golfrewind.com

It seems I run into this dilemma everytime that I try to book a tee time for me and my buddies on a weekend. Most of the courses in my area are in the $65 to $85+ range for decent track. For myself, I don't mind paying $80 to play a nice course, but for some of my friends, that's quite a bit of money and I can fully understand that paying that kind of money for golf can be difficult for them. I always end up feeling bad because I can't get us on any courses in the $50 area, unless it's super twilight or our local muni which stinks and it way too crowded.

I belong to a club and so does one of my friends / regular golf partners, but even our clubs are about $75 for guests on weekends, and we'll treat now and again, but that gets expensive too. I know there's no easy solution, but I just was hoping that I'm not the only one who goes through this. Unfortunately, I always end up being the designated "tee time setter upper guy". Maybe I'll just give someone else the task and see how it works out.

I'm the "tee time setter upper guy" too. You can play just about anywhere around here for $50 or so, fortunately, but we're all cheap so there is never that kind of issue.

No matter what it is, letting someone else do it once or twice is always a good way of getting them to stop complaining.

I've got similar issues. My best friend lives in Lakeland, a little over an hour north of here, between Tampa and Orlando. We really enjoy playing together, but the cost differential between here and Lakeland is substantial. To play here in the Sarasota area this time of year is going to run about $50 or more. There are courses in Lakeland that are decent tracts and will have specials like 2 for $40 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 2pm. So, I always end up driving up to Lakeland to play, which is about 160 miles round trip. A few times he has met me at a course about halfway, but it's rare. When gas was over $3/gallon it was costing me as much to play in Lakeland as it did here in Sarasota, so I didn't make the trip as often.

If I join the local course like I'm considering, I'll be able to play there year-round at a reasonable rate. Hopefully I'll meet some new golf friends and be able to invite my Lakeland friend down here to play. I'll also be playing more often, so I'll be able to beat him on a regular basis (I hope!) and take his money for a change!

They know what they are getting themselves into, and do so voluntarily. If they are not appreciative, let them do it. Chances are though that you (the tee time setter upper) are the 'glue' holding the group together, and not much may happen without you!

I guess letting someone else make the tee time is probably the best solution. I'll just have to live with being at the mercy of someone else deciding where we play. Hopefully they'll pick some decent courses, but if they don't, I'll still have fun.

Yeah you nailed it. I'll play regardless by myself, in the rain, in the dark, whatever, but if I don't call everyone up and say "hey let's get together and play this weekend", most of them won't bother. So yeah I'm the "gluey tee time setter upper guy". Heck of a title.

Some of my friends have kids, some are cheap, others don't like golf and some of them just aren't very good players.

So I play alone 5quite a bit. Especially if it's a >$65 course...which 80% of the good courses around here are.

Tough circumstances, especially as everyone is relying upon you to come up with an inexpensive solution.

Sounds like you guys need to get together and come up with some type of plan.... Maybe on a rotating basis, someone picks the course and everyone agrees that the course he picks is the one you play. Spread the responsibility around a bit, so everyone knows exactly what a burden it is to satisfy each other. ;)

My solution has been to join a local course which has a bunch of "sister courses" where I can play for free and I have developed friends who are also members there.

The other thing I have done is buy a "special discount booklet" for another local course we all like. It cost me $50, but has over $500 worth of discounts - some free rounds, some 2 for 1's, some free carts, etc. I use those with them. It costs me something because I have the $50 invested in the booklet, but I don't mind if it keeps them from griping about the prices.

Wow, you guys all have an opposite problem from me. I didn't realize when I moved here that I had moved to the middle of the golfing desert. There are courses in every town, but most of them are below-average at best. I used to play on some fair courses, but not many here are quality. It's at least an hour and a half drive to a descent course from here. On the flip side, I can walk at the muni in Greenville for $12.00 during the week, and it is the best course around! Play once a week = <$50.00 / month! - I'm getting used to the quality!

I can't remember the last time one of my golfing regulars called me and said, "Hey Dormie, we've got a tee time at 10:00am at so-and-so for Saturday. You in?"

It's always more like this, "Hey Dormie, I think I can probably play Saturday, but it might have to be Sunday. Nothing too early because I'll be out pounding the night before. But nothing too late because I think I have to go to dinner with another couple. Oh, and try and book something for around $45. And NOT at Cyprian Keyes, I don't like that place. And forget Blackstone, it's too difficult. And I don't want to go too far because my car has been acting up. One last thing Dormie, weather.com says 20% chance of showers so if it's cloudy when I get up, count me out. Oh, Bill and John say they might be in. They should know by Friday afternoon. If they can't play, maybe you could find a 3rd and 4th? Thanks. Let me know what you find..."

Yeah, let me get right on it...

It always rings true: 10% of the people do 90% of the work! ... or more Those who will work end up with the work. I have found this true in all aspects of life, right now, in hunting - we take my boat, my truck use my decoys, meet at my house etc....

Stop being such a golf course snob. :) Come down every once in a while and play a muni-course that your friends can afford.

I'm not really a golf course snob, I don't think. It's just that all the decent courses are very expensive. The cheaper courses are just in horrible condition and are a 6 hour round on the weekends. I'm just going to stay at my club from now on, unless some of the other guys set up tee times for a while.

I'm curious, as I play public courses exclusively, what specific attributes other than a 6 hour round (wow, I find anything over 4:15 excrutiating) drop a course from decent to horrible in your view ? We're very luicky here in SE Mich. to have a wealth of good , reasonably-priced, public playing options and I know it's a bit different in California.