What's your worst experience as a guest?

[OMAAbound]

Today I played at a club near heathrow airport, it will remain nameless as it was a nice course, but the members were extremely rude and it wasn't the "warm and friendly" greeting they advertise to visitors.I didn't turn up with a tee time but was told he could "squeeze me in" at 1040. Went on the range and warmed up and nobody teed off in the time I was there. 2 members were teeing off before me so I asked if they minded if I cousl join them, to which they responded "oh no! We don't play with visitors!" Later in the round I was charged up in from begin by a member who wasn't waiting for anyone! Teeing off as I'm stood in the fairway!? Yet when I let him thru he'd obviously left his manners at home and gave me an evil glare as he walked past! Then on the 18th I hit my 2nd into the green side bunker, played my shot and there was no rake, no problem I'll get one from the other one! Two member on the first tee watching me charged over and asked of I knew the etiquette of golf at all and why I weren't raking that bunker!?Has anyone else had an experience, or worse, than I had today!

 

[SAPCOR1]

I was told, not asked, to tuck the corner of my polo shirt in as the Captain was "over there" and I would get a ticking off. Needless to say I untucked the rest of my polo.

It was in Nottingham and begins with a "W"

 

[rosecott]

I was told, not asked, to tuck the corner of my polo shirt in as the Captain was "over there" and I would get a ticking off. Needless to say I untucked the rest of my polo.

It was in Nottingham and begins with a "W"

That narrows it down to 2 and I've never heard of that kind of issue with either.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I was told, not asked, to tuck the corner of my polo shirt in as the Captain was "over there" and I would get a ticking off. Needless to say I untucked the rest of my polo.

It was in Nottingham and begins with a "W"

Surely if it's the dress code of the club to have the shirt tucked in then it's only right that the person asked you ? Obviously dependent on the way you were asked

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Today I played at a club near heathrow airport, it will remain nameless as it was a nice course, but the members were extremely rude and it wasn't the "warm and friendly" greeting they advertise to visitors.I didn't turn up with a tee time but was told he could "squeeze me in" at 1040. Went on the range and warmed up and nobody teed off in the time I was there. 2 members were teeing off before me so I asked if they minded if I cousl join them, to which they responded "oh no! We don't play with visitors!" Later in the round I was charged up in from begin by a member who wasn't waiting for anyone! Teeing off as I'm stood in the fairway!? Yet when I let him thru he'd obviously left his manners at home and gave me an evil glare as he walked past! Then on the 18th I hit my 2nd into the green side bunker, played my shot and there was no rake, no problem I'll get one from the other one! Two member on the first tee watching me charged over and asked of I knew the etiquette of golf at all and why I weren't raking that bunker!?Has anyone else had an experience, or worse, than I had today!

Personally I'd email your experience to the club. Unless they know how visitors are being treated there's no chance of it changing

 

[SAPCOR1]

Surely if it's the dress code of the club to have the shirt tucked in then it's only right that the person asked you ? Obviously dependent on the way you were asked

It literally was a 5cm bit of shirt that had came loose during one of my power shots lol. I hadn't even noticed and I was told not asked or else the big bad captain would get me

 

[SAPCOR1]

That narrows it down to 2 and I've never heard of that kind of issue with either.

Wollaton about 7 years or so ago. Thankfully I no longer have to go anywhere near Nottingham

 

[rosecott]

Wollaton about 7 years or so ago. Thankfully I no longer have to go anywhere near Nottingham

That's a great pity as it's a course well worth the effort to play. My experience in the last few years has been in the Winter Alliance when they probably keep any knobs well away. Generally speaking, it has no reputation for members with excessively grand ideas. Are you sure it wasn't a rutting stag that challenged you? They can be nasty.

 

[evahakool]

Played at Dale Hill in Sussex a few years ago, booked a mid morning tee time on a Tuesday, pro told us on arrival that there was a women's competition on that just started but not to worry and just go and tee off at our allotted time. On the second fairway whist waiting for the green to clear the women who were behind hit their shots and two out of the three landed right next to us.

We decided to go to the tenth tee to try and keep out of their way, walking back down the side of the first fairway a women came over to us and said in a very unfriendly way " would you mind not walking down my fairway" we did stand still while they took their shots.
Thank goodness you don't find this attitude to often.

 

[SAPCOR1]

That's a great pity as it's a course well worth the effort to play. My experience in the last few years has been in the Winter Alliance when they probably keep any knobs well away. Generally speaking, it has no reputation for members with excessively grand ideas. Are you sure it wasn't a rutting stag that challenged you? They can be nasty.

Ha ha! The course itself was enjoyable, especially when you cross the track and go through the gate

 

[rosecott]

What tends to be forgotten is, that as soon as your visitor's green fee has been accepted, you should be afforded the same courtesy as any member who has also paid by dint of his annual membership. Self-appointed dress policemen should not be allowed to speak to visitors. If they imagine a problem then they should convey their concerns to the manager/secretary or the professional staff

 

[6inchcup]

What tends to be forgotten is, that as soon as your visitor's green fee has been accepted, you should be afforded the same courtesy as any member who has also paid by dint of his annual membership. Self-appointed dress policemen should not be allowed to speak to visitors. If they imagine a problem then they should convey their concerns to the manager/secretary or the professional staff

so you pay a small green fee and expect to be treated as a member,but think it is ok not to abide by the rules and not be told of an infringement,i wouldn't care who you were member, visitor, captain,i would inform you,if you decided to take no notice of be abusive i would then inform the secretary or pro to intervene on the course,what right has a visitor to be a law unto themselves

 

[Biggleswade Blue]

I only ever play as a guest, as I'm not a member anywhere.

