tee-off times joining groups

shun_naka

shun_naka

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Hi there,

I recently booked two tee offs for sunday for a local-ish course for me and a friend.

I know the ts & cs of teeofftimes says that unless a 4 ball is purchased others can join. The time we booked had availability for 2 golfers, and is now showing up as sold out

I'm assuming we've been paired up with another 2 ball.

Now, as posted on here yesterday, we're both really pretty crap. We wouldnt want to slow anyone down. I dont imagine the course will be overly busy either...

Could we turn up say 15mins earlier, confirm our booking with the pro and then just tee off whenever theres a space, before the other 2 turn up (and earlier than our tee off time) or if not, could we suggest to the other two to go ahead and play through us and we'll play behind them?
 
There's no direct correlation between ability and pace of play

Just go out as a 4-ball, you never know, you might find mates for life and if not and you find you are holding them up then you could offer them the chance to go ahead but only if you hanging back doesn't slow up the group behind in anyway

And ask yourself this, what happens if you did manage to tee off 8 minutes ahead and look back from the first green to see two gorgeous ladies waiting to play their 2nd shots on the fairway!
(ok a bit far fetched if you are in the Glasgow area but you never know ;))
 
Slab said:
There's no direct correlation between ability and pace of play

Just go out as a 4-ball, you never know, you might find mates for life and if not and you find you are holding them up then you could offer them the chance to go ahead but only if you hanging back doesn't slow up the group behind in anyway

And ask yourself this, what happens if you did manage to tee off 8 minutes ahead and look back from the first green to see two gorgeous ladies waiting to play their 2nd shots on the fairway!
(ok a bit far fetched if you are in the Glasgow area but you never know ;))
Click to expand...

That all sounds nice, but our last round i hit 120 and he hit 114. It wouldnt be the best for the old confidence and feeling comfortable going out with people who are actually competent!
 
If you have booked with one of the tee off booking companies they may only have x amount of slots available to them.


As slab says, just play with the 2 others, whats the worst that can happen?
 
Just go for it. I know it is a bit of a nervy feeling to play with strangers when you think your own golf game is still not good enough. But I promise you, you will be surprised at how many atrocious shots even an expirienced player hits during a normal round. When I started playing a couple of years ago, I was terrified to play with anyone execept my parents and their closest friends. I was playing off a 54 hdc. and did not even shoot that on most days. But the more often I ended up playing with others, the more confident I became. Everyone has been supernice. As I said: they all had their own bad shots to worry about and also they all remembered their own beginnings in golf, I guess. And as Slab mentioned, needing more shots does not automatically mean you are holding people up. As long as you move quickly and you are ready to play when it is your term, everything is well.
 
I get what you all mean, and i hope one day soon to be able to be comfortable joining a group but me and my mate have only been playing for a year, so we're just really wanting to go have a bit of fun and play just the two of us.

Is there anything "bad" about going out 15mins earlier if theres a space? i.e. will the club care?
 
Just play with them, you never know, they might be even worse than you - or at a similar level. Even if they are much better they could be sound blokes just up for a good afternoon's golf. As long as you don't take ages over every shot you won't be holding anyone up.

That said, there is nothing to stop you turning up early and asking if you can go out straight away. At basically everywhere I've ever played, if you've paid up early, they'll tell you if it's free for you to go out straight away.
 
Felix_G said:
I get what you all mean, and i hope one day soon to be able to be comfortable joining a group but me and my mate have only been playing for a year, so we're just really wanting to go have a bit of fun and play just the two of us.

Is there anything "bad" about going out 15mins earlier if theres a space? i.e. will the club care?
Click to expand...

no, its just a bit antisocial IMO. What if it was just a single that was looking for a game and you moved times or gave the line"i just want to play with my mate"

Golf should be a a way of meeting new people, what other sport allows the less gifted golfers to compete with the best?

how are you ever going to get better if you just stick with the same thing, you never know you might learn something
 
you booked the slot first and they added onto to you so I wouldn't worry about it, if it was the other at round then I could see your point.
 
louise_a said:
you booked the slot first and they added onto to you so I wouldn't worry about it, if it was the other at round then I could see your point.
Click to expand...

Sorry maybe i didnt explain myself right but it was the other way around, there was only 2 slots available and we booked them last night, its now showing as sold out so i'm guessing we booked the last two slots!

I totally get the anti-social aspect of it, but we're just using these rounds to gain confidence and hopefully in a couple of months time we'll be joining in on rounds

I think we're going to get there about 15mins early and just tee off after getting our cards
 
Felix_G said:
Sorry maybe i didnt explain myself right but it was the other way around, there was only 2 slots available and we booked them last night, its now showing as sold out so i'm guessing we booked the last two slots!

I totally get the anti-social aspect of it, but we're just using these rounds to gain confidence and hopefully in a couple of months time we'll be joining in on rounds

I think we're going to get there about 15mins early and just tee off after getting our cards
Click to expand...

Surely you can see if the earlier slots are sold out as well though? If they all are then I'd guess there's not likely to be a gap for you to go earlier?
 
Orikoru said:
Surely you can see if the earlier slots are sold out as well though? If they all are then I'd guess there's not likely to be a gap for you to go earlier?
Click to expand...

I've done that already. No slots available on teeofftimes but called up the club direct and they have plenty of slots available, so im guessing teeofftimes only have a limited number for this course at the weekend

Had a look at the next week and teeofftimes have one slot (same time as we booked for sunday) per day. I'm guessing thats all theyve been given by the club
 
Last edited:
It's a weekend, golf courses are busy at the weekend. If you manage to get off early you've done well. If not, then just don't worry, go out and play your game and enjoy yourselves. Don't get hung up on the fact there are two strangers with you. They may be recent starters and shooting 135 & 140 ;)
 
When I've bought a tee time and people have joined us, the proshop has told me and introduced us. But that will be completely dependent on the club.

You can try and turn up 15 mins early and get out, but i reckon 15 mins wouldn't be early enough, most people turn up 20 mins or so before their tee time anyway.

I'd just go out and have a laugh, who knows they may even give a few tips and pointers. I wouldn't worry too much about frustrating them or annoying them by being slow, everyone starts somewhere and they should understand that. If they don't then feel free to let them play on without you.
 
Felix_G said:
Hi there,

I recently booked two tee offs for sunday for a local-ish course for me and a friend.

I know the ts & cs of teeofftimes says that unless a 4 ball is purchased others can join. The time we booked had availability for 2 golfers, and is now showing up as sold out

I'm assuming we've been paired up with another 2 ball.

Now, as posted on here yesterday, we're both really pretty crap. We wouldnt want to slow anyone down. I dont imagine the course will be overly busy either...

Could we turn up say 15mins earlier, confirm our booking with the pro and then just tee off whenever theres a space, before the other 2 turn up (and earlier than our tee off time) or if not, could we suggest to the other two to go ahead and play through us and we'll play behind them?
Click to expand...

Just go with it, mix up playing partners and have a competition between yourselves.
 
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