The future of golf clubs ??

[FairwayDodger]

I disagree with the point made here. It is not the fact that I am a dinosaur, quite the opposite. What I do want to do is play golf around 9.00 in the morning at a weekend. With a booking system, if I am not quick off the mark then I cannot do that. Without one I just have to be prepared to turn up a bit early (and with 3 starting points there are rarely queues of more than a few minutes). One gives me a pretty solid guarantee of playing when I want every week, the other gives me a definite yes or no answer but my concern is how often I miss out on the time I want to play. Booking is fine if all you want is to know exactly when you will start and so roughly when you will finish and is great if the time that you play does not really matter. If, however, you want to get out at the same time every week, it does not help.
This is not me being a dinosaur or ignoring technology, it is just me expressing my support for a system that suits my needs perfectly against a system that does not.

I don't really understand this point. Unless the missing assumption is that not everyone who would book a 9.00am time is prepared to go down before 9.00 and queue? To me it just seems you're able to get the time you want without the risk of turning up at the club to find lots of folk already waiting ahead of you....

I think the "turn up and play" type of system greatly suits those that live locally to the club but is less useful for those from further away.

 

[GB72]

I don't really understand this point. Unless the missing assumption is that not everyone who would book a 9.00am time is prepared to go down before 9.00 and queue? To me it just seems you're able to get the time you want without the risk of turning up at the club to find lots of folk already waiting ahead of you....

I think the "turn up and play" type of system greatly suits those that live locally to the club but is less useful for those from further away.

You may have a point. I think part of my paranoia about tee booking systems is the experience that my brother and my old playing partners had at Greetham Valley when it was introduced. The same group of people were on the system as soon as the weekend tee times opened up and had everything booked between 8 and 10 within minutes. Not much use for a group who wanted a friendly round in the same 4 ball each week, one off whom had to be off the course by 1.30 latest.

 

[FairwayDodger]

You may have a point. I think part of my paranoia about tee booking systems is the experience that my brother and my old playing partners had at Greetham Valley when it was introduced. The same group of people were on the system as soon as the weekend tee times opened up and had everything booked between 8 and 10 within minutes. Not much use for a group who wanted a friendly round in the same 4 ball each week, one off whom had to be off the course by 1.30 latest.

Yeah, that would be a pain. I think it's down to the administration of the system but, on the face of it, everyone has the same chance of logging in to book a time.

 

[Slab]

You may have a point. I think part of my paranoia about tee booking systems is the experience that my brother and my old playing partners had at Greetham Valley when it was introduced. The same group of people were on the system as soon as the weekend tee times opened up and had everything booked between 8 and 10 within minutes. Not much use for a group who wanted a friendly round in the same 4 ball each week, one off whom had to be off the course by 1.30 latest.

But isn't this you in reverse!

No booking system: Guy drives 45 minutes + to get there every Saturday only to find that GB72 and all the local boys have got in as soon as the gates opened & snaffled the 1st tee for the next half hour, so he's not teeing off anytime soon!

I guess it helps with multiple start points when players can settle on playing the course in the wrong order (or not as was designed), but we've all heard folks on here who don't want to play of yellows because its not how the course was designed so I guess to them playing it in reverse leaves a similar lesser experience

 

[GB72]

But isn't this you in reverse!

No booking system: Guy drives 45 minutes + to get there every Saturday only to find that GB72 and all the local boys have got in as soon as the gates opened & snaffled the 1st tee for the next half hour, so he's not teeing off anytime soon!

I guess it helps with multiple start points when players can settle on playing the course in the wrong order (or not as was designed), but we've all heard folks on here who don't want to play of yellows because its not how the course was designed so I guess to them playing it in reverse leaves a similar lesser experience

The argument is that if he wants to get off at a certain time then he can turn up a bit earlier to get on when he wants but if there is a booking system it does not matter how early he turns up, he is still not getting on until the allotted time. Now if it does not matter what time you play then that is fine, tee booking works or, in the absence of that, turn up after the 8-10 peak times. If, however, it is important that you play before a certain time then turning up early to make sure of it beats not being able to book a suitable time and not being able to play.

It really is horses for courses and both have plus or minus points. It is just that, for me, booking systems have more negatives than positives and that has been the case for my current course where I am 2 minutes down the road or previous courses where I have been 20 minutes or more away.

 

[Slab]

The argument is that if he wants to get off at a certain time then he can turn up a bit earlier to get on when he wants but if there is a booking system it does not matter how early he turns up, he is still not getting on until the allotted time. Now if it does not matter what time you play then that is fine, tee booking works or, in the absence of that, turn up after the 8-10 peak times. If, however, it is important that you play before a certain time then turning up early to make sure of it beats not being able to book a suitable time and not being able to play.

It really is horses for courses and both have plus or minus points. It is just that, for me, booking systems have more negatives than positives and that has been the case for my current course where I am 2 minutes down the road or previous courses where I have been 20 minutes or more away.

I can see benefits to individuals & their own circumstances for both systems

I recall turning up to a ball-in-chute arrangement only to see a dozen balls lined up and not being able to wait nearly 2 hours I had to leave

Also benefited from just arriving from one waterlogged closed course where I had a timed booking to its near neighbour and going straight out with no booking at all

On balance though a 'timed booking' beats a 'hurry up and wait'

 

[SAPCOR1]

if you can't get on-line then surely you can either phone or go in and get someone at the club to book a time for you.

To me it seems fairer to all members and opens up particular times that are always hogged by the same crowd

Unless I'm missing something here?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Gg

if you can't get on-line then surely you can either phone or go in and get someone at the club to book a time for you.

