Writing Letters to Club Pro’s

[david.c.w]

14 minutes ago, mci711 said:

 

So as long as my mom calls your mom (pro to pro) I can come over to your house. 😂 Either way you have zero say in the decision, you don't actually matter in this scenario. I belong to two, "average" clubs, as mentioned before. 1 has about 150 members, one has 300+. I honestly think it just comes down to being selfish or not.The one course is usually pretty busy, the other I usually have the place to myself.  I couldn't care less about there being guest play at either.  I would definitely care if a random person was making a sandwich in my kitchen. 

 

Agree with you, but OP wants to make a sandwich in your kitchen.  His mom did not call.

 

[david.c.w]

1 minute ago, knock it close said:

Also look at unaccompanied rates, they are probably paying close to monthly dues for the day. 

 

Ha.  Maybe 15%, 25% at most.

[mci711]

3 minutes ago, david.c.w said:

 

Agree with you, but OP wants to make a sandwich in your kitchen.  His mom did not call.

 

 

My point is OP can come play at my club, I couldn't care less. Follow the rules, play ready golf, be respectful, pay your fee. All good. Comparing that to coming to my house and using my personal property is insane. 

Edited October 31, 2023 by mci711

[knock it close]

5 minutes ago, david.c.w said:

 

Ha.  Maybe 15%, 25% at most.

My old club was basically 90%, 

[david.c.w]

I think we have gotten off topic.  Nearly all private club members encourage guest play, including unaccompanied play arranged between pros. 

 

Members want to host and show off their course amd facilities.  

 

The issue for me is when someone sends out form letters to every club in the area hoping to play.  It is akin to a sales cold call IMO.

[psygolf]

What’s almost as bad…when a member at a median private club thinks his membership opens the door to play the elite courses wherever they travel.

 

“Can you see if you can get me on Shinnecock on Sat morning?”

 

🙃

[mshills]

8 minutes ago, david.c.w said:

The issue for me is when someone sends out form letters to every club in the area hoping to play.  It is akin to a sales cold call IMO.

 

100%.  It is spam by a different form.

 

"Hey Mr. MS, I trust this message finds you in great spirits. I wanted to highlight how xxxxxxxx.com specializes in maximizing efficiency to automate your membership billing and cash collections."

 

Please don't.  Welcome to the junk folder.

[TheDominator273]

On 10/27/2023 at 12:08 AM, TexasTurf said:

I see no problem with this. It is literally their job in the hospitality business. What else are they going to do, fold more shirts?

Hey, we don't always fold shirts, sometimes we hang them.

[StudentGolfer4]

2 hours ago, Shilgy said:

So if you were a member at said motor club you’d be ok with some guy off the street paying a few bucks to get what you pay monthly for?

(Speaking from a golf perspective) I may be in the minority but yes it really doesn’t bother me. I prefer it not happen frequently but as long as it doesn’t mess with member tee times then I am not against it. It’s also worth pointing out that our unaccompanied rate is laughably high so the course makes a good amount of money on it. If I recall it’s 3 times the guest fee and the group is required to have a caddy. 
 

To me an unaccompanied guest is an unaccompanied guest. It doesn’t make much difference to me if a member sponsors them or the request is coming from a pro in a neighboring state. The director of golf is the one giving them the ok in both situations. If someone writes a letter wanting to play the course for whatever reason and the DOG approves it then who am I to argue. He does a great job and I trust his fully. 

 

The course also has specific hours when non member play is allowed and even more specific hours when unaccompanied play is allowed. Something like 9-11am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for unaccompanied and it must be approved by the director of golf. If these groups were playing weekend mornings I think I would look at it much differently. 

[Shilgy]

On 10/30/2023 at 7:38 AM, mci711 said:

Comparing a private golf club to someone's home is one of the worst and dumbest analogies I can think of. lol

 

 

You’d be happy with your club essentially becoming open to the public?

 

So the new home owner in the post a few above yours should allow the area to treat his pool as a neighborhood spa?

 

Others should get for free what you pay for?

 

Look past the idea that the letter writer will pay a guest fee.  That’s irrelevant. If a club wants to donate a foursome to a charity that’s one thing. But to just invite yourself over is tacky at best and insulting to the members.

Edited October 31, 2023 by Shilgy

[mci711]

3 hours ago, Shilgy said:

You’d be happy with your club essentially becoming open to the public?

