Will the Credit Crunch Have an Impact on Course Behavior?

[GB72]

Over the weekend I may have stumbled across another credit crunch related problem.

A member at a local club has been the subject of at least 2 complaints that I know about. The first was abusive behavior towards a female playing partner reported by other groups on the course and the second was aggressive and abusive behavior towards other groups on the course who were blamed for holding up his round despite the fact that the course was rammed. Both incidents were reported to the committee and the result has simply been a letter to the complainants stating that the person has declined to apologise. No further action is being taken basically due to the need to hold on to as many members as possible.

Anyone else seen their clubs being lenient or taking no action in order to keep up membership in these hard times?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not had anything as severe although a group of members at Temple were fairly obnoxious to us when we played there as a green fee. They accused us of holding the whole course up even though we were at least half a hle (and at one point a clear hole and a half) in front. I think it was the "we are members and your are just visitors" snobbery but it did spoil our day a tad.

My worry is that this guy will carry on getting away with it but what the club fail to realise is that instead of one guy (maybe several if his cronies are involved too) leaving or being banned, those being affected will eventually vote with their feet and the loss of revenue will be even greater.

I think it is clearly a case of members having to be strong enough to tell their committee that they are not happy with their decision and demand further action

 

[DCB]

There's usually enough idiots around, especially in June & July when the peak of the telivised golf is on the box that a few more will probably be noticed.

I've been a member of three clubs over the past 35 years and there have been people at each of them who you wouldn't rush to play with. Every club deals with unsavoury incidents in it's own way. It's up to the members to make sure that the correct procedures are applied and followed.
The clubs Constitution will usually lay out what sanctions may be applied in such a case.

In the original post I think it's just a case of a weak committee.

 

[hellbunker]

not really noticed anything in terms of behaviour...however, members are holding on to greenfees for longer before paying....

 

[Herbie]

Its more a sign of the times rather than credit crunch related. I have seen some outrageous bahavior on various courses over recent years, behavior that would have led to people being kicked out if it were at my first club way back in the late 70s early 80s without a second thought.

These days its is common to see snobbery by people who dont fit the cap and also abuse/aggression/deliberate interference/provocation and blatant ignorance, all of which is seemingly ignored by clubs.

When I began playing a golfers word carried some weight, today you need written statements, video evidence, proof and the nod of 150 members before any disciplinary action is taken against unruly members/visitors and then it usually amounts to no more than a quiet word in someones ear.

I have only played this game for just over 30yrs but I have seen significant change in general attitudes and behavior of golfers. Bad things happened when I began playing golf but were nothing to what Ive seen in recent years and so frequently.

So I dont think credit crunch has anything to do with it, I think tollerance through ignorance or apathy or blind acceptance has more to do with modern day golf.