whats up with golfers and tipping

October 20, 2011

I work at a golf course in the front greeting customers, taking their bags and shinning them up after thier round among other duties. Its a great job and keeps me highly motivated. although i have noticed how some golfers, after they are done, make it a point not to have their clubs wiped down so dont have to feel obligated to tip. I mean, whats $2 dollars anyways? Not all golfers are like this, some want the service done for them as we talk about thier round of golf. But today, I observed at least 6 different groups make a dash for it so they dont have to tip out, not even waiting for up for their partners.I mean what gives? We start them out with everything they need, water ice, cart and most importantly, a good attitude! this just really eats at me when they go out of their way to avoid the help thats is there for them. I bet if I had boobies it would be a different situation.LOL
! so for ALL you golfers who intentionally dont tip, even after great customer service and an awesome golf course to play on, please be considerate, its only a dollar or two. And we always remember who comes back. Just talking outloud and wanted to get other peoples view of this. you can insult this me or whatever you choose to do. just know that I deal with you people alot and its you that looks silly. Me? I simply just smile..because you dont know any better. thanks to the people who can relate to this…:)

Try offering to take the clubs to the car.

I get what you’re saying. It has to be frustrating, especially when courses that offer those services cost a decent penny… that $2 would be chump change in comparison.

That’s one thing that’s missing these days though: consideration for others. You don’t have to be a peace-loving hippy to want to care about others… it should be human nature.

I have worked at a golf course for four years and I was lucky if I got tips. I carried their clubs to their cart, cleaned their carts, cleaned their clubs, drive them to their car. and i might get $5 a day if i was lucky. One day i got 20 because i found this guys wallet but thats it. You have to get use to it. It sucks but it is better than working fast food! lol

Julian, I have actually done both. If it is a relaxing day and I don’t have to hurry back to work or home for dinner, I am very happy to let someone take care of my clubs and bring them to the car. I always have my $2-$5 ready or I have gone as high as $20 once for one those that had “Boobies” as you stated.

However, I have been in a hurry a few times and needed to get on the road. It wasn’t that I didn’t want the service, just didn’t have time. Try this next time, drive or walk up to the car as they put away their clubs and offer to see if they need anything or even take their cart back for them. I know I once tipped a few dollars just for that offer even though nothing was done.

There are those cheap people who are not going to tip for anything. Not just at the golf course but anywhere they go. I have a playing partner like that. It’s not that he is a rude golfer, just a RUDE PERSON in general.

Let me say, thanks for your service on behalf of all golfers, we do appreciate what you do, even if it is not always shown.

I’ll admit it that I truly dislike having my clubs wiped down. I clean them myself after most rounds, much more thoroughly than they are cleaned by having a damp, dirty rag, rubbed on them for two seconds each by someone who wants a few bucks for the effort. It’s totally wrong to assume you can wipe someone’s clubs down, without their consent, and expect to be paid. It’s no different than the homeless guys who run up and clean your car window without asking and expect a dollar or two. If I want my clubs cleaned I will ask, but I rarely have the opportunity because the cleaning usually commences without question. I also don’t pull up to the bag drop.

For me, there is a larger issue, and that is the bloated nature of golf in general. I don’t need a bag drop, a cart attendent, a club wiper, a beverage cart, a pyramid of golfballs, a clean towel, a giant clubhouse, a fancy bar, or any of the rest of it. Golf would do well to blow up all of those institutions and put money into good golf courses, while cutting all the extra crap that only serves to increase the green fee without improving the golf course.

Golf is expensive enough without being required to tip out people who annoy you by doing things you don’t want done, without asking if you would like them done.

I make it a point to not use these services at my home course (which offers them). I don’t need, or want someone wiping my clubs down after a round. I’m very particular about people touching my clubs.

If someone is using your services and not tipping…they’re flat out wrong and for that, apologies are in order. Period. With that being said, I have issue with someone trying to make something that is optional some kind of mandatory toll of sorts.

I don’t need anyone to get ice for me. I go into the snack bar, buy what I need (if I need something else the beverage cart will handle it, and I always tip them very well), and I’m off. I’m a VERY fast player so needing to ice stuff down isn’t really a concern.

Trust me, your gender and/or bust size has nothing to do with it. In my case, most Saturdays I play 36 holes (this time of year it’s not an option), and the kids who think they’re “helping me” aren’t, and frankly, I have grown tired of having to explain to NOT take my clubs off the cart and put them in the out-rack (because I’m going back out ASAP).

Where I tip and tip well is inside in our grill room. The folks there generally know me. They take care of me, and they get taken care of. The guys in the pro shop who take care of me when I want to go back out for a second round…they get duked. When I need a tee time for client entertainment, they take care of me and I ALWAYS duke them for it (same with the locker guy when he makes sure my guest has a locker).

Plus- I don’t know how to explain this to you, but in a lot of cases during the week, I need to bail as soon as I’m done (during the summer I’ll get a round in at sunup, and then head to the office so I don’t have the time to wait for you guys to mess around so I can tip you for something that I don’t want). I’m the guy who has the bag packed up and ready to go on the 18th tee, so when I putt out I’m from the cart to my car and out of the parking lot in 30-60 seconds. My sunup round, if I can play at my own pace as a single, runs me 90-105 minutes.

this is not a common practice for golf courses where i am. When i go to a course that has the position that you’re in, i do make it a point to not use it. Why? because 1. I’m not lazy, i can clean my own clubs and often keep them clean during the round because dirty clubs don’t play well. and 2. every time someone else puts my bag on a cart or takes it off they do it incorrectly and this has resulted in a few broken bags. The most recent one at a very expensive course in SC last year. The guy refused to admit he broke the spine in my ogio bag by tightening the strap too much. I had to buy a new bag at a premium. Since then, I’m not keen on having people move my equipment. If i’m not quick enough and they take my clubs off and start cleaning them, i tip and politely ask them to remember me and not do it again.

Let me ask you something.. if someone comes in with a brand club and you begin to clean it and scratch the finish accidentally, will you pay for it? What if you strap the bag to the cart and it gives way and the spine breaks or the bag falls? will you pay for that? I think you should not worry about the golfers that elect to not use your service and worry more about the ones that do. Give them good service and you’ll get a tip.

You’ll do well to remember too that people are paying to play the course. Sometimes that’s a pretty hefty fee already and they don’t see paying anyone to do what they’re capable of themselves for free. It’s not a mandatory service so don’t expect people to use it and tip.

I work / play at my golf course so I know what it feels like to not be tipped, but I’m both sides with your topic, A. They are rude crabby people or they really are in a rush and don’t have time or money because they just spent a ton to play 18 holes. B. And I don’t mean to sound like an ass but it’s your job the tips are just a plus and some people feel like they don’t have to tip or shouldn’t no fault to them