To Book or Not to Book........

[Imurg]

Lets have a debate about Booking Tee times - or not as the case may be.

Me, Fragger and CVG played Aylesbury Vale in the week. NIce course and clubhouse and all that but they don't operate a booking system, it's rock-up, queue up, Tee off.

Now for many, I suspect, that is the norm. It's always been that way, it always will.
I'm not knocking a non-booking system but I'd like to get feelings on why you think it's good or bad.

Personally, I like a booking system. At APGC we use the BRS system and I can look online at anytime to see if the tee is busy.
If I know I'm getting a free mornig or afternoon I can book my tee time knowing that when I turn up I won't, potentially, have a 30-40 minute wait behind 4 or 5 groups who have shown up unannounced.
At AVGC we began at about 9.20. Not many around. As we got to the 9th green there was a queue of around 4-5 groups waiting to play the first.
We continued down the 10th only to look back and see 2 singles hard on our heels - they'd given up waiting on the first and thought they'd try their luck down the 10th - instantly putting us under pressure which was a little annoying.
Having a booked time means you know when you're playing, you don't have to stand around like a spare something at a wedding waiting. Should you find yourself at a loose end and want to play, a quick check on BRS or a call to the shop and you're booked in or not if it's busy.
I might have enough time for a round but not enough time to wait 30 minutes in line.

I like a booking system

Discuss......

 

[connor]

im all for booking tee times.
my old club was a rock up and play but on a busy day or comp day this was hellish as you could be waiting a while and u always got cheeky holiday makers tryin to jump in. Where i play now operates a tee booking system from 8:30am - until they think you wont get round in time or 5pm in summer. I prefer this as time is garunteed and you know you wont be waiting around. Also there is not the added pressure of loads of people stood on the first tee.

 

[NWJocko]

I am a member of a club attached to a proprietary course so we have to book, outside of comps.

For comps there is a chunk of time within which you can choose a particular tee-time. Outside of comps you need to book (or take your chances that there is a slot free when you get there).

For me, in my circumstances, booking works much better. I have a young daughter who a) I want to spend time with and b) means I would struggle to justify an open-ended day at the golf club.

Booking means that I know, fairly accurately, when I am leaving the house and when I will be back so can arrange family life around that.

Getting to the course and having to wait 2 hours to tee off would do my nut in as it's time I could spend with my family.

However, I understand why people like the no booking approach.

What I really don't understand (and did a thread a while back) is the point of view often put on here that "I would leave my club if it introduced booking tee times". Really!? Why!? If you know you are playing golf on, say, Wednesday morning, what extra hassle is it to book a time either online or over the phone?

 

[fundy]

Lets have a debate about Booking Tee times - or not as the case may be.

Me, Fragger and CVG played Aylesbury Vale in the week. NIce course and clubhouse and all that but they don't operate a booking system, it's rock-up, queue up, Tee off.

Now for many, I suspect, that is the norm. It's always been that way, it always will.
I'm not knocking a non-booking system but I'd like to get feelings on why you think it's good or bad.

Personally, I like a booking system. At APGC we use the BRS system and I can look online at anytime to see if the tee is busy.
If I know I'm getting a free mornig or afternoon I can book my tee time knowing that when I turn up I won't, potentially, have a 30-40 minute wait behind 4 or 5 groups who have shown up unannounced.
At AVGC we began at about 9.20. Not many around. As we got to the 9th green there was a queue of around 4-5 groups waiting to play the first.
We continued down the 10th only to look back and see 2 singles hard on our heels - they'd given up waiting on the first and thought they'd try their luck down the 10th - instantly putting us under pressure which was a little annoying.
Having a booked time means you know when you're playing, you don't have to stand around like a spare something at a wedding waiting. Should you find yourself at a loose end and want to play, a quick check on BRS or a call to the shop and you're booked in or not if it's busy.
I might have enough time for a round but not enough time to wait 30 minutes in line.

I like a booking system

Discuss......

Not fully true about no booking system at AVGC, there is no booking system midweek but there is on weekends after 11am (no non members before 11am and unless a comp the tee is left unbooked and open).

Thursday was also a bit of a strange one as usually it is the quietest day of the week, however, due to the course being all but closed on the friday, the seniors brought forward their roll up to the Thursday (and disappointingly this wasn't put onto the online calendar or the board at the club).

Its actually becoming an issue at AVGC, partly because the course is becoming busier, having picked up a lot of new members this year (mainly from Mentmore, Abbey Hill and 3 Locks) and them trying to balance between a members course and pay and play revenue.

