any other info.

I agree, being marched to the tee at gunpoint isnt a good welcome!!

Normally folk are late on the tee, if you were feeling rushed you could have said.

 

[Grant85]

A hospitality thing as much as anything.

Not essential, but it can be important that people don't just tee off as soon as the group in front have played their second shots. A proper 10 minute break makes all the difference to pace of play.

 

[Colonel Bogey]

We have one, but they are only there to ensure every player has paid / swiped card whatever in the pro shop.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

We have one, and this time of yeear it's more about making sure everyone can get their game in in the shorter daylight hours. Maybe like us, they alternate the tee honour with those from the 18th who started on the 10th first.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I've only really come across them on top end courses. These are busy courses where keeping to tee times is essential. As IanM pointed out they also highlight any issues on holes, facilities (ie half way hut) and generally try to make you feel welcome. My very limited experience is that they are there to relax and help you, keep the course moving. I should add, my experience of them is pretty limited and they were at courses were service is at a premium so maybe I have been spoiled.

 

[Slab]

Each course has them, too many tourists not to. As said they get folks started on time, pace/spacing/order of play and supply course info for the day, check for green fee paid & sign off for buggy liability etc

 

[Orikoru]

As I said, perhaps we should have said we weren't ready but we kind of just went with the flow which was a mistake on my part I guess. I should say I have nothing against the guy either - he was a nice feller.

A hospitality thing as much as anything.

Not essential, but it can be important that people don't just tee off as soon as the group in front have played their second shots. A proper 10 minute break makes all the difference to pace of play.

Ok that makes sense to me if the course is quite busy.

We have one, and this time of yeear it's more about making sure everyone can get their game in in the shorter daylight hours. Maybe like us, they alternate the tee honour with those from the 18th who started on the 10th first.

That also makes sense if people are teeing off at different start points. I'm not sure that's the case at this particular course though as the 10th isn't really near the clubhouse.

I've only really come across them on top end courses. These are busy courses where keeping to tee times is essential. As IanM pointed out they also highlight any issues on holes, facilities (ie half way hut) and generally try to make you feel welcome. My very limited experience is that they are there to relax and help you, keep the course moving. I should add, my experience of them is pretty limited and they were at courses were service is at a premium so maybe I have been spoiled.

See I would thought the same, it's something I've heard of more at top end courses as you put it. Wexham is not one you'd categorise as that though, it's more in the good value category I'd say.

If my 30 handicapper mate was playing I imagine a stranger watching him would have made him less relaxed as he's not great with that, lol.

 

[sunshine]

I'd expect Wexham has had issues with slow play, and so has employed the starter to get everyone off on time. Loads of people faff around on the first tee and like to have a natter.

I'm sure Jeff* was trying to help you not intimidate you (*name changed to protect the innocent).

 

[Wolf]

At my first course our Pro used to act as a starter for all comps, used to tell us of any local rule changes that may have occurred, helped alternate the 2 tee starts woukd generally have a chat etc. The right starter will make people feel relaxed about the game and place they're playing something I've always liked.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Starters can add to the experience (plus or minus) and as you mention can place more pressure on that first shot.

The Old Course starter guy was right grumpy on the morning we played but he was surpassed by the one I came across on a golf day(imposing was an understatement).

The best starter we have come across was at Tralee, he didn't wait by the 1st tee but did his role from near the practise green. Caught you as you walked from 9 to 10th(by practise green) and as you came off the course, friendly, unimposing.

Most are somewhere in between and the trick is, to switch off that they are about, take your time and just play you shot.(easier said than done)

 

[IanM]

Intimidated by a starter into duffing your first shot?

Sounds likes PG Wodehouse's story about "butterflies in the adjoining field!"

 

[Swango1980]

In terms of feeling under pressure by a starter being there and watching you, I can't really agree that is a genuine argument against having a starter (although I'm not saying that you are strongly saying that, but just brought it up as a more minor issue). That is just part of the game and how players deal with that sort of pressure. I am sure there are plenty of courses in which the first tee is in a position where you will basically have the entire field waiting to tee off behind you standing there and watching. That would be much worse for the nerves than having one solitary guy watching you (and let's be honest, if the starter had watched the entire field tee off, I'm sure he has already seen all sorts of horrific shots)

 

[Lord Tyrion]

In terms of feeling under pressure by a starter being there and watching you, I can't really agree that is a genuine argument against having a starter (although I'm not saying that you are strongly saying that, but just brought it up as a more minor issue). That is just part of the game and how players deal with that sort of pressure. I am sure there are plenty of courses in which the first tee is in a position where you will basically have the entire field waiting to tee off behind you standing there and watching. That would be much worse for the nerves than having one solitary guy watching you (and let's be honest, if the starter had watched the entire field tee off, I'm sure he has already seen all sorts of horrific shots)

The first time I came across a starter I began to worry about my tee shot and what he would think. He was very good, calming and friendly, and by the time I got to take my shot the realisation came to me that he has seen tens of thousands, probably more, of golfers and he will have seen every shot under the sun. He really was not going to be judging me good or bad, he would be way past that. I'm sure he would still chuckle at an air shot but otherwise these guys have seen it all.

 

[sunshine]

In terms of feeling under pressure by a starter being there and watching you, I can't really agree that is a genuine argument against having a starter (although I'm not saying that you are strongly saying that, but just brought it up as a more minor issue). That is just part of the game and how players deal with that sort of pressure. I am sure there are plenty of courses in which the first tee is in a position where you will basically have the entire field waiting to tee off behind you standing there and watching. That would be much worse for the nerves than having one solitary guy watching you (and let's be honest, if the starter had watched the entire field tee off, I'm sure he has already seen all sorts of horrific shots)

1st tee at the Berkshire Blue Course is like this: right in front of the clubhouse bar/patio, massively intimidating 210 yard par 3 over with a huge carry over a gully filled with heather, anything right is gone. Didn't see any good tee shots on this hole when I visited.

 

[Coffey]

Playing at Wexham on Saturday, with 15 mins to go til tee time, we went in the pro shop to pay, planning to have a few putts and warm up swings / stretches then tee off on time. After paying though they said "You can go straight away, Jeff* will get you started now" and this bloke walked us out to the first tee, and basically watched us both tee off then said have a good round and buggered off. Naturally I fluffed my drive a bit as I felt rushed into it and wasn't warmed up properly at all. Perhaps we could have said something but we're not used to being marched onto the tee so we just went along with it and said nothing. In fact I made a mess of the first three holes and didn't feel properly warmed up til the 4th.

I've heard of 'starters' before so I'm guessing this must be common at other courses. What's the point though? The first tee was about 70 yards from the pro shop, we were quite capable of getting there and teeing off without someone walking us there. And if there was a timing issue we could have easily been told by the pro shop when we paid whether we can tee off early/late or on time.

*his name wasn't Jeff, I forgot what it really was.

If you are arriving at the course 15 mins before your tee slot you are very very closely running the risk of being late. Normally clubs request you to be on the tee 10 minutes before your allotted time. So I am not really that surprised you felt rushed but I would say this is down to your arrival time more than anything else.

As for starters, I don't mind them. Don't have them very often but just try to block them out. The worst one being at the Portstewart scratch cup where the weather was horrendous and its not exactly an easy opening tee shot. Adding to the fact this was my first time at the course and also my first scratch cup. But I probably hit the best drive I hit all day

 

[BrianM]

Played Royal Dornoch last year in a BMW corporate day, the starter was in full Highland dress and introduced you by name before you teed off, very nerve racking ??
Hit my 3 wood about 150 yards, at least it was straight and on the fairway ?