Ok, ok. I'll be headed to a very, very high end public resort course in about a month or so. Unfortunately I'm not able to stay at the resort and get a confirmed tee time, so I'll have to call the day ahead. No problem, right? It's November, cold, probably slow season. Well, as of today, they have just a few tee times for the days Im going to be there remaining for single players. I may be lucky enough to secure a spot the day before. If that's not the case, I'll be extremely disappointed not to get out on the course. That's pretty much my only option at this point.

So here's the question- Should I see if the starter will "help" me if I "help" him? Meaning... give him MONEY. $20 or $40, just to find a spot to stick one single golfer. Does it work? Am I an asshat for doing it? How much should I tip the guy!?!

25 should do the job.

I won't say the name of the high-end golf resort (but it rhymes with TPC at Lawmass). I have had a great deal of success doing just that. Usually $20 did the trick, but this was several years ago, so there might be inflation.

WHy would a single have to bribe the starter? If there's room, they'll be happy to fit you in.

If there's no room, do you really want to play a packed course by yourself?

If it's between him and another guy, the $20 should ensure he's the guy that gets the open spot.

First of all, you're never an asshat for tipping. My guess is that a $20 gratuity would get a single on with no problems.

It's not tipping...it's bribing.

And I don't see how bribing a starter w/ $20 is going to get you onto a "high end" course. Most of the courses I've played keep the schedule in the pro shop.

If that worked, why would anyone pay the greens fees?

You pay greens fees?

Ok, either my initial post wasnt clear or some werent getting it.


The schedule will most likely be totally booked when I get there. They wouldnt have an open tee time.


This one... YES, absolutely YES.


Of course I'd pay the greens fee. I'm looking for the guy to just squeeze me in. Anybody who's ever worked at a golf course knows what a packed tee sheet means. It's hard to do, but with a little bit of effort, yo can make it happen.


OpusX20 gets what Im sayin'

Buddy, I'm the starter. Bring 50.

Money Talks BullSh!t walks!!!!

All you can do is try. Most courses I play handle the scheduling from the pro shop and not thru the starter so if thats the case not sure how the starter is going to "hook" you up because you dropped him a $20 spot if the proshop won't let you out to begin with? But as others have already stated, money does talk sometimes... I would at least offer $50 if its really that exclusive and posh. Just me though.

If it does not work with the starter, maybe you can try and bribe the pro shop employee??

Tip the pro shop. Go in when it's relatively quiet and discreetly slip them anywhere between 20-50 bucks. They'll get you out no prob. Cash flat out works. I got into a big college football game with no ticket a couple weeks back. Waited till right after kickoff, slipped a guy atthe gate 50 bucks (tickets going 150+) and I mingled my way to where my friends were.

Most courses aren't going to let you pay the greens fee w/o being on the schedule though. Right?

Plus, I'd think the marshals are going to notice a single playing out there, possibly holding up the groups behind...because you'll be waiting on every shot.


Good luck to you though- I hope it works out!!

If you are a single, the pro shop is in charge of pairing you up, not the starter.

I show up as a single about half the time I play. I am not sure about high end courses, but all the pro shops in my area always tell me to go see the starter and see if he can work me in. All they ever do is take my money at the proshop.

Interesting - I play a lot as a single as well and 9 times out of 10 it's the pro shop that pairs me up. It must depend on the course, but I think tipping the starter is unnecessary. If the course takes your greens fee money, that means they have a spot for you to play.

The first and last time I tried this was at a packed "high end muni" if there is such a thing. The starter shoved the $20 back at me and said loudly, within earshot of about 20 people, "GOLF COURSE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ACCEPT GRATUITIES!" I never did get out on that course after waiting for 2 hours.

What an a$$hole!

Yeah really- I hate people with dignity.

That's pretty funny B&G.

Which causes me to share my opinion about this whole topic. Paying extra to get what you want when you want it is generally a fine thing. Not so fine though when you are taking it away from someone else who has a right to it.

If the "tip" to the starter means he'll stay a bit later and let you go after his normal hours or something like that it's one thing, but if it means he'll inconvenience some other player who was waiting and "playing by the rules" that's quite another. Just because you don't see the guy that's been put out by your having been put in place ahead (or instead) of him doesn't make it okay. Which I suspect is why the O.P. asked if he was being an "asshat" for trying.

That said, anyone who shows up at a course ready to play and who can't get out has my full sympathy, whatever kind of hat they're wearing.

Great point Sawgrass.

The problem is people are confusing the word "Tip" with the word "Bribe". A tip being an additional compensation for service above the norm it typically is given after the services are provided. A bribe is an advance payment made to skirt or break a rule. <<edit....DOH...Bomb and Gouge already pointed this out≥ >>

Those who tip have distinctly different headwear from those who bribe.

If the course is packed with foursomes and they let you out as a single I think there are going to be a lot of unhappy people behind you, especially the group that will be waiting on you on every shot since you'll be waiting on every hole for the foursome in front of you. And, honestly, I don't think that a "high end" course would allow it any way.

This said the chances of every single group being a foursome is slim and none, so most likely you will get with or without tip/bribe.

JNewsted- please keep this thread updated after your trip- it will be interesting to see how you made out.

I'm in the group of people who hate doing this type of thing. I just don't have the personality for it. But I guess if I showed up at the course and really wanted to play, I'd try and make something happen, especially if it is a "once in a lifetime" trip.

But as was said, if they take your greens fee, they have to let you out. There's always cancellations though... even at resorts. One guy in a foursome is too hung over to play that day, someone else is sick, someone else would rather be at the spa that day... there's always something. My prediction is you'll get out on the course without too much hassle, even without the bribe. You may just have to be patient and wait for the open slot.

A lot of pro shops have a waiting list of singles, don't they? I know I've seen that at several courses. Get there early and get on the top of the list.

Good for you!

Cough, ehem. Any chance you'll tell us which course?

This place...

Click to view attachment

Nice!

Although, is Pebble really hard to get on as a single? I gotta think locals manage to get on without staying at the resort.

Im not sure if locals play it... if they do, they can probably afford it no problem. That is if we're talking about the locals in $20M houses.

I had called the reservation line about 2 weeks before we left. Just casually I mentioned it was our first trip to CA, that we had planned to go out for the US Open but had to cancel, etc. The girl put me on hold a while and came back with a guaranteed tee time. She wanted to make our first trip special. I thought that was awesome... Id suppose its rare for them to do that.

Seems like a pretty legit question to ask...... and from reading the thread some very good and interesting replies.....

from experience...... i'd say that since you have called ahead and monitored the course and its tee time sales..... and they appear to be very busy....

my bet would be..... that you will indeed be able to be fit in.....

every busy course I have ever been too.... always has some groups show up late...or a person in that group which always causes some sort of back up and or confusion in the scheduling....so they (the starter) will start sending off groups that are ready.....

and if you are there hanging out.....ready to go..... there will be a group that only has 2 or 3 golfers and the starter will get you in on one of those groups....

also..... if anybody has ever been Doral Resort..... I can tell you that those are the best starters MONEY CAN BUY......

JNewstead - Cool that worked out for you...bet it'll make watching the Open that much more fun when you recently played the course they're on.

If tipping the starter gets you ahead of someone else that was there before you, the starter should be fired.

If I knew my starter was taken money in his pocket and putting them first I would be pissed. Thats not in the spirit of the game. BS just cause you got money.

Exactly!

Agreed. If I shelled out the same greens fee as another person who walked up without a tee time and was there earlier I'd be super pi**ed if I saw them on the tee box before me, especially if it meant waiting any significant amount of time before I got out.