 

So the new home owner in the post a few above yours should allow the area to treat his pool as a neighborhood spa?

 

Others should get for free what you pay for?

 

Look past the idea that the letter writer will pay a guest fee.  That’s irrelevant. If a club wants to donate a foursome to a charity that’s one thing. But to just invite yourself over is tacky at best and insulting to the members.

 

Do you think every single person who ever wanted to play a course just gets on by writing a note? 

 

Sorry, if I don't respond to this again.. Busy writing notes to Augusta and Pine Valley, then obviously will be busy traveling to both since it is 100% guaranteed that I'll get on too. 

Edited November 1, 2023 by mci711

[Shilgy]

Just now, mci711 said:

 

Do you think every single person who ever wanted to play a course just gets on by writing a note? 

So it’s okay if they just approve some of them? lol…what’s the difference? 
 

If a club is hurting for members …and they’d have to be a really poorly run club since Covid to need members…..then sure, run “experience the club events or similar.

 

A club with a full membership needs to keep them happy…not fulfill some guys off the streets bucket list request.

[mci711]

14 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

So it’s okay if they just approve some of them? lol…what’s the difference? 
 

If a club is hurting for members …and they’d have to be a really poorly run club since Covid to need members…..then sure, run “experience the club events or similar.

 

A club with a full membership needs to keep them happy…not fulfill some guys off the streets bucket list request.

 

Agree to disagree. We obviously have different thoughts on this. You think having a random player on the tee sheet is equivalent to a stranger sleeping in your bed, you are obviously not someone worth arguing with 😂 

 

Sorry to break it to you, but there are nonmembers playing your course all the time. Hope you are able to sleep with that thought, I know it is horrifying. Wait til you find out what happens on Mondays.....I heard the employees get to play 🫢🤯

 

Edited November 1, 2023 by mci711

[Shilgy]

49 minutes ago, mci711 said:

 

Agree to disagree. We obviously have different thoughts on this. You think having a random player on the tee sheet is equivalent to a stranger sleeping in your bed, you are obviously not someone worth arguing with 😂 

 

Sorry to break it to you, but there are nonmembers playing your course all the time. Hope you are able to sleep with that thought, I know it is horrifying. Wait til you find out what happens on Mondays.....I heard the employees get to play 🫢🤯

 

And it’s great the employees get to play.  If you were reading I did earlier say donating a time to charity auction or such is a great idea.

 

 

Let me ask you this….if a private club allows a letter writer to play what makes it different from any other public course?  What would be the point of having private clubs if anyone can come play?

[TexasTurf]

2 hours ago, mci711 said:

 

Agree to disagree. We obviously have different thoughts on this. You think having a random player on the tee sheet is equivalent to a stranger sleeping in your bed, you are obviously not someone worth arguing with 😂 

 

Sorry to break it to you, but there are nonmembers playing your course all the time. Hope you are able to sleep with that thought, I know it is horrifying. Wait til you find out what happens on Mondays.....I heard the employees get to play 🫢🤯

 

But only the teenage caddies and cart jockies. If the grown man superintendent is caught with a club in his hands, security reports it to the GM and gets in trouble. Not a made up story.

[JFrew]

4 hours ago, Shilgy said:

 

Let me ask you this….if a private club allows a letter writer to play what makes it different from any other public course?  What would be the point of having private clubs if anyone can come play?

The fact that the person needs to have permission from a specific employee to play makes it not a public course.  

[Roody]

22 hours ago, PrincipalsNose said:

They feel emasculated to allow mere mortals on property. Translation of Small pp energy 

private

[ prahy-vit ]

---

adjective

1. belonging to some particular person:private property.

  2. pertaining to or affecting a particular person or a small group of persons; individual; personal:for your private satisfaction.

Also for the record, at our club we're required to buy 6 guest passes every season, and can purchase up to 6 more on top of that at a reduced rate. Every year I've purchased the max 12, because I love bringing out friends. I just don't appreciate it when some guy I met 5 minutes earlier finds out I'm a member at a private club and flat-out asks me if I'll take him out for a round. It's cheesy. My friends know they don't have to ask, I'll extend the invite. 