Non comp saturdays are becoming a little sticky in that they accept pay and play bookings from 11am, which if there are too many members trying to get off before 11am causes a problem.


Personally I like not having to book a time midweek, the calendar nearly always lets us know what is going on and we're often not organised enough in advance to know what time we're going to be playing in advance. Weekends is starting to get a bit harder to call as its getting busier and I would be surprised if a full weekend booking system is introduced in the foreseeable future.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Firmly in the roll up camp. We know when the main greedies go out and so can plan to avoid them or start on the 10th if need be. Its great if you want to play a few holes or turn up after work for a game. Never an issue about getting off with a bit of foresight

 

[pbrown7582]

having been a member at clubs using both system i prefer the book in advance system we use the brs system and its really useful especially these days when you can check and book online on your mobile anywhere, also handy to be able to check how busy things are and if need be adjust plans to suit, how frustrating is it to roll up only to find there is a 60 man society out and thats then end of your quick few holes

 

[aceofspades]

I'm leaving home in 15 minutes to ensure we turn up when it's still dark to be at the head of the queue to tee off first. Having previously played at a course which had tee times for Saturday comps, I much prefer just turning up without having to book.

 

[RichardC]

No booking system for me.

I know when I will be able to go out and have a knock with no traffic, and as they operate a 2 tee system it is rare that you will be held up. If you decide to go out at peak times then you will have issues as you would at any golf club, but again as it's 2 tee you won't get held up by a 3 or 4 ball if your playing a 1 or 2 ball.

 

[rickg]

Prefer a booking system. Today I know my tee slot is at 09:00 so I know I will be finished around 12:30. I have to go work this afternoon so would not be able to play if I didn't know what time I'd finish.
I'm not into turning up at the crack of sparrows just to guarantee a game and even then not knowing how long I'd have to wait.
How does a non booking system cater for societies?

 

[fundy]

At ours Rick a society can block book a tee time and its is put on the calendar and the board at the club, so you can always check

 

[wull]

i would of been annoyed with the 2 ball hard on our heels if that happened.....

i'm all for it but it all depends on how busy the course is.

my home club is so quiet you just turn up and away you go but at callanderthey use a tee booking system.

usually if you do turn up you get out quite quickly and there is no issues with people right up yer chuff.

 

[chris661]

I'm leaving home in 15 minutes to ensure we turn up when it's still dark to be at the head of the queue to tee off first. Having previously played at a course which had tee times for Saturday comps, I much prefer just turning up without having to book.

You would rather get up a stupid o'clock on a Saturday leave the house when it is still dark rather than have a look on a computer screen to see what times are available as for just rolling up at my place you can, you know it will be busy at the weekend and during the week you can turn up. much preferable to me to look at a screen and see when I can play than have to turn up and wait for hours possibly

 

[JustOne]

I like to roll up and play, that said I wouldn't mind if there was a booking system in place from 9am-11am for those that want to guarantee they'll tee off on time.

I also don't have a problem with groups slotting in on the 10th, either in front or behind me. I wouldn't feel any extra pressure just because a 2-ball had just started behind my 4-ball, I'd follow standard ettiquette and call them through when possible.

Agreed, it's a bit frustrating when you are playing the 9th and you see a 4-ball suddenly appear in front of you on the 10th tee but if they don't hold you up it's not a problem.... only problem is most people don't know what ettiquette is and won't let you through.

 

[chrisd]

I prefer a non booking system. We only have tee times for comps and I find, other than comps, people generally play at regular times. Some Sunday mornings whemn the winter 4BBB league is just getting underway it can be busy but we do have a two tee start for any groups to go off until 9.30 at weekend ie no ettiquette rule applies to 2 balls.

Otherwise, if I want to turn up and play I can so long as I check the diary for matches, societies etc

It generally works well and on very odd occasions I have walked in but I dont get too stressed out.

Chris

 

[johnboywalton]

Just seems a little arcaic to me......perhaps it`s tradition!

We sit in my office on a Friday and book a tee time, takes a few minutes and when you get there, if you have a wait, it is normally quite minimal.

 

[Tommo21]

When I first joined Royal Musselburgh it was murder to get a time slot. From 7 30 on, there are groups of players and they all have theie sweeps from one group to the next. There are mostly good guys but if you’ve just joined it’s hard to break in until you get to know someone within these groups. At first, to play at night I would need to go straight from work before the course got busy. Now there is a booking system, the guys who play their sweeps, a few of them book their normal slots as soon as it comes live on the system, so most people are accommodated. The good thing about this, if anyone wants a 8am time they can book it now without trying to break into the usual guys that play that time. Now I know a good few of the guys I have no problems in getting a time or a game.

