Tee Bookings...

[NWJocko]

Didn't want to hijack another thread.

I've read on here numerous times (and a post in oddsocks thread) people say something along the lines of "if they introduced tee-time bookings at my club I would leave".

Just wondering why that is? What is the problem as you see it with tee-bookings?

I'm a member of a club attached to a course so we have tee times block-booked for comps but any other time you need to either book a tee time or take your chances when you turn up.

From my experience tee-sheets are rarely, if ever, rammed full other than weekends (when comps are) so you can always get a time if you phone on the day (again, only from my experience).

I don't really get the animosity towards tee-bookings but I may be missing something?

I don't have strong views either way but would be interested to find out others opinions.

 

[brendy]

Fear of change Jocko, fear of change.




Our place introduced it and it has actually had a positive improvement plus we can all see just how busy the place is when we are sat in work wishing we weren't!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I like being able to book a tee time. I like knowing that I'm teeing off at a specific time and can arrange travel plans to get there so I have plenty of time to warm up and I also like knowing when i'll finish, so I can arrange things after.

I'd hate to turn up at half eight on a Saturday morning with no idea of when I'll get on and when I'll finish.

 

[chris661]

I like being able to book a tee time. I like knowing that I'm teeing off at a specific time and can arrange travel plans to get there so I have plenty of time to warm up and I also like knowing when i'll finish, so I can arrange things after.

I'd hate to turn up at half eight on a Saturday morning with no idea of when I'll get on and when I'll finish.

Same as this. We use the BRS system and it is very good to plan ahead, also I hate playing on my own so have a quick squint at the sheet see if there is anybody playing then head down for that time.

 

[Oddsocks]

Without doubt i do see the positives from a booking system, but it would solely depend on the amount of traffic a course had. Courses in demand need a booking system, other more relaxed members only courses dont tend to operate such a system. i suppose its all down to volume of members v's tee traffic.

my current home is a muni, with a member section within, it would no function without a booking system, my last club was a members only club, with no green fee's at weekends period. juniors had priority on the tee from 1-2pm in the summer and 12-1pm in the winter at weekends, and im sure between the course opening at 8am, and this time there was a woman slot too. it was nice to just roll up and play, but that was the advantage of a quieter members only club.

 

[chrisd]

there was a woman slot too.

Was it a long one?


Chris

 

[GB72]

I am not a fan of tee booking. If I arrange a game on a Friday night I would rather have the opportunity to queue up Saturday morning. I know of clubs where the booking system has meant that members have trouble getting on the course, especially when the course touts for pay and play guests. Also, I know that I really can only guarantee that I can play between 8 and 10 at the weekends. If those times are booked, and they would be as they are the most popular, then I could miss out on playing.

The wait at my course is rarely more than 20 minutes so I would far rather be able to queue than have to book

 

[Robobum]

I don't want to plan my golf with military precision a week in advance. I normally play at 11:00 on a Saturday, but it might get to Friday and we change to go earlier or a bit later - not an option with tee booking. I also want to pop up to the club if I'm at a loose end and go out for a knock, not possible with tee bookings.

It also encourages people to grab their tee times as soon as they can regardless of whether they end up playing or not. better to have booked a time and not use it than to miss out altogether.

Even at a timer when the biggest of roll ups go out, we only have a 20minute wait - much preferable.

 

[Dodger]

I don't want to plan my golf with military precision a week in advance. I normally play at 11:00 on a Saturday, but it might get to Friday and we change to go earlier or a bit later - not an option with tee booking. I also want to pop up to the club if I'm at a loose end and go out for a knock, not possible with tee bookings.

It also encourages people to grab their tee times as soon as they can regardless of whether they end up playing or not. better to have booked a time and not use it than to miss out altogether.

Even at a timer when the biggest of roll ups go out, we only have a 20minute wait - much preferable.

Why is it not an option?

 

[GB72]

For me it is not an option because I play at the busiest time and getting a slot last minute or changing the time to another slot would be difficult I suspect. I know it is me that is the problem in that I am simply not organised enough to get a group together and book at tee time every week and in sufficient time to get the slot I want. If you take another club near me, there are organised groups who are on the online system first thing every day booking up the morning tee times. There it is very hard to get on the course before 11.00.

 

[Robobum]

Why is it not an option?

It's Saturday morning, if there are free tee times to move to at such short notice then they obviously don't require a booking system as it's not busy enough to warrant one.

 

[DaveM]

Most of the time I have been playing. Heaton park which is a muni. So tee bookings. But never had any trouble getting at a moments notice. Even rolled up with no booking(its only 5 mins away) and got on. Ok may have to wait 10-15 mins or so. Sometimes just join a two or three ball on its way out.

 

[bladeplayer]

ok a scenario here guys .. If you have a tee booking system & say the 1st 10 lines are full, stick your name down on line 11 & you head down to the club 20 min before your tee time.. you know there is no point going down much earlier as you wont get out .. if you didnt have it, you change into your gear & you pack the car , head down , all these same people (10lines of names) are already there qued up to play ,(not booked) you join the back of the que of 30 players , would that not wreck your head . i personaly couldnt head down to the club not knowing roughly when il be starting or more importantly roughly when i will be finished .. probably fine if you dont have family or other commitments but if you have you need to have some control/knowledge of your time ..

 

[Dodger]

It's Saturday morning, if there are free tee times to move to at such short notice then they obviously don't require a booking system as it's not busy enough to warrant one.

Yes and on the flipside if there was a booking system then it would be an option to change if you so wished as there would be spare times.

If your club is not busy on a Saturday how does it survive?

 

[GB72]

You get to know your club and it tends to be the same people pitching up at the same times. I know between 8 and 9 I may need to wait 20 minutes. After 9 maybe 10 minutes and after 10.00 it is pretty much straight out.

During the Winter we do have a ball chute so that you can wait in the warm for your turn. That also helps as you cannot put a ball in the chute until your group is made up so there is none of this business of one or two turning up and holding a place for their mates.

 

[Lump]

Our club uses a booking system. It works, but I do have issues with it. Poeple put down there name along side a tee off time but dont show up. Saturday and Sunday mornings are usually fully booked from 7.30am till 12.30ish. I dont always have a regular 4 ball so I put my name down with 2/3balls...but they dont show or when they do show they have already got that extra player but he hasnt put his name on the sheet.
The club has said this will be addressed but it just seems like hallow threats.

 

[Bandido]

It's a fine line with clubs. Upset the membership or get more cash?

Seems they don't want to upset the membership to me.

 

[Robobum]

As GB72 above Dodger.

There are well established groups that go out at certain times and everyone knows it, or the pro will let them know. I suppose if you wanted to document it you could actually class it as a booking system.

 

[Oddsocks]

it seems most peoples dislikes with tee booking systems is the fact that people book times not knowing if their going to make it just in case, then, when they decide they are not going to play they dont let the club know... this is me makes the booking systems pointless.

If i plan on playing, i book a tee, if for then what ever reason i cant play, i phone the pro shop and let them know i cant play and to make the time available. if everyone had this attitude, maybe less empty unused slots would be there, and more people wouldnt mind the tee book system.

 

[markyjee]

My preference is a walk on system, it suits me as i normally turn up an hour or so before planned tee time. I also understand that not everyone want to spend around 7 hours for a game of golf ( travel, time before tee time, round, a couple of drinks after then travel home.) as we live in a busy world.