TROUBLE AT MILL !!bit long winded

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We had exactly the same situation with the roll up defeating itself with success that caused complaints about access (from mainly new members who wished to play together) and we have ended up with a combination book/roll up window/book situation on non - competition weekend days. The roll up has significantly reduced over the 3 years (and the reason for introducing he booking times is arguably no longer valid! Groups fragmented and organised themselves to book 2 or 3 times, others still turn up for a game etc etc. Many days there are also spaces vacant in the roll up period whilst all the bookable slots went early ie people who might otherwise have played don't.

The great thing about 100% roll up time is that it does tend to ensure the maximum number of people get to play - even if some of them don't get exactly the slot they wanted and end up drinking more coffee and meeting other members. ....

One of the reasons the roll-up is so popular is that it has always proved to be an excellent way for new members to get integrated in the club - and the club encouraged newbies to join us - and of course we welcomed folks with open arms. But in the last year we have had a lot of new members - and so roll-up numbers have swollen to the point we are. If you and a mate or mates turned up and didn't want to play in the roll-up you just got on the tee asap and took your turn in the middle of it - if you were at the first before any roll-up group then you went before them. The roll-up had no issue having non roll-uppers in it's midst.

What will happen I think is that say 20-30mins before we would have the roll-up draw for playing partners, if it looks like numbers will be significantly (or maybe even just a bit) more than the slots we have booked then those present will make mini-draws and start going out (assuming tee isn't booked by non roll-uppers). This will work but take away from the overall 'communal' all togetherness of the roll-up - and early arrivers will start playing in their own 2/3/4 balls prior to the formal draw - just the fragmentation you have indicated happened at your place.