Sorry if this has been covered in depth before but I figured that this board would be a good place to get input given that there are many industry folks here.

I always struggle with tipping at the golf course- who, when and how much? Do you tip the bag guys when they take the clubs from you and hand them off to the cart guy? Do you tip the cart guy when he gets you set-up? Do you tip the starter as he gets you off the first tee? Do you tip the bag/cart guys as they greet you at the end of the round- even if you tipped the same guy at the beginning of the round? What if the cart guy doesn't do anything except take the cart- for example, he doesn't wipe down the clubs? What are the appropriate tip amounts in these situations? Anybody else that should get tipped?

Does this vary depending on whether it's a muni, an upscale public course or a private course?

Sorry for the seemingly endless list of questions but I always wonder and generally try to err on the side of overtipping but sometimes feel like I'm doing it wrong.

Thanks in advance.

Being the cheapskate that I am, I avoid all of the potential trouble by not accepting any of the "services" at any golf course...I'll carry my clubs from my car in the parking lot to the clubhouse (i usually walk anyway). at the end of the round, i try to keep my clubs as far as humanly possible from the wiper guy so he can't get to them. i guess i'm just not a fan of frills.

I typically do not accept the "cleaning" service, and I usually only tip on my way out. I'll tip the ride out to the car a couple bucks. If the cart guy goes a little more (like setting me up with range balls) though, I'll tip them before I go out. I always tip the cart and/or food attendant.

Here are a few threads that discussed tipping.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=103025

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=113309

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=132007

I don't want anyone touching my clubs either, but I'll leave a buck or two on the scorecard clip on the cart.

Once a cart boy always a cart boy...they deserve something.

P.B. Dye said it best to me one day, "If you're playing for free, go out tipping."

Just be careful, some clubs have a no-tipping policy for some of their staff. Don't get anyone in trouble!

I think Dwight Schrewt summed it up best when he said "Why would I tip someone for something I can do myself?"

Thanks. So, I've skimmed through these threads and though there was some helpful information, it was mostly people complaining about tipping and bad service.

In any case, I'll throw out the standards I've been able to take from these threads and some others-- let me know if you think I've got it right.

Assuming that you're paying for the round (if you're playing for free, then tips should be increased):
$2-$5 at the bag drop
$3-$5 after the round to the cart guy

How about starter tips? Haven't seen any consistent views on this. Do you tip the starter at an upscale public course where you are already paying quite a bit to play? How about at a muni?

um, not to sad like an a**, but what service does a starter really give...besides sitting in his shack and telling you when to hit your ball...?

I used to work at the golf course and took peoples bags and set them up, as well as offer to clean their clubs and pack them up in the car. Usually, if I do come out and set your bag up, I didn't expect a tip because its the start of the round. Usually at the end of the round when I pack their clubs in the car and clean them, thats when I would hope for my tip. And if I helped them out before the round, once I would put the clubs up at the end of the round I would usually get a tip because they remember I helped earlier.

Sometimes you'll have a different person greeting you at the end of the round, so you may want to split the tip for both employees. Maybe $1 a bag for setting you up in the cart. And if I helped out before and after the round, usually I would get $2-$5.



This quote reminds of the time some of the Tampa Bucs came to play at the private course I worked at. Not sure if they played for free or not, about 7 or 8 of them. And I had to pretty much do everything for them before and after the round. Another cart person with me had to keep bringing drinks out to them in coolers since the cart girl left.

By the end of the day, I received $0 from any of them. One player was signing some autographs, but I'm not really into football. One of the guys playing with them, who was not a football player came to talk to my coworker and I as they were leaving. He asked if we received any tips from the players. Once he heard us say no, he couldn't believe it, so he gave us each $10.

Seeing how I walk, I can't imagine tipping the bag boys. I'm about to walk 4.5 miles, why would I pay somebody to carry my clubs 30 feet?

I'll typically tip the cart girl.

Um, you should probably note that I was asking a question and not advocating a position. If you read through the threads, you'll occasionally see references to Starter tipping and I've seen it in person every once in a while-- so I was just wondering what situations would warrant it. For example, at upscale public/day fee courses, the starter will often give a little introduction to the course and then yuk it up for a minute or two before sending you off- and it often seems like they are waiting/expecting a tip.

I apologize for the preface to my previous statement, but I wasn't intending that to be an attack on you, but to starters in general....because honestly, i've never been anywhere where a starter does what you describe. i didn't read through those threads that were linked in an earlier post, so i had never heard of it. i just wanted to clear the air.

How is the pay structure of these different positions worked out? Are they expected to make their money on tips or are they making an hourly rate that is supposed to be the majority of their salary. If it's the former then I would like to always tip but if it's the latter then I will tip for exceptional service.

LOL!

What if the course has those tents setup with massage girls in them,,,,, then what do you tip:)

it depends on how they finish the round.... HAHA

BTW- i work at a club where its no tip, and its BS always tip good service, they will take it, they deserve it.

I'm with you. The whole idea of "player's assistants" driving up as soon as I pull into my parking place and asking if I want a ride to the clubhouse just seems so silly to me. They recognize my car now and don't bother anymore.

I worked at a course in college and made good money from tips. It wasnt an exclusive ritzy club but a semi private type place. One of the wealthiest members(drove two different 100k benz) wouldnt tip at all but his equally wealth younger brother tipped really well on the way out...typically $20. The average tip on the way out was $2-3 bucks per person.

I always tip...if they do something.

I am playing Pebble this July and I am curious about tipping there. Any insight?

$2 a bag but... what I hate are the places that deliberately have one guy that takes your clubs at the drop, another guy puts them on the cart after you come out of the clubhouse and go to the starter. Then a different guy will wipe your clubs at the end and put them back at the drop and then another guy puts them back in your car when you drive up. Thats four guys all wanting tip $.

I play alot of resort golf and those old geezers working for free golf run this racket all the time.

As somebody who works in this industry i can tell you that if someone goes out of there way to help you in your own personal mind that warrants something.

If you really do not want to feel obligated to tip anyone that id suggest you carry , clean , and pack your own clubs and refuse the service of others. YOu would really be suprized at the difference in treatment and how someone is helped out by merely just giving someone 5 dollars.

The cart person is usually one of the lowest paid people at the club or course so tips are a big part of what they make

I ran into a situation during today's round related to cart service that bothered me. The cart drop wasn't far off from the 18th green (maybe 100ft), and the cart guys started attending to our threesome while we were still putting out on 18!!! As we were walking back to our carts I let the guy know "They are clean, no need" and he said something in agreement. They seemed to be rushing to get us out to our cars and get the carts back. I couldn't see why, there were no cart shortages or long backups anywhere. Anyway, I was fairly annoyed and I let him know when I thanked him for rushing me out to my car.

tburchell-

Was this at Angeles National? I was playing there today and the same thing happened. Then when we left the 18th green and pulled up to the clubhouse, there was another guy there waiting to clean our clubs. We explained about the guy at the 18th green and the clubhouse guy seemed pissed. The guy at the green had gone rogue and was snaking his tips.

P.S. - I've decided I'm not playing Angeles anymore. Every fairway is lined with protected habitats which you are NOT allowed to enter. Miss a fairway by five feet and your ball is history.