who do I tip and how much?, at nicer resort courses Options

[stephenmatthia]

My friend and I have been going out to Palm Springs a lot lately. They have really good deals on great golf courses in the summer (because its 120 degrees). My qustion is who should I be tipping and how much? I really have no idea what the protocol is on this. I havn't been playing too long and have basically never played resort type courses. The person who would normally teach me about this type of thing (my dad) never played golf.
You guys know the routine at these courses, there's the bag drop guy, the guys in the pro shop, usually a guy at the driving range, and then a starter at the first tee who gives some local knowledge. Do I tip all of them? How much is appropriate?

And the other part of this question, and I don't know if this is stupid or out of line, but I really don't want to be rude to anyone. I am a college student, and although I am paying 35-45 dollars to play these courses, that is almost all the money I have to spend at that time. I don't have enough to tip 4 different people 5 dollars each, that adds 20 dollars to the round and brings the total to 55-65 dollars, which would be too exspensive for me.

Is it better to tip too little than not at all? I really don't know. Sometimes I feel like if I don't tip they'll kind of think "well hes a young guy who doesn't know any better or doesnt have money" but if I only give them a dollar they'll think I'm rude.

Thank you for helping,

Chuck

[tjy355]

I usually tip the bag attendents $3-4 after the round. And the cart girl of course.

I've never seen anyone tip the pro shop staff or the starter.

Enjoy!

[bigred90gt]

I would carry my own bag to the cart, and just tip the beer girl if she is out and about. Unless it is an exclusive country club, bag drop folks and the guys that wash your clubs after the round are not a requirement to use, at least in my experience. Politely tell them thanks, but no thanks, and move on.

I would also never tip the pro-shop or the starter, unless they did you a huge favor and got you out on a booked day as a walk up.

[Smooth spin scot...]

Nothing against those who work for tips, but if you don't have the extra cash don't sweat it. I know there will be someone who replies to this and says "if you can afford to golf, then you can afford to tip".... Like the post above, bring your own clubs up and put them on the cart (less possibility of them sitting there for awhile and possibly getting snatched). Politely tell the guy who wipes off your clubs at the end of the round that you would rather wash them yourself but 'thanks... No harm no fowl.

I remember when I was working as a teenager in the back shop and taking clubs etc., it was never a big deal to me if someone didn't tip... I'll never forget this one guy, didn't look like he golfed much, I washed his old 1970s clubs and he gave me 3 Pinnacle Gold golf balls (which were the ball of choice for many of us young golfers). I thought that was awesome.

[zmforged23]

Nothing against those who work for tips, but if you don't have the extra cash don't sweat it. I know there will be someone who replies to this and says "if you can afford to golf, then you can afford to tip".... Like the post above, bring your own clubs up and put them on the cart (less possibility of them sitting there for awhile and possibly getting snatched). Politely tell the guy who wipes off your clubs at the end of the round that you would rather wash them yourself but 'thanks... No harm no fowl.

I remember when I was working as a teenager in the back shop and taking clubs etc., it was never a big deal to me if someone didn't tip... I'll never forget this one guy, didn't look like he golfed much, I washed his old 1970s clubs and he gave me 3 Pinnacle Gold golf balls (which were the ball of choice for many of us young golfers). I thought that was awesome.

Well considering how resort courses are typically more expensive, it really is not going to break your bank account if you give at least a $2 tip, that should be minimum, and to me a $1 tip is more of a slap in the face than getting stiffed at least then I can say "a$$h0le" under my breath

[Smooth spin scot...]

True to the above, but my point was that if he really can't afford to tip (or doesn't want to) for that matter, he could simply avoid putting anyone one in the position where he'd have to tip.

[Redman]

I would say carry your own clubs in and then after the round let the guys clean them and tip them a couple of bucks. That would be fine. I worked at a resort doing this for years in high school and summers of college and all of us were fine with 2 or 3 bucks. Remember, even though you are in college, that these guys are out there and most of the time a large portion of their income comes from tips and that is why they are cleaning your clubs. Of course it isn't mandatory, but I always try to put myself in the position of those doing the job and look at it from their perspective.

[youraway2]

I’ve played private and resort courses. One private course I’ve played in Tuscaloosa will not allow tipping. An employee caught accepting a tip would be terminated. At the resort courses normally the cart attendants are working for little and trying to make it in life.

Here’s what I do; I tip the cart attendant if they do something. For others such as shop employees and course marshals I don’t tip and couldn’t care less what is thought about it. If the cart attendant at the bag drop gets my clubs out and places them on the cart, $1-2 per bag. At the completion of my round; if the attendant wipes off my irons and places the clubs in the trunk, then I’ll tip $1-2 per bag.

At my home course I give the beverage cart girl $1 everyday just for being on the course. Sometimes I get ice, but other than that I seldom purchase anything.

[BankerGolfer]

attendants: $10
caddy: $50
Pro shop staff who manages tee times: $20 (if I'm a walk-on looking to get out quick)
cart girl: $10 (to manage her expectations in case I ask her out for drinks later....)

Local cost-of-living conditions dictate actual amounts. If I'm playing in a large metro area (e.g. NYC, LA, Chicago) or an exclusive club, I'll double the amounts.

[blinkstafoo182]

I used to work at a golf course during the summer months in college. I worked in the cart staff, and every now and then picking up guys and their clubs in the parking lot. I only once revieved a tip and that was for finding a guys wedding band, he gave me 5 bucks.

[BankerGolfer]

What a cheap $#$#

I used to work at a golf course during the summer months in college. I worked in the cart staff, and every now and then picking up guys and their clubs in the parking lot. I only once revieved a tip and that was for finding a guys wedding band, he gave me 5 bucks.

[boo radley]

I will (reluctantly) tip the attendants who jump on the bag at the end of the round a dollar or two, and happily tip 20%+ on any food/drink service I receive. Otherwise... ?

Stayed at a resort on a family vacation recently, and it does get a little ridiculous. I am perfectly capable of loading my clubs from my hotel room (or storage room) into the back of the shuttle, and from the shuttle to the golf cart, and vice-versa.

[tburchell]

I was just out there in PS over the weekend, I've played almost all the non-private courses out there. I know what you mean.

It is easy enough in most cases to not use the bag drop, plus I don't like leaving my clubs unattended. That's one way to avoid that.
Any and all food/beverage attendants are tipped.
Unless the pro shop guys (and this applies to the starter as well) are doing something above and beyond, I don't think they need to be tipped.
I will tip bag attendants at the end, even after denying the club cleaning. They'll usually allow the cart out directly to the car.