[8thehardway]

The three munis in my county share an automated phone reservation system. One of these courses is extremely popular, but it seems the same guys always get the exact same premium times on the weekend. I've been a 6AM walk on for months and seen it repeat constantly - Joe's foursome always has 7:24 or Fred always has 8:12.

I'm sure the reservation system's been compromised but I can't imagine how.

Residents with County Golf Cards (the "highest status" for reservations and I have one) can call 7 days in advance, starting at 8PM and reserve for a single up to a foursome at a particular time on a particular course. Once the reservation is made, the system won't let you make another reservation for that day on any course.

For example, for a reservation on Saturday, Aug 8th residents begin calling on Saturday, Aug 1st at 8PM. Calls between 7 and 8 pm are not answered and before 7PM the caller is not allowed to reserve an Aug 8th tee time.

Naturally, the lines are very busy at 8pm on the weekend and I often get lots of busy signals and have to keep calling back, BUT I've gotten through at exactly 8pm fives times and been told the earliest tee time remaining is at 1 in the afternoon for a foursome, 11:30 for a single.

I don't know how many lines this reservation system has or who makes it (any way of finding out?) but I can't believe the first two or three hours of weekend reservations can be constantly awarded to the same guys at the same times throughout the season.

Anyone else have this problem?

[JoeF]

Have you tried talking to the head or asst pro. They may have a way to input Tee times into the system way ahead of time. Would work best if you are a regular. I know a number of counties where this can be done. Remember sugar and not vinegar.

[highergr0und]

There is no trick except the fact that they have worked out a standing tee time with the course. The system just has those times blocked off ahead of time by whoever controls the tee times. There are guys like that at pretty much every course around. If you're a regular and have a good relationship with the pro and maybe they'll slip you into a "special" slot.

[tpariff]

highergr0und, on Aug 10 2009, 03:50 PM, said:

There is no trick except the fact that they have worked out a standing tee time with the course. The system just has those times blocked off ahead of time by whoever controls the tee times. There are guys like that at pretty much every course around. If you're a regular and have a good relationship with the pro and maybe they'll slip you into a "special" slot.

That's what I was going to say. My uncle lives in Chicago and has a group of guys who have two standing tee times at a certain course. They pay an annual fee for that time, plus their normal greens/cart fees.

Kevin

[ultra45]

or they get someone to show up before and wait at the counter until time so they can be first in line to get their tee times... seen that before too

[beaner25]

I have the same thing happen where I am. A friend of mine wanted to play a municipal course. We are allowed to book 4 days in advance starting at 6:30AM. We got in touch with the course at 6:30AM on a wednesday to book for sunday. The earliest tee time was 4:38PM. I refuse to believe there are this many people with standing tee times where I am. And if there is, it shouldn't be allowed IMHO


Its like it on all the municipal courses too (there are 5 where I live). Nothing but a rat race to get on at a decent time. I'm now sticking with the semi private courses. They cost $10-$15 dollars more a round, but I never have trouble getting a tee time, even a day or two before the weekend.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

highergr0und, on Aug 10 2009, 03:50 PM, said:

There is no trick except the fact that they have worked out a standing tee time with the course. The system just has those times blocked off ahead of time by whoever controls the tee times. There are guys like that at pretty much every course around. If you're a regular and have a good relationship with the pro and maybe they'll slip you into a "special" slot.

Yep, one of the local courses around here does that with a couple regular groups as well. However, there was a day I need to play and be the first off the tee in order to get the round in and still have time to get to a meeting later that morning.

I stopped into the pro shop a few days ahead and the 7:00 AM time was actually available, I booked it for our twosome, thinking we were golden.

We get there go to check in and I see these guys who usually always got that first time, and I think no big deal, they've got the 7:09 time. We're a twosome, we won't hold them up at all.

Well.......no way jose, I get down toward the tee, and the starter had let them off ahead of us (al be it was before 7:00) I was pretty steamed but remained calm with the starter and all he would say, is the guy in the shop shouldn't have given me the 7:00 am time these guys always get it.

It turned out OK, when we caught up to them on the 2nd hole, they begrudingly let us go through "since it's only two of you". Gee that was nice, they take our time (kinda) and let us go ahead.

Anyway, I guess my rambling point is that it's not uncommon for "local" courses to have either spoken or unspoken arangements with a favorite group of regulars.

[xtremeinaz]

there can also be tournys, shotguns, and such that take up a huge block of time on a weekend.

[BugsyinNC]

I seem to recall a scam about 10 years ago in Hawaii where some employees and their friends were scamming municipal course tee times and then selling them. If I remember correctly, folks lost jobs and went to jail.
Something sounds fishy here. Municipal is supposed to be for everyone, not the favored few.