golfrewind.com

After coming back from a very nice short vacation at a golf resort (Westin La Cantera, San Antonio), I'm wondering what the appropriate tipping practice is for people who 'touch' your clubs? (I know, I should have made this inquiry before going).

I hadn't been to such a fancy place in a while....we brought our clubs to our room and to the front door...then there would be the guy who:

1. one guy who would flag down a shuttle from the hotel to the resort course (free resort amenity) and load them in the shuttle (3 bags...so $3),

2. then the guy who drove the shuttle would take the bags out of the shuttle and place them in the drop off zone (3 bags...so $3),

3. then the guy who loaded the bags onto the cart and drove the cart to the back side of the pro shop (3 bags...so $3),

4. then after golf, the guy who would wipe down the clubs and take them off the cart (3 bags...so $3),

5. then the guy who brought the clubs around to the front of the pro shop and called for the shuttle (3 bags...so $3),

6. again, the guy who loaded them onto the shuttle, drove us to the hotel and unloaded the clubs (3 bags...so $3).

After doing this for several days, I felt like just having a wad of bills sticking out of my shirt pocket with a sign saying "take what you feel you deserve".

Was this going overboard or appropriate (someone told me $5 was standard....I was amazed that someone suggested I tip even more as much of the effort took no more than 30 sec....I wish I get paid so handsomely for my time). I also noticed some of the other players not tipping except perhaps the guy who cleaned the clubs after play.

These employees usually depend on tips to make their livving. Usually $1-2 per bag is sufficient for the bag drop guys and then maybe another $1-2 if they clean your clubs.

Wow, Bulls, that can really add up in a hurry. What about the cart girls? When all is said and done, its easy to pay $5 for a bottle of Gatorade.

The whole golf resort tipping thing is very awkward to me too. I don't really go with a set amount, I usually go a little higher or lower based on how helpful and courteous the individual is.

I have a couple of general rules for tipping:

1. I usually don't tip a person who isn't a tipped employee. If they are making a regular wage, they are getting paid to do what they are doing, i.e. bag boys (grocery store type, not golf course type), fast food employees, the guy who changes my oil, etc. They get a fair wage for there work and usually won't accept one anyway.

2. I tip based on service. If the person is slow, discourteous, or rude they get little or no tip. To many people tip no matter what the service is like and that just encourages the bad service. On the contrary, if the service is superb, the tip is also. I have been known to tip in excess of 30% for a top notch meal with top notch service. Some service employees are fantastic at making you feel like youo are the center of the universe. They earn every dollar I give them.

3. When I am on vacation, I tip very well. When someone gives good service and makes my vacation enjoyable I make sure I let them know. I'm there to have a good time and I want to feel like I'm spreading the joy.

Remember one thing, if you are going to see the same bellhop, driver, caddie, waitress, bartender or whatever day ofter day and you want good service for the whole trip, tip big up front and let them know that before you leave if the service is good there's more where that came from. Saves you from handing out dollar bills every two minutes and helps insure they will go out of their way to make you feel special and give you tip top service. Just follow through!

Heck, I'm was born and raised in Nevada. Tipping is like breathing here.