Dunbar GC is much more stringent. At 8am, seven days before the date you want to play the online system goes live where every second tee time becomes free for all members to book. Alternatively, 8am, two days before you want to play every other slot becomes available. As far as I’m concerned it works a treat. If I have some guests or have some thing special with say 8 or 12 guys I can arrange a time in advance. Comps are a doddle, log on 8am 7 days before and click on a time slot that’s available. Each time slot, say 8 to 8.30, gives a certain amount of players the opportunity to click on that slot. The system allows for withdrawals, so you can sometime get a time slot that is full. The good thing, it’s only one week ahead of each comp, most people know what they’re doing a few days before hand. Royal Musselburgh comps are still done with an entry sheet………two weeks ahead of each comp….Result, many withdrawals as the usual suspects just take a time slot not knowing if they can play or not….it is rank rotten and open to abuse.

If you have a proper booking system it will encourage new members to join IMO.

 

[Dodger]

When I first joined Royal Musselburgh it was murder to get a time slot. From 7 30 on, there are groups of players and they all have theie sweeps from one group to the next. There are mostly good guys but if you’ve just joined it’s hard to break in until you get to know someone within these groups. At first, to play at night I would need to go straight from work before the course got busy. Now there is a booking system, the guys who play their sweeps, a few of them book their normal slots as soon as it comes live on the system, so most people are accommodated. The good thing about this, if anyone wants a 8am time they can book it now without trying to break into the usual guys that play that time. Now I know a good few of the guys I have no problems in getting a time or a game.

Dunbar GC is much more stringent. At 8am, seven days before the date you want to play the online system goes live where every second tee time becomes free for all members to book. Alternatively, 8am, two days before you want to play every other slot becomes available. As far as I’m concerned it works a treat. If I have some guests or have some thing special with say 8 or 12 guys I can arrange a time in advance. Comps are a doddle, log on 8am 7 days before and click on a time slot that’s available. Each time slot, say 8 to 8.30, gives a certain amount of players the opportunity to click on that slot. The system allows for withdrawals, so you can sometime get a time slot that is full. The good thing, it’s only one week ahead of each comp, most people know what they’re doing a few days before hand. Royal Musselburgh comps are still done with an entry sheet………two weeks ahead of each comp….Result, many withdrawals as the usual suspects just take a time slot not knowing if they can play or not….it is rank rotten and open to abuse.

If you have a proper booking system it will encourage new members to join IMO.

As always the old bugger speaks sense.

Booking systems all the way........golf as an industry is changing but many clubs are not,it is my opinion that the clubs that do not will be left behind.

 

[GB72]

We have no booking system and that suits me perfectly but that is through faults of my own not the club. Most of my rounds are sorted out on Thursday or even in the pub on Friday night. If we had a booking system then I would not be able to get a tee time until early afternoon if I left it that late to arrange anything.

I know when the busy times are and I know when the course is quiet so we know when there is going to be a queue and can plan accordingly. Most of the people I play with left their last club (Greetham Valley) because they intorduced a tee booking system and it was difficult to get on the course anywhere near to the times that they wanted to play.

The queue is never more than half an hour at the busiest time and we run a ball chute in the Winter to keep people out of the cold so it suits me perfectly.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

We went to Aylesbuty Vale GC as a scouting trip in the event that HS2 goes ahead and kills off Aylesbury Park GC

One BIG thing against AVGC is the lack of midweek booking system.

For me every minute of the day is precious,
I drop off at school at 8.20 and i need to allow 45 minutes travel to either club
I want to be able to tee off betweem 9.15 and 9.30
I want to be finished by 1pm ish
i need to see customers in the afternoon
I have to do school pickups at 4pm

At present I can book a tee time and the rest of my day is sorted

If I rolled up and couldnt tee off until nearer 10, it would have a knock on effect and screw up my afternoon


So for me a booking system is essential

I didnt like the fact that a couple of single players decided to tee off from the 10th instead of waiting on the 1 st

putting our group under pressure. I dont mind if they had caught us up in the normal course of play, but having parachuted in, it was unwelcome, having said that they teemed up as a 2 ball and didnt really effect our round. apart from one nearly killing me (see other thread)

Fragger

 

[fundy]

Personally prefer it the opposite way, like not having to commit to a time.

As for starting of 10, you must be the first group ever to have a problem with someone teeing off behind you on the 10th (if they had jumped off in front of you then I would understand) and as long as no one is on the 9th they have every right to start on the 10th. Did you expect them to wait 45 mins on the first then?