I accept that I need to abide by the rules of the place I'm asking to play. That's the deal. I'm not going to turn up at Royal St George's without a valid handicap, in jeans and tee shirt. If I make a mistake, point it out to me nicely - I probably didn't realise what I was doing.

I've always been treated fine everywhere I've been. I was very daunted walking into the pro shop at John O'Gaunt (which looked to me pretty exclusive from the outside) for my first lesson a few years ago, not knowing which end of a golf club is up, but I was brilliantly welcomed, looked after and have been ever since.

The one thing that always really irks me at many places I play is the row of spaces in the car park for Captain, Ladies Captain, Vice President and so on. It is never inconvenient to park somewhere else, but this faux-hierarchy just adds to a sense of elitism, which I cannot abide. When I'm in charge, the signs for permanently reserved car park spaces go in the skip on day one. If I'm in the bar and sitting in "your" seat, then get over it or site next to me and have a chat!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The problem is a lot of those people do a lot of work for the club to allow the club to survive and the also do it for no payment - so the very least they should get is a spot in the car park

And I have yet to find a car park where the walk from the other spaces is that much of an issue

 

[Hacker Khan]

Wollaton about 7 years or so ago. Thankfully I no longer have to go anywhere near Nottingham

As a resident of Nottingham all I can say is good riddance, we don't wan't yobbos like you round these parts, we have standards. What will be next, flip flops in the club house??? The fewer track suit wearing chavs we have playing courses like Sherwood Forest, Coxmoor and Hollinwell the better, so please keep away

Never actually played Wollaton although I've walked past it many times when I go to Wollaton Park. I do actually know a member there who has offered to sign me in so I may take him up on the offer.

 

[rosecott]

so you pay a small green fee and expect to be treated as a member,but think it is ok not to abide by the rules and not be told of an infringement,i wouldn't care who you were member, visitor, captain,i would inform you,if you decided to take no notice of be abusive i would then inform the secretary or pro to intervene on the course,what right has a visitor to be a law unto themselves

I don't see the relevance of the size of the green fee. After all, it is the club that sets the green fee. What I was saying was that any visitor should be treated with courtesy. Over-zealous members who take upon themselves the unofficial role of course policeman are one of the things which put prospective members off joining. Visitors have to visit the pro-shop to pay a green fee and, if they have in some way transgressed any code inadvertently or otherwise, it should be addressed at that point. I would not want to be a member of any club where ordinary members were constantly challenging visitors. Common courtesy should be the order of the day.

 

[dufferman]

I played a really nice course on Monday, and on the 18th, out of nowhere, was hit by a ball from back on the tee. Awful behavior.

What's worse is, the man in question was employed by a certain Golf Magazine. You'd think that they'd know better. Riff raff.

 

[SAPCOR1]

As a resident of Nottingham all I can say is good riddance, we don't wan't yobbos like you round these parts, we have standards. What will be next, flip flops in the club house??? The fewer track suit wearing chavs we have playing courses like Sherwood Forest, Coxmoor and Hollinwell the better, so please keep away

Never actually played Wollaton although I've walked past it many times when I go to Wollaton Park. I do actually know a member there who has offered to sign me in so I may take him up on the offer.

Remember to sew your shirt to your Y-Fronts

 

[MattM]

It was in Nottingham and begins with a "W"

Was sure it wasn't Worksop, the friendliest club I've been to as a visitor by a long way.

Have also played at Wollaton and can't say I remember it as being particularly unfriendly. Need to sort their tee time booking out though. Last time I played their it was still 'join the queue' on the first - with about 5 or 6 4-balls already waiting.

 

[bladeplayer]

Kilkenny Golf Club not once or twice but trice , they must have the rudest members anywhere , and i will be the first to say the lady members in our place are one of the best things about the club in Kilkenny ive never met any as rude .. saying hello sholdnt be a chore

Incident 1.... we were due to play them in a match so we are entitled to a practice round at their course , we ring and book a practice time that suits the course & us , we turn up , go to the pro who welcomed us and gave us cards etc and we go to the first tee , we were a bout 10 mins early but were told to go when buzzer rang on 1st (blind tee shot) 3 groups of 3 lady members arrive on the tee and ask us have we (forgive this) our balls in the shute .. What ?
Seemingly there is a shute and u place ur ball in it to q up , nobody told us that when we booked or turned up , we went around to the pro who came out but no way would they let us play even tho we were booked , we informed them we would be ringing the GUI.. we didnt bother of course

Incident 2

The day we played the match we were there early in the clubhouse as there was a match between Pool & Everton on think it may have been FA CUP semi (could be wrong) two members walked in and switched on the golf , yes i appreciate its a golf club but we had been there and were watching the match , in fairness the barman did get it back on .. but it shouldnt have happened , neither should Andy Donkeys goal ha ha

(The young guy i played against and his caddy were sound )

Incident 3 we were playing a society outing there as we were putting on the 13th . 4 members rocked up to the 14th tee and set up , they were still teeing off as we approached the tee , they ignored us and walked on , one of our members rang the clubhouse (i know before the high horse brigade start , his phone was off and he turned it on ) whoever answered the phone said they would get someone out to sort it , of course it never happened ...

Love the course but i wont go back again