Edited November 1, 2023 by Roody

[monty09]

22 hours ago, psygolf said:

What’s almost as bad…when a member at a median private club thinks his membership opens the door to play the elite courses wherever they travel.

 

“Can you see if you can get me on Shinnecock on Sat morning?”

 

🙃

 

 

shinny loves money... dont sell yourself short 

[TexasTurf]

17 hours ago, Roody said:

private

[ prahy-vit ]

---

adjective

1. belonging to some particular person:private property.

  2. pertaining to or affecting a particular person or a small group of persons; individual; personal:for your private satisfaction.

Also for the record, at our club we're required to buy 6 guest passes every season, and can purchase up to 6 more on top of that at a reduced rate. Every year I've purchased the max 12, because I love bringing out friends. I just don't appreciate it when some guy I met 5 minutes earlier finds out I'm a member at a private club and flat-out asks me if I'll take him out for a round. It's cheesy. My friends know they don't have to ask, I'll extend the invite. 

What have you personally done to make that property so special? Money and committees don't count.

[Roody]

6 hours ago, TexasTurf said:

What have you personally done to make that property so special? Money and committees don't count.

That's not the point. I'd reiterate it again, but it's already been said by myself and others in this thread. 

[me05501]

On 10/31/2023 at 7:15 PM, Shilgy said:

Others should get for free what you pay for?

 

 

A one-time opportunity to pay a premium to play at a very non-prime time is distinctly *not* what a member pays for. 

[smashdn]

Maybe you guys touched on this already but it might be buried, what difference is it for a guy to write and ask on his on behalf versus having his pro call the other club's pro?

 

Are we hung up on non-member play period, unaccompanied guest play in particular, or is there a cost being paid by the non-member that "washes" that all away?  

 

We don't charge this much but if someone wanted to come and drop $150 to play I wouldn't stand in the guy's way knowing what I pay per month.  Rent you a cart (no caddies where I am) and buy you some lunch in the grill room.  At the end of the day that person has had the same physical impact on the course and facilities as any other member but at much more positive financial impact.

 

Especially this time of year, our course is quite empty.  Come and p[l]ay.

Edited November 3, 2023 by smashdn

[carrera]

If you are a member of a club, you should ask your pro to try to set up a round for you.  Your pro will know if your request is crazy (Saturday round at Shinnecock) or obtainable, assuming your pro has been in the business for a while.  If your pro gets you might consider a thank you gift for him or her (a bottle of something, for example).

 

If you aren't a member of a club, then go ahead and reach out for access, but be prepared for almost certain rejection or no response.

 

In the past, certain clubs like Sand Hills had a policy of allowing ONE lifetime visit to a non-member who wrote a letter to Dick Youngscap.  But with the short season in Nebraska and member demand, the chances of a Sand Hills letter bearing fruit is like Lloyd Christmas's chances with Mary Swanson.

 

Other remote clubs like Zac Blair's Tree Farm may still be a possibility for a letter writer.

[TexasTurf]

Golf courses are meant to be played, not admired on rankings lists, magazines, and egos. I'm a lowly dirty maintenance man at a top 100 course, #1 in the state, but shoot me a message and we'll gladly host you with the same service as the members get.

[Chanceman]

7 hours ago, TexasTurf said:

Golf courses are meant to be played, not admired on rankings lists, magazines, and egos. I'm a lowly dirty maintenance man at a top 100 course, #1 in the state, but shoot me a message and we'll gladly host you with the same service as the members get.

Good man.

[coreymitch5]

Now isn't the time to say this has consistently worked? 

[bg3putts]

Have your home pro do it otherwise forget it.

[caniac6]

I am a member at a very low key private course. I really enjoy playing my course. I like the laid back atmosphere. I enjoy playing other courses when invited, but feel absolutely no need to beg to play other courses. We have a very highly rated club about 10 minutes from my house that I’ve never played. I’m fine with that. I have fun playing with friends. The course doesn’t really matter.

[AC168]

Letters probably had better luck pre-Covid.  If a member can’t even bring guests at certain times, doesn’t make sense to allow unaccompanied play even at say $650 plus caddie.

[st1800e]

What’s to lose by writing a polite letter? All they can say is no or yes.  
Pro might be helpful,  but if he or she objects, which is strange, then send the letter.  
I was advised early in life by my grandfather, if you don’t ask, you won’t get.  And it matters how you ask…