To me it seems fairer to all members and opens up particular times that are always hogged by the same crowd

Unless I'm missing something here?

You're missing the fact that some of us who play at clubs with no booking system don't have a problem and don't see the point of having one. Of course, neither way is wrong, it's just preference.

 

[markgs]

I disagree with the point made here. It is not the fact that I am a dinosaur, quite the opposite. What I do want to do is play golf around 9.00 in the morning at a weekend. With a booking system, if I am not quick off the mark then I cannot do that. Without one I just have to be prepared to turn up a bit early (and with 3 starting points there are rarely queues of more than a few minutes). One gives me a pretty solid guarantee of playing when I want every week, the other gives me a definite yes or no answer but my concern is how often I miss out on the time I want to play. Booking is fine if all you want is to know exactly when you will start and so roughly when you will finish and is great if the time that you play does not really matter. If, however, you want to get out at the same time every week, it does not help.
This is not me being a dinosaur or ignoring technology, it is just me expressing my support for a system that suits my needs perfectly against a system that does not.

If you want to play at 9am and there is no brs and your not quick off the mark then you still will not be playing at 9am you really made a good case against your own point of view. Surely its a lot easier to be sharp on booking tee online than getting up the golf club before sunrise. Also gives other people a chance to play at 9am its only fair. If im working at 3pm afternoons on saturday i might be running the risk of not completing my round if i do not have a tee booked, then i will not enter the comp so the club will lose out if there is lots of people in similar situation. BRS is something that is there to make life easier. My simply advise is stop moaning and be sharp in booking you and your gang in on brs. Just out of curiosity do you use a Persimmon wood ??

 

[Lanark_Golfer]

I have had recent experience of both systems and the online booking shades it for me. I have travelled to the course straight from work for a knock at my previous course for a quick knock, only to find 20 guys all waiting to go out. Now with the booking system, I just log in before I set off and make sure there is a space before a wasted journey. On the other hand I have been frustrated if I have forgot to book a time and all the slots are taken on medal day, although there is a reserve system that slots you straight into any cancellations within your selected timeframe and I've never missed out on a game yet

 

[markgs]

I have had recent experience of both systems and the online booking shades it for me. I have travelled to the course straight from work for a knock at my previous course for a quick knock, only to find 20 guys all waiting to go out. Now with the booking system, I just log in before I set off and make sure there is a space before a wasted journey. On the other hand I have been frustrated if I have forgot to book a time and all the slots are taken on medal day, although there is a reserve system that slots you straight into any cancellations within your selected timeframe and I've never missed out on a game yet

Exactly my point life with BRS is so much easier

 

[SAPCOR1]

Gg

You're missing the fact that some of us who play at clubs with no booking system don't have a problem and don't see the point of having one. Of course, neither way is wrong, it's just preference.

But that is not what this post is about, it is about moving to an on-line system.

From someone who's club has gone on-line it is a fairer and easier way to get a time booked or to tactically book your time away from peak periods

 

[HawkeyeMS]

N

But that is not what this post is about, it is about moving to an on-line system.

From someone who's club has gone on-line it is a fairer and easier way to get a time booked or to tactically book your time away from peak periods

But if the membership are happy with not having a booking system, who is it fairer to?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Exactly my point life with BRS is so much easier

When do your Saturday tee times become available to book online?

 

[SAPCOR1]

N

But if the membership are happy with not having a booking system, who is it fairer to?

The club itself surely as it is far more efficient, helps with forward planning and potentially generate more revenue from visitors.

However if the membership vote against it by majority then I think that is fair. Surely the membership would be asked and advised before any such changes were made?

We were given plenty of notice and it works really well in my experience. You can of course still roll up and if there is a slot free, book it and the pro will log it onto the system

 

[HomerJSimpson]

To be honest, we have booked times for comps but aside for that, on non-comp weekends, there are two or three roll ups that go out at set times and members are aware of these and can book their own time to fit between them or go out after. Each and every one of these would also welcome a new member into the fold and therefore give them a guaranteed tee time every week any way. We also have two tees (1st and 10th) and so it's pretty easy to get off and going

 

[FairwayDodger]

To be honest, we have booked times for comps but aside for that, on non-comp weekends, there are two or three roll ups that go out at set times and members are aware of these and can book their own time to fit between them or go out after. Each and every one of these would also welcome a new member into the fold and therefore give them a guaranteed tee time every week any way. We also have two tees (1st and 10th) and so it's pretty easy to get off and going

Sounds like these groups have it sown up. Do they really welcome ANY new member? Is it clear to new members they'd be welcome or would they need to make the approach themselves? What if you want to play at that time but aren't comfortable with that particular clique?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

BRS is brilliant......if you want to plan your golf 3 weeks in advance.

What if you wake up on a sunny Saturday morning and your mate texts you asking if you fancy a game? A single player can probably find a gap but a 2/3/4ball is going to struggle

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

The club itself surely as it is far more efficient, helps with forward planning and potentially generate more revenue from visitors.

Why should a private members club be run for the benefit of visitors? I would rather pay a bit more on my annual subs and be able to get on the course when I want than pay less and not be able to get on at all.

 

[wrighty1874]

Two of my mates left for that very reason and another of my mates is leaving due to the same problem.

When I've booked as a visitor at The Warwickshire you could not do so until 7 days in advance unless you were a member. Do they really take bookings for societies when members have booked the tee times. And as there are 2 courses there can't/don;t they move members onto the